- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404392026 NC: 2026:KHC:38697 CRL.P No. 8592 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. 8592 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SANTOSH KUMAR PRUSTY, S/O ALEKHA PRUSTY, AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, R/AT SHANTI PADA, RAJENDRA COLLEGE, BALANGIR, PO: BALANGIR, DIST: BALANGIR, ODISHA - 767 001. …PETITIONER (BY SMT. JANAVI R, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. BADRUDDEEN B, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY WHITEFIELD CEN CRIME PS BENGALURU, (REPRESENTED BY STATE HIGH COURT GOVERNMENT PLEADER, BENGALURU - 560 001) …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO ALLOW THE PRESENT CRIMINAL PETITION AND GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN THE EVNET OF HIS ARREST IN CRIME NO.1197/2024 REGISTERED BY WHITEFIELD CEN CRIME POLICE STATION, BENGALURU Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404392026 NC: 2026:KHC:38697 CRL.P No. 8592 of 2026 NOW PENDING 45th ACJM BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE P/US/ 66(D) OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT AND SEC.318(4), 319(2) OF BNS. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Petitioner, who is apprehending arrest in Crime No.1197/2024 registered by Whitefield CEN Crime Police Station, Bengaluru city, for offence punishable under Section 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard learned counsel appearing for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.1197/2024 was registered by Whitefield CEN Crime Police Station, Bengaluru city, for the aforesaid offences against Rashi Arora based on the first information dated 18.12.2024 received from Dharmendra - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404392026 NC: 2026:KHC:38697 CRL.P No. 8592 of 2026 Kumar Sharma s/o Ramgopal Sharma. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioner had filed Crl.Mis.No.5083/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 05.06.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. In the first information dated 18.12.2024 submitted by the alleged victim, it is averred that on instructions from the person named in the FIR, he had totally deposited a sum of Rs.9,99,50,000-00 to various bank accounts, the particulars of which are mentioned in the FIR, for investment in the share market. Subsequently, he came to know that he was cheated and under these circumstances, he approached the police. During the course of investigation, enquiry notice was issued to the petitioner since it was found that he had received a sum of Rs.30,000-00 in his bank account on 28.11.2024. 5. Learned HCGP fairly submits that the petitioner's bank account is in the 3rd layer and he is a businessman. 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the said amount has been received by the petitioner through online gaming. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404392026 NC: 2026:KHC:38697 CRL.P No. 8592 of 2026 7. It is not in dispute that the petitioner has no other criminal antecedents. He has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. The alleged offences are triable by the court of Magistrate and the maximum punishment for the same is imprisonment for a period of 7 years. Under the circumstances, the following: ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. (ii) The respondent – Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.1197/2024 registered by Whitefield CEN Crime Police Station, Bengaluru city, for offence punishable under Section 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioner shall appear before the investigation officer in the present case on 17.08.2026 at 10:30 a.m., and on the said date, the investigation officer is at liberty to take the petitioner into custody for the purpose of - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404392026 NC: 2026:KHC:38697 CRL.P No. 8592 of 2026 interrogation. However, it is made clear that on the same day, on or before 06.00 p.m., the petitioner shall be released from custody subject to he executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigation officer. b) Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. c) Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and they shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE HDK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 85