- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010439632026 NC: 2026:KHC:42083 CRL.P No. 9364 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 9364 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: MANJUNATHA G S/O. GURUMURTHY, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, R/AT NEAR BY DURGAMBA TEMPLE, SOLLAPURA VILLAGE, CHITRADURGA TALUK - 577 501. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KANTHARAJAPPA M. G., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE BY POLICE INSPECTOR, CHITRADURGA WOMEN POLICE STATION, CHITRADURGA SUB-DIVISION.573116. CHITRADURGA DISTRICT. REP BY-HIGH COURT SPP, HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. SMT. RENUKAMMA, W/O NAGARAJA. AGEAD ABOUT 35 YEARS, OCC HOUSE WIFE, Digitally signed by ANNAPURNA G Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010439632026 NC: 2026:KHC:42083 CRL.P No. 9364 of 2026 R/AT SOLLAPURA VILLAGE, CHITRADURGA TALUK - 577 501. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN RESPECT OF IN CRIME.NO.42/2026 FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 137(2) 64(2)(m) OF BNS AND U/S.4 AND 6 OF POCSO ACT OF WOMEN POLICE STATION AT CHITRADURGA, PENDING ON THE FILE OF SPL. ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, AT CHITRADURGA, BY ALLOWING THIS PETITION. 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 Crime No.42 of 2026 registered by Chitradurga Women Police Station, Chitradurga for the offences punishable under Section 137(2), 64(2)(m) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 4 and 6 of POCSO Act, 2012, is before this Court, in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 seeking regular bail. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010439632026 NC: 2026:KHC:42083 CRL.P No. 9364 of 2026 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader on behalf of respondent No.1 / State. Respondent No.2 who is served in the matter, has remained unrepresented before this Court. 3. FIR in Crime No.42 of 2026 was registered by Chitradurga Women Police Station, Chitradurga for the offence punishable under Section 137(2) of BNS, 2023 against unknown persons, based on the first information dated 07.05.2026 received from respondent No.2, who is the mother of the alleged victim, who was aged 17 years 7 months as on the date of registration of FIR. In the said case, the petitioner was arrested on 01.06.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the Trial Court in Crime No.42 of 2026 was rejected on 15.06.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Victim girl aged 17 years 7 months was found missing from her house on 07.05.2026. Subsequently, the - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010439632026 NC: 2026:KHC:42083 CRL.P No. 9364 of 2026 petitioner and the victim were traced together. Petitioner was arrested on 01.06.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. The statement of the victim girl under Section 183 of BNSS, 2023 was recorded before the Court of jurisdictional Magistrate in the present case. In the said statement, the victim girl has stated that she was in love with the petitioner and on 07.05.2026, she had voluntarily left her house and had accompanied the petitioner and subsequently they got married in a temple. Since her mother had registered a missing complaint, they both had returned. Except the same, she has not made any allegation as against the petitioner, much less any allegation about he committing any act of sexual assault on her. 5. Petitioner aged 24 years without any criminal antecedents, is in custody from 01.06.2026. Investigation of the case is now completed. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010439632026 NC: 2026:KHC:42083 CRL.P No. 9364 of 2026 6. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular 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 Crime No.42 of 2026 registered by Chitradurga Women Police Station, Chitradurga for the offences punishable under Section 137(2), 64(2)(m) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 4 and 6 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 one surety 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; - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010439632026 NC: 2026:KHC:42083 CRL.P No. 9364 of 2026 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; e) The petitioner shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without permission of the said Court until the case registered against him is disposed off. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE AMM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 29