- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010452342026 NC: 2026:KHC:42719 CRL.P No. 9619 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 9619 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI. ASHOK KUMAR S/O SOHARAI PRASAD SINGH, AGED 30 YEARS R/AT.C/O LEASE INDIA COMPANY, SHANUMANGALA VILLAGE, BIDADI HOBLI, RAMANAGAR DISTRICT KARNATAKA - 562 109. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SATHIES KUMAR S, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA STATION HOUSE OFFICER BIDADI POLICE STATION, BIDADI, KARNATAKA - 562 109. REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. SMT. REKHA (VICTIM REPRESENTED BY HER MOTHER AND NATURAL GUARDIAN) W/O RATHARAM AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS Digitally signed by ANNAPURNA G Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010452342026 NC: 2026:KHC:42719 CRL.P No. 9619 of 2026 RESIDING AT KUMARASWAMY, GOLLARAPALYA VILLAGE BIDADI HOBLI, RAMANAGARA TALUK, SEVADI VILLAGE, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT, BALI THAHASLI PAIL, KARNATAKA - 562 109 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R, HCGP FOR R1; R2 SERVICE HELD SUFFICIENT VIDE ORDER DATED 03.08.2026) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ALLOW PRESENT PETITION FOR GRANT OF BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN CONNECTION WITH SPL.C.NO.75/2024 STEMMED OUT IN CRIME NO.107/2024 REGISTERED AT BIDADI POLICE STATION, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT, KARNATAKA U/S 8 AND 12 OF THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012, PENDING BEFORE THE I ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND SPL.JUDGE, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT. 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 in Spl.Case.No.75 of 2024 pending before the Court of I Additional District and Sessions Judge and Special Judge, Ramanagara, arising out of Crime No.107 - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010452342026 NC: 2026:KHC:42719 CRL.P No. 9619 of 2026 of 2024 registered by Bidadi Police Station, Ramanagara for the offences punishable under Section 8 and 12 of POCSO Act, 2012, is before this Court in this successive bail application filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader on behalf of respondent No.1. Respondent No.2 is served in the matter and remained unrepresentative before this Court. 3. FIR in crime No.107/2024 was registered by Bidadi Police Station, Ramanagara for the offence punishable under Section 8 of POCSO Act, 2012 against the petitioner herein, based on the first information dated 21.03.2024 received from respondent No.2 is the mother of the alleged victim. During the course of investigation, the petitioner was arrested on 21.03.2024 and remanded to judicial custody. After filing the charge sheet, the petitioner had filed bail application before the Trial Court - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010452342026 NC: 2026:KHC:42719 CRL.P No. 9619 of 2026 which was rejected. Therefore, he had approached this Court in Criminal Petition No.4299 of 2024, which was dismissed on 02.07.2024. It is under these circumstances, he is before this Court in this successive bail application. 4. Petitioner is in custody in the present case for the last more than two years. Allegation as against the petitioner is that, on the alleged date of incident, he had inappropriately touched the victim girl, asked her to remove her dress and show her private parts. The maximum punishment for the charge-sheet offences is imprisonment for a period of V years. Before the Trial Court, as on this date 7 charge-sheet witnesses are examined. The mother of the victim girl and the victim girl have been already examined before the Trial Court as PW1 and PW2. 5. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010452342026 NC: 2026:KHC:42719 CRL.P No. 9619 of 2026 bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following: O R D E R The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Spl.Case.No.75 of 2024 pending before the Court of I Additional District and Sessions Judge and Special Judge, Ramanagara, arising out of Crime No.107 of 2024 registered by Bidadi Police Station, Ramanagara for the offences punishable under Section 8 and 12 of POCSO Act, 2012, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioner shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the like sum, one of whom shall be a local surety, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court; b) The petitioner shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010452342026 NC: 2026:KHC:42719 CRL.P No. 9619 of 2026 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 AMM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 72