- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010543562026 NC: 2026:KHC:42955 CRL.P No. 11968 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. 11968 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SHRI MANJUNATH GOWDA L S/O LAKSHMI NARAYANA A AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS RESIDING AT BESIDE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL, SAGENAHALLI PO SIDLAIAHNAKOTE SUB DISTRICT, HIRIYUR DISTRICT CHITTRADURGA KARNATAKA - 577545. …PETITIONER (BY SMT. VANDANA P.L, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BANASWADI POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO ALLOW THE PRESENT PETITION AND ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CRIME NO.534/2026 REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCE P/US/ 108 OF BNS 2023 ARRAIGHING THE PRESENT PETITIONER AS ACCUSED, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE XI ADDL CMM BENGALURU BY DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL. 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: KAHC010543562026 NC: 2026:KHC:42955 CRL.P No. 11968 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Crime No.534/2026 registered by Banaswadi Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offence punishable under Section 108 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.534/2026 was registered against the petitioner herein for the aforesaid offences based on the first information dated 07.07.2026 received from H.Nagesh - father of deceased Soundarya. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl. Misc. No.7025/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was dismissed on 31.07.2026. 4. Perusal of the first information would go to show that deceased Soundarya - daughter of the first informant was pursuing her MBA in CMR University and was staying in paying guest accommodation. She had committed suicide on - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010543562026 NC: 2026:KHC:42955 CRL.P No. 11968 of 2026 06.07.2026 by hanging herself. Subsequently, first informant learnt that deceased was in love with the petitioner and he had quarreled with her recently. Therefore, the first informant suspected that the petitioner was the cause for the death of his daughter. It is under these circumstances, FIR was registered against the petitioner. 5. Considering the nature of allegations in the first information against the petitioner who has no other criminal antecedents, I am of the opinion that that petitioner's prayer for grant of anticipatory bail is required to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order: 6. 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.534/2026 registered by Banaswadi Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offence punishable under Section 108 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 - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010543562026 NC: 2026:KHC:42955 CRL.P No. 11968 of 2026 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 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. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KK