- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479162026 NC: 2026:KHC:44213 CRL.P No. 10334 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 10334 OF 2026 BETWEEN: PAVAN KALYAN W/O BHIMA NAIK AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS, R/AT NO.112, CHIKKABETTAHALLI, BRUNDAVANA LAYOUT, YELAHANKA, BENGALURU - 560 097. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KRISHNA NAIK., ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE BY POLICE INSPECTOR YELAHANKA NEW TOWN POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479162026 NC: 2026:KHC:44213 CRL.P No. 10334 of 2026 THIS CRL.P FILED U/S.439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C BY THE ADVCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO ENLARGE HIM ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.115/2026 IN REGISTERED AS C.C.NO.33125/2026 BY THE RESPONDENT YELAHANKA NEW TOWN P.S., FOR OFFENCE P/US/ 80(2),3(5) OF BNS 2023, PENDING BEFORE THE XLV ADDL CJM AT BENGALURU, ETC., 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.1 in Crime No.115 of 2026 registered by Yelahanka New Town Police Station for offences punishable under Section 80(2), 3(5) of BNS, 2023 is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNS 2023 seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479162026 NC: 2026:KHC:44213 CRL.P No. 10334 of 2026 3. FIR in Crime No.115 of 2026 was registered on 14.03.2026 by Yelahanka New Town Police Station against the petitioner and six others for the offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 80(2) r/w 3(5) of BNS, 2023, based on the first information received on 14.03.2026 from one Subbaraya, son of Tolase Naik who is the father of the deceased Shruti, who was the wife of the petitioner. 4. During the course of investigation of the said case, petitioner was arrested on 15.03.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge-sheet is now filed against seven persons and petitioner is arraigned as accused No.1 in the charge-sheet. His bail application filed before the jurisdiction of Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.6381 of 2026 was rejected on 10.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 5. Material on record would show that marriage of the petitioner with Shruti, daughter of the first informant - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479162026 NC: 2026:KHC:44213 CRL.P No. 10334 of 2026 was solemnized on 04.12.2024. It appears that after the marriage, petitioner and his wife Shruti, were residing together in a rented premises within the jurisdiction of Yelahanka New Town Police Station. On 14.03.2026 at about 11.50 am, Shruthi was found dead in her house. Suspecting foul play in the death of Shruthi, her father had approached police and therefore, FIR was registered against the petitioner and his family members, wherein, even offence punishable under Section 103(1) of BNS, 2023 was invoked. Investigation of the case is now completed and charge-sheet is filed. 6. During the course of investigation, the statement of neighbours of the house, in which, petitioner and his wife Shruthi were residing has been recorded. They are cited as CWs-16 and 17 in the charge-sheet. A reading of the statement of the said witnesses would go to show that none of the said witnesses have stated that the deceased was ill-treated in her matrimonial house by the petitioner, in furtherance of demand for dowry. Their - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479162026 NC: 2026:KHC:44213 CRL.P No. 10334 of 2026 statement would reveal that petitioner and his wife were quarrelling on petty issues. Even on the date of incident, they had quarrelled on a petty issue and subsequently Shruthi had committed suicide by hanging herself inside a room in their house. Immediately thereafter, petitioner had called his neighbour and after opening the door of the room, they had shifted Shruthi to a hospital, where she was declared 'dead'. 7. Post-mortem report of the deceased would go to show that death was caused due to asphyxia as a result of hanging. It is under these circumstances, offence punishable under Section 103(1) of BNS 2023 has been dropped in the charge-sheet. The provisions of Dowry Prohibition Act have not been invoked against the accused in the present case in the charge-sheet and charge-sheet materials do not prima-facie show that the deceased was ill-treated by the accused persons in her matrimonial house, in furtherance of demand for dowry. Under the circumstances, the following: - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479162026 NC: 2026:KHC:44213 CRL.P No. 10334 of 2026 ORDER The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.115 of 2026 of Yelahanka New Town Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Sections 80(2), 3(5) of BNS 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioner shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the like-sum, 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; - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479162026 NC: 2026:KHC:44213 CRL.P No. 10334 of 2026 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 DH List No.: 1 Sl No.: 63