- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010434442026 NC: 2026:KHC:38843 CRL.P No. 9263 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 9263 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MANOJ S S/O SURESH AGED ABOUT 20 YEARS R/O JANATHA COLONY NIDIGE VILLAGE SHIVAMOGGA TALUK - 577 202. …PETITIONER (BY SRI CHIDAMBARA G.S, ADV.) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE C.E.N. POLICE STATION SHIVAMOGGA - 577 201 REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. XXX …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R-1; R-2 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN RESPECT OF CRIME NO.64/2025 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 SHIVAMOGGA CEN CRIME POLICE STATION AND PENDING IN SPL.C NO.275/2025 ON THE FILE OF THE COURT OF ADDL.DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC-I (POCSO) AT SHIVAMOGGA FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 67, 66-E, 67-B OF IT ACT AND SECTIONS 12 AND 14 OF POCSO ACT 2012 AND SECTION 238 OF BNS. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010434442026 NC: 2026:KHC:38843 CRL.P No. 9263 of 2026 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.1 in Special Case No.275/2025 pending before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge FTSC-I (POSCO), Shivamogga, arising out of Crime No.64/2025 registered by Shivamogga CEN Crime Police Station, Shivamogga, for the offences punishable under Section 238 of BNS, 2023, Sections 67, 66(E) and 67(B) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 12 and 14 of the POCSO Act, 2012, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent No.1. Respondent No.2, who is served in the matter has remained unrepresented before this Court. 3. FIR in Crime No.64/2025 was registered initially for the offences punishable under Sections 67 and 66(E) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, against unknown person based on the first information dated 03.07.2025 received from - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010434442026 NC: 2026:KHC:38843 CRL.P No. 9263 of 2026 respondent No.2, who is the mother of the victim girl. In the said case, petitioner was arrested on 21.07.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge sheet is filed for the aforesaid offences against seven persons and petitioner is arrayed as accused No.1 in the charge sheet. His bail application filed before the Trial Court in Special Case No.275/2025 was rejected on 10.11.2025. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. In the first information dated 03.07.2025, mother of the victim girl has alleged that her minor daughter was using Instagram App in her mobile phone. On 01.07.2025, her relatives had informed her that obscene video of her minor daughter was found in social media. It is under these circumstances, FIR was registered against unknown persons for the offences punishable under Sections 67 and 66(E) of the Information Act, 2000. During the course of investigation, petitioner and some of the other accused were arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Allegation against the petitioner is that he had developed friendship with the victim girl and on the pretext of loving her, he allegedly had requested her to - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010434442026 NC: 2026:KHC:38843 CRL.P No. 9263 of 2026 undress herself while on video call. Believing the petitioner, the victim had undressed herself while on video call and the petitioner allegedly had recorded the same and thereafter, circulated the video in social media. Petitioner aged 19 years having no other criminal antecedents is in custody for the last more than one year. Investigation of the case is already completed. The maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of seven years. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, more so, the age of the petitioner, I am of the opinion that his prayer for regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order:- 5. The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Special Case No.275/2025 pending before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge FTSC-I (POSCO), Shivamogga, arising out of Crime No.64/2025 registered by Shivamogga CEN Crime Police Station, Shivamogga, for the offences punishable under Section 238 of BNS, 2023, Sections 67, 66(E) and 67(B) of the Information - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010434442026 NC: 2026:KHC:38843 CRL.P No. 9263 of 2026 Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 12 and 14 of the POCSO Act, 2012, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court; b) The petitioner shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court exempts his appearance for valid reasons; c) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future; e) The petitioner shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without permission of the said Court until the case registered against him is disposed off. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DN/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 111