- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010236032026 NC: 2026:KHC:40377 CRL.P No. 5132 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 5132 OF 2026 BETWEEN: PRUTHVI RAJ S/O. MAHADEV NAYAK, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, R/AT NO.175, VASANTAPURA SLUM, BEHIND MARAMMA TEMPLE LALU SHOP SAID, UTTARAHALLI MAIN ROAD, BANGALORE CITY, KARNATAKA - 560 062. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NATARAJ D., ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THALAGATTAPURA POLICE STATION, REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OFF/AT HIGH COURT COMPLEX BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 OF CR.P.C. (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010236032026 NC: 2026:KHC:40377 CRL.P No. 5132 of 2026 THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL UNDER SECTION 439 OF CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IN CRIME. NO.196/2022 (SC.NO.265/2022) OF THALAGHATTAPURA POLICE STATION, FOR OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION IPC 1860 U/S 302,201,34 PENDING ON THE FILE OF BEFORE THE IX ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, BENGALURU. 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 No.2 in SC No.265 of 2022 pending before the Court of IX Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru arising out of Crime No.196 of 2022 registered by Thalaghattapura Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offences punishable under Section 302, 201, 34 of IPC, 1860, is before this Court, in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010236032026 NC: 2026:KHC:40377 CRL.P No. 5132 of 2026 3. FIR in Crime No.196/2022 was registered by Thalaghattapura Police Station, Bengaluru City for offence punishable under Section 302 of IPC, 1860 against Yasar and the petitioner herein, based on the first information dated 15.08.2022 received from Vinod, relative of deceased Manja. In the said case, the petitioner was arrested on 15.09.2022 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, the charge sheet has been filed against two persons and petitioner is arraigned as accused No.2 in the charge sheet. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.347 of 2026 was rejected on 09.03.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that deceased Manja and accused No.1 and 2 are acquainted to each other. On 14.08.2022, accused No.1 had quarreled with Manja with regard to sharing of the money, which they had got after selling bikes, which were stolen by them. It is in this background, accused No.1 - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010236032026 NC: 2026:KHC:40377 CRL.P No. 5132 of 2026 developed vengeance against Manja and therefore, he conspired with accused No.2 to commit the murder of Manja. Subsequently, accused Nos.1 and 2 took Manja along with them in their motorbike and in a vacant space within the jurisdiction of Thalaghattapura Police Station, they allegedly assaulted him with beer bottle and committed his murder. Entire case of the prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence. 5. Petitioner is in custody in the present case for the last nearly 4 years. Before the Trial Court as on this date, 9 charge sheet witnesses have been examined as PW.1 to PW.9, out of the 42 charge sheet witnesses cited in the present case. Therefore, the chances of the case being disposed of on merits in the near future is very remote. 6. Under the circumstances, without expressing any opinion on the merits and demerits of the case, petitioner's prayer for grant of regular bail needs to be - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010236032026 NC: 2026:KHC:40377 CRL.P No. 5132 of 2026 answered affirmatively, considering the period of his incarceration. Accordingly, the following: O R D E R The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in SC No.265 of 2022 pending before the Court of IX Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru arising out of Crime No.196 of 2022 registered by Thalaghattapura Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offences punishable under Section 302, 201, 34 of IPC, 1860, 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 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: KAHC010236032026 NC: 2026:KHC:40377 CRL.P No. 5132 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.: 53