- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569222026 NC: 2026:KHC:44826 CRL.P No. 12610 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12610 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SONU KUMAR S/O SHYAM KISHORE PANDAY, AGE 28 YEARS, BELWA PO, BELWA, PIPRAHI, SHEOHAR, PIPRHI, BIHAR - 843 334. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. K. S. PONNAPPA.,ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, SIDDAPURA POLICE STATION, SUB-DIVISION, JAYANAGAR BENGALURU CITY - 560 011 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS PETITION FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL AND IN THE EVENT OF THE PETITIONER BEING ARRESTED BY THE JURISDICTIONAL SIDDAPURA P.S. IN CRIME NO.156 OF 2026 FOR OFFENCES P/U/S 75 AND 78 OF THE BNS, 2023 DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL.THE LXVII ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, C/c. XLV ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569222026 NC: 2026:KHC:44826 CRL.P No. 12610 of 2026 SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU HAS REJECTED THE BAIL PETITION ON 07.08.2026 IN CRL.MISC.NO.7390/2026. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Crime No. 156 of 2026 registered by Siddapura Police Station, Bengaluru city for offences punishable under Sections 75 and 78 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.156 of 2026 was registered by Siddapura Police Station, Bengaluru city for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein, based on the first information dated 20.07.2026 received from Smt. Lekshmidevi, mother of the alleged victim. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.7390/2026, which was rejected by the jurisdictional Sessions Court on 07.08.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569222026 NC: 2026:KHC:44826 CRL.P No. 12610 of 2026 4. Material on record would go to show that, petitioner is working as a yoga therapist at NIMHANS Hospital in Bengaluru. It appears that, the victim girl aged 18 years was admitted in the said hospital. Allegation against the petitioner is that on 18.07.2006 he allegedly had tried to touch her inappropriately and thereafter, hugged and kissed her. In respect of the alleged incident that had taken place on 18.07.2026, first information is submitted by the mother of the alleged victim on 20.07.2026. Maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of three years. Petitioner who has no other criminal antecedents has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. 5. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, more so, the nature of allegations found in the first information, 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 (i) The Criminal Petition is allowed. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569222026 NC: 2026:KHC:44826 CRL.P No. 12610 of 2026 (ii) 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. 156 of 2026 is registered by Siddapura Police Station, Bengaluru city for offences punishable under Sections 75 and 78 of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions:- 1. The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order on executing 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 investigating officer/jurisdictional Court. 2. The petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. The petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness 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. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569222026 NC: 2026:KHC:44826 CRL.P No. 12610 of 2026 In view of the disposal of the criminal petition, pending interlocutory applications, if any, do no survive for consideration. SD/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30