- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010416362026 NC: 2026:KHC:45605 CRL.P No. 8847 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8847 OF 2026 BETWEEN: STEPHEN ARTHUR JONES, AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, S/O SRI. ARTHUR VIJAYA KUMAR, JONES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, M.D., BENGALURU CITY, OFFICE NO. 648, BKN AMBARAM ESTATE, 1ST FLOOR, 1ST MAIN, BINNAMANGALA, INDIRANAGAR, BENGALURU 560 038 (AS DESCRIBED IN THE FIR) PRESENTLY AT: NO.22, 3RD BLOCK, 5TH LANE, DASAPPA LAYOUT, RAMAMURTHYNAGAR, BENGALURU 560016. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. S.G. BHAGAVAN, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, INDIRANAGAR POLICE STATION, HALSUR SUB-DIVISION, BENGALURU CITY - 560038, REP. BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU 560001. 2. CLIFFORD ROYAN, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010416362026 NC: 2026:KHC:45605 CRL.P No. 8847 of 2026 S/O DOMINIC XAVIER, NO. 65, 2ND CROSS, GRACE TOWN, HENNUR MAIN ROAD, BENGALURU 560043. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI B.N. JAGADEESHA, SPP-I FOR R-1) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 (FILED U/S.528 BNSS) CR.P.C TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN THE F.I.R. IN CRIME NO.159/2026 OF INDIRANAGAR POLICE STATION, HALASUR SUB DIVISION, BENGALURU CITY AND PENDING IN THE COURT OF THE IV ADDL. CJM, BENGALURU, REGISTERED FOR OFFENCES P/U/S 316(2) AND 318(4) OF BNS 2023, IN SO FAR AS HE AS ACCUSED NO.1 IS CONCERNED. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioner is before the Court seeking the following prayer: "WHEREFORE, the petitioner prays that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to quash the entire proceedings in the F.I.R. in Crime No.159 of 2026 of Indiranagar Police Station, Halasur Sub-Division, Bengaluru City and pending in the Court of the IV Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru, registered for offences punishable under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in so far as he as accused No.1 is concerned to meet the ends of justice." 2. Heard Sri.S.G.Bhagavan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Sri.B.N.Jagadeesha, learned SPP-I appearing for respondent No.1 and have perused the material on record. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010416362026 NC: 2026:KHC:45605 CRL.P No. 8847 of 2026 3. The matter was interdicted by an order dated 27.07.2026. 4. The petitioner is drawn as accused No.1, an authorized signatory of the Company-Jones Property Management Private Limited. It is the allegation that the petitioner has lured investors into investment into the Company-Jones Property Management Private Limited and the investors have no money back to them. Therefore, crime comes to be registered for offences punishable under Sections 316 and 318 of the BNS. The primary contention was that i.e., the offences under Sections 406 and 420 of IPC could not go hand in hand even at the crime stage. The said submission merited grant of an interim order, but on a deeper delving today of the papers gathered by the Investigating Officer which is produced by the learned SPP-I, the matter requires investigation in the least. Therefore, the matter must be investigated into. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010416362026 NC: 2026:KHC:45605 CRL.P No. 8847 of 2026 5. In the light of the interim order that is granted and subsisting today, I deem it appropriate to extend it for a period of ten days from today for the petitioner to secure bail at the hands of the concerned Court making it clear the protection would remain in operation only for 10 days from today. 6. With the aforesaid observations and directing participation in the investigation, reserving liberty to the petitioner to knock at the doors of this Court in the event of need, the petition stands disposed. 7. It is needless to state that no coercive steps shall be taken by the respondents against the petitioner for a period of ten days. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE CBC/List No.: 2 Sl No.: 102