- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010504302026 NC: 2026:KHC:45146 CRL.P No. 10993 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 10993 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MANU @ MANOJ G S/O LATE GOPALA AGED ABOUT 20 YEARS R/AT BESTARA BEEDI PETE ARAKALAGUDU TOWN HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 102. …PETITIONER (BY SRI YASHWANTH M, ADV., FOR SRI GIRISH B BALADARE, ADV) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ARAKALAGUD POLICE STATION HASSAN DIST- 573102 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE - 01. 2. XXX …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R-1; R-2 SERVED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THE PETITION AND ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN SPL. CASE NO.325/2025 (ARISING OUT OF CRIME NO.136/2025) REGISTERED BY THE ARAKALAGUDU POLICE STATION HASSAN DISTRICT FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 4, 6, 8 OF POCSO ACT 2012 R/W 64 OF BNS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL.DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC-I AT HASSAN. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010504302026 NC: 2026:KHC:45146 CRL.P No. 10993 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Spl.C.No.325/2025 pending before the Court of Addl. District & Sessions Judge, FTSC-1 at Hassan, arising out of Crime No.136/2025 registered by Arakalagud Police Station, Hassan District, for the offences punishable under Section 64 of BNS, 2023, and Sections 4, 6 & 8 of the POCSO Act, 2012, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned HCGP for respondent no.1-State. Respondent no.2 who is served in the matter has remained unrepresented before this Court. 3. FIR in Crime No.136/2025 was registered by Arakalagud Police Station, Hassan District, for the offences punishable under Section 64 of BNS, 2023, and Sections 4 & 6 of the POCSO Act, against the petitioner herein based on the first information received from the victim girl aged 16 years on 20.06.2025. During the course of investigation, petitioner was arrested on 21.06.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010504302026 NC: 2026:KHC:45146 CRL.P No. 10993 of 2026 completing investigation, charge sheet is filed against him for the aforesaid offences. His bail application filed before the Trial Court in Spl.C.No.325/2025 was rejected on 02.02.2026. Therefore, petitioner is before this Court. 4. In the first information as well as in the charge sheet, it is alleged that petitioner who was in love with the victim girl, had sexual intercourse with her against her wishes, and as a result, she had conceived. The victim girl has subsequently given birth to a boy baby and the DNA test report which is now available on record would go to show that petitioner is being excluded from being the biological father of the male child born to the victim girl. Learned Counsel for the petitioner has produced the order sheet of the Trial Court in Spl.C.No.325/2025, wherein the investigation officer has sought permission of the court to conduct further investigation in view of the aforesaid DNA test report. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that petitioner's prayer for grant of regular bail is required to be considered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order: - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010504302026 NC: 2026:KHC:45146 CRL.P No. 10993 of 2026 7. The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Spl.C.No.325/2025 pending before the Court of Addl. District & Sessions Judge, FTSC-1 at Hassan, arising out of Crime No.136/2025 registered by Arakalagud Police Station, Hassan District, for the offences punishable under Section 64 of BNS, 2023, and Sections 4, 6 & 8 of the POCSO Act, 2012, subject to the following conditions: a) 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; 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. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KK