- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404042026 NC: 2026:KHC:38696 CRL.P No. 8513 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. 8513 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MAHENDRA N S/O NAGRAJ, AGED ABOUT 18 YEARS, R/AT NO. 35, 5TH CROSS, BYRAVESHWARNAGAR, LEGGERE BENGALURU NORTH, BENGALURU - 560 058. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. DEENABANDHU RAI N, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA RAJAGOPHAL NAGAR POLICE STATION BENGALURU NOW REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU HIGH COURT COMPLEX BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CR.NO.137/2026 FOR OFFENCES P/U/S 103(2), 189(2), Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404042026 NC: 2026:KHC:38696 CRL.P No. 8513 of 2026 189(4), 190 OF BNS REGISTERED BY THE RAJAGOPAL NAGAR POLICE STATION, ON THE FILE OF THE XXXI ACJM AT BENGALURUTHE LXII ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE,(CCH-63) BENGALURU HAS REJECTED THE BAIL PETITION ON 08.06.2026 IN CRL.MISC.NO.5251/2026. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused No.10 in Crime No.137/2026 registered by Rajagopal Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru city, for offence punishable under Sections 103(2), 189(2), 189(4), 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard learned counsel appearing for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.137/2026 registered by Rajagopal Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru city, for the aforesaid offences against Darshan and others, based on the first information dated 22.04.2026 received from Mohan Rao S., brother of - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404042026 NC: 2026:KHC:38696 CRL.P No. 8513 of 2026 deceased Mallikarjuna Rao S. In the said case, the petitioner was arrested on 23.04.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Mis.No.5251/2026 was rejected on 08.06.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner, reiterating the grounds urged in the petition, submits that the petitioner is a student aged 18 years, who is pursuing his 2nd PUC and he has no other criminal antecedents. The only allegation against him is that he had instigated the other accused to assault the deceased and others who were injured in the present case. The investigation of the case is now completed. Accordingly, prays to allow the petition. 5. Per contra, learned HCGP, who has opposed the petition, does not dispute the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner. He, however, submits that the petitioner's presence is found at the spot of the crime and he has played an active role. Accordingly, prays to dismiss the petition. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404042026 NC: 2026:KHC:38696 CRL.P No. 8513 of 2026 6. Material on record would go to show that accused persons C.Ws.1, 11, 17, 20 and 21 are all friends. The deceased Mallikarjuna is the brother of C.W.1. It appears that C.Ws.17 and 20 were rearing pigeons in the terrace of the building belonging to C.W.23. Accused Nos.9 and 10, who also were rearing pigeons, allegedly had taken the pigeons belonging to C.Ws.17 and 20 and in this background there was a quarrel on 21.04.2026. Deceased Mallikarjuna appears to have intervened and therefore, he was assaulted by the accused persons. 7. The allegation of stabbing Mallikarjuna Rao S. with the dragon knife is found in the chargesheet as against accused No.1-Darshan. The petitioner and accused Nos.6, 7, 10 and 11 allegedly had instigated accused No.1, who stabbed Mallikarjuna. The injured Mallikarjuna Rao was shifted to Jai Maruthi hospital and was subsequently shifted to Sapthagiri hospital, but he died on 22.04.2026 while undergoing treatment. Investigation of the case is now completed and charge sheet has been filed. Undisputedly, the petitioner aged - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404042026 NC: 2026:KHC:38696 CRL.P No. 8513 of 2026 18 years who is pursuing his 2nd year PUC and has no other criminal antecedents. Under the circumstances, the following: ORDER (i) The criminal petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner/accused No.10 is ordered to be enlarged on bail Crime No.137/2026 registered by Rajagopal Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru city, for offence punishable under Sections 103(2), 189(2), 189(4), 190 of the BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioner shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety 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; - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010404042026 NC: 2026:KHC:38696 CRL.P No. 8513 of 2026 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 of. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE HDK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 84