- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010132642026 NC: 2026:KHC:42182 CRL.P No. 2890 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 2890 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SIDDARAMU S/O CHIKKASIDDAIAH AGED 58 YEARS R/O YADAGANAHALLI VILLAGE C.A. KERE HOBLI, MADDUR TALUK MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 408. …PETITIONER (BY SRI PRAMOD R, ADV.) AND: 1. STATE BY K.M. DODDI POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY S.P.P. HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. XXX …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI RANGASWAMY R, HCGP FOR R-1; R-2 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.P.C (U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THE PETITIONER AND GRANT REGULAR BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN SPL.C.NO.265/2025 ARISING OUT OF CR.NO.182/2025 OF K.M.DODDI P.S., FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 75,6,78,137(2) OF BNS, U/S 8,10,12 OF POCSO ACT, 2012, PENDING BEFORE THE ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC-I (POCSO) MANDYA. 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: KAHC010132642026 NC: 2026:KHC:42182 CRL.P No. 2890 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Special Case No.265 of 2025 pending before the court of Additional District & Sessions Judge, FTSC- 1, Mandya, arising out of Crime No.182 of 2025 registered by K.M. Doddi Police Station, Mandya District for offences punishable under Sections 75, 76, 78, 137(2) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 8, 10 & 12 of POCSO Act, 2012 is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023. 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.182 of 2025 was registered against the petitioner herein, based on the first information dated 05.09.2025 received from respondent no.2, who is the mother of the alleged victim girl aged 9 years. In the said case, petitioner was arrested on 06.09.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing the investigation, charge sheet is filed against him for the aforesaid offences. His bail application - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010132642026 NC: 2026:KHC:42182 CRL.P No. 2890 of 2026 filed before the Trial Court in Spl.C.No.265 of 2025 was rejected on 22.01.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. In the first information dated 05.09.2025 submitted by the mother of the victim girl it is stated that, the petitioner is a resident of the same street in which she is residing along with her family members. On the alleged date of the incident, since it was a holiday, her minor daughter had not gone to school. At about 04.00 p.m. she found her minor daughter weeping and on enquiry, victim girl allegedly informed that, petitioner on the guise of providing her some sweets had taken her to his house and had touched her inappropriately. Investigation of the case is completed and charge sheet is filed. Petitioner, aged 58 years, is in custody for the last more than 10 months. The victim girl and her mother are already examined before the Trial Court and therefore, there cannot be apprehension that petitioner may tamper with the material charge sheet witnesses. The maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of seven years. Under the circumstances, the following:- - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010132642026 NC: 2026:KHC:42182 CRL.P No. 2890 of 2026 ORDER (i) Criminal petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Special Case No.265 of 2025 pending before the court of Additional District & Sessions Judge, FTSC- 1, Mandya, arising out of Crime No.182 of 2025 registered by K.M. Doddi Police Station, Mandya District for offences punishable under Sections 75, 76, 78, 137(2) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 8, 10 & 12 of POCSO Act, 2012, subject to the following conditions:- a) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) 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; - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010132642026 NC: 2026:KHC:42182 CRL.P No. 2890 of 2026 d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 35