- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010410582026 NC: 2026:KHC:39122 CRL.P No. 8666 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8666 OF 2026 (439(CR.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: VENKATESH REDDY S S/O SRINIVAS REDDY AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS R/ AT NO.953, 3RD FLOOR 8TH CROSS, 27TH MAIN, 1ST SECTOR HSR LAYOUT, BENGALORE-560102 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. V LAKSHMIKANTH RAO., ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HSR LAYOUT POLICE STATION REP.BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA COURT COMPLEX, BANGALORE-560001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI.RANGASWAMY R, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.129/2026 C.C.NO.25320/2026 OF HSR LAYOUT POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 80(2), 85 R/W 3(5) OF BNS 2023, PENDING BEFORE THE XXXIX ADDL. CHIEF METROPOLITION MAGISTRATE COURT BANGALORE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010410582026 NC: 2026:KHC:39122 CRL.P No. 8666 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.1 in Crime No.129/2026 registered by the HSR Layout Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 80(2) and 85 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNS, 2023'), is before this Court in this criminal petition filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, (for short ‘BNSS, 2023’) seeking regular bail. 2. Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned HCGP appearing for the respondent-State. 3. FIR in Crime No.129/2026 was registered by the HSR Layout Police Station, for the aforesaid offence against the petitioner herein and his parents based on the first information dated 27.03.2026 received from one Smt.Shanthamma, mother of deceased Shailaja. In the said case, the petitioner was arrested on 28.03.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. The bail application of the petitioner filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010410582026 NC: 2026:KHC:39122 CRL.P No. 8666 of 2026 Crl.Misc.No.4383/2026 was rejected on 15.06.2026. Therefore, the petitioner is before this Court. 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that the deceased, Shailaja, was earlier married to one Sri Rajesh in the year 2016, and in the year 2021, the said marriage was dissolved by a consent decree of divorce. Thereafter, the petitioner married Shailaja on 18.11.2024 in a temple, and from the said wedlock, they have a minor child. It appears that Shailaja hanged herself in her matrimonial house on 27.03.2026 after quarrelling with her mother-in-law over a petty issue. Though Section 80(2) of the BNS, 2023 has been invoked in the present case, the material on record would go to show that there is no serious allegation against the accused persons of demanding dowry and torturing the victim lady in furtherance of such demand for dowry. 5. Neither in the FIR nor in the charge sheet, the offences punishable under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010410582026 NC: 2026:KHC:39122 CRL.P No. 8666 of 2026 have been invoked against the accused. Accused Nos.2 and 3 have been granted regular bail and anticipatory bail by this Court in Crl.P.No.6876/2026 and Crl.P.No.6851/2026, respectively by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court. It is not in dispute that the petitioner has no other criminal antecedents. Investigation of the case is now complete, and the charge sheet has been filed. 6. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following order: ORDER i) The criminal petition is allowed. ii) The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.129/2026 registered by the HSR Layout Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 80(2) and 85 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, subject to the following conditions: - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010410582026 NC: 2026:KHC:39122 CRL.P No. 8666 of 2026 a) The petitioner shall execute 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. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE HA LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 80