- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010492612026 NC: 2026:KHC:44168 CRL.P No. 10680 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 10680 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI SHRUNGAR R S/O RANGASWAMY AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.250 AMBEDKAR BEEDI MANGALA VILLAGE CHAMARAJANAGARA TOWN CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT PIN CODE - 571 313. …PETITIONER (BY SRI KUMBAR VASANT FAKEERAPPA, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY PATTANA P.S CHAMARAJANAGARA TOWN P.S REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE HIM ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CRIME NO. 153/2026 OF CHAMARAJANAGARA TOWN P.S. IN THE EVENT HIS ARREST BEING MADE BY THE POLICE FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 318(4), 351(3) OF BNS, PENDING ON THE FILE OF ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE (SR.DN.) AND CJM COURT AT CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010492612026 NC: 2026:KHC:44168 CRL.P No. 10680 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Crime No.153/2026 registered by Chamarajanagar Town Police Station, Chamarajanagar, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4) and 351(3) of BNS, 2023, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.153/2026 was registered by Chamarajanagar Town Police Station, Chamarajanagar, for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein based on the first information dated 16.06.2026 received from Smt. Latha, who is the alleged victim in the present case. Apprehending arrest in the present case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.266/2026, which was dismissed on 06.07.2026 by the jurisdictional Sessions Court. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the alleged amount of Rs.2 lakhs has been paid to the petitioner - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010492612026 NC: 2026:KHC:44168 CRL.P No. 10680 of 2026 during the period 2024-2025 in installments and the same was towards repayment of the amount borrowed by the complainant. Petitioner has no other criminal antecedents and he is ready and willing to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. 5. Per contra, learned HCGP has opposed the petition. 6. In the typed first information dated 16.06.2026, the victim lady has stated that her husband had died on 29.04.2024 due to some illness. Petitioner, who is working as an ambulance driver subsequently got acquainted to her and he allegedly had promised to provide her a better job and also to secure compensation for the death of her husband. Petitioner allegedly had demanded a sum of Rs.5 lakhs from the first informant and accordingly, first informant had sent a sum of Rs.2 lakhs through phone pay and pledged her gold jewelry and paid further amount of Rs.3 lakhs to the petitioner. However, learned counsel for the petitioner has stated that the amount of Rs.2 lakhs was paid by the first informant during the period - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010492612026 NC: 2026:KHC:44168 CRL.P No. 10680 of 2026 2024-2025 in installments towards repayment of the amount borrowed by her from the petitioner. 7. Be that as it may, the fact remains that petitioner, who is an ambulance driver in the District Hospital, Chamarajanagar, has no other criminal antecedents. He has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. The alleged offences are triable by the Court of Magistrate and the maximum punishment for the same is imprisonment for a period of three years. Considering the nature of allegations found in the belated complaint as against the petitioner and also having regard to the aforesaid aspects of the matter, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order:- 8. The petition is allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.153/2026 registered by Chamarajanagar Town Police Station, Chamarajanagar, for the offences punishable under Sections - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010492612026 NC: 2026:KHC:44168 CRL.P No. 10680 of 2026 318(4) and 351(3) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. 2. Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and he shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. 4. The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. SD/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 80