- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010513252026 NC: 2026:KHC:46276 CRL.P No. 11306 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11306 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. VINOD @ VINOD M S/O MANJUNATH AGED 22 YEARS. 2. UMA W/O MANJUNATH AGED 42 YEARS. BOTH ARE R/AT ARASANAHALLI VILLAGE KUNDANA HOBLI DEVANAHALLI TALUK BANGALORE RURAL - 562 110. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI MANJUNATH B, DV. AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY VISHWANATHAPURA POLICE REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONERS ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CR.NO.154/2026 OF VISHWANATHAPURA POLICE STATION, REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 108, 85 OF BNS, 2023 AND U/S 3 AND 4 OF THE DP ACT, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT, AT DEVANAHALLI, AND DIRECT THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER OR ANY OTHER OFFICER, WHO IS INVESTIGATING IN THIS MATTER TO RELEASE THEM ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST IN THE ABOVE CASE. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010513252026 NC: 2026:KHC:46276 CRL.P No. 11306 of 2026 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused Nos.1 and 2 in Crime No.154 of 2026 registered by Vishwanathapura Police Station, Bengaluru District for offences punishable under Sections 108 & 85 of BNS, 2023 and Sections 3 & 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that, this petition may be dismissed as not pressed as against petitioner no.1 / accused no.1. 3. The said submission is placed on record. Criminal petition is dismissed as not pressed as against petitioner no.1 / accused no.1. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010513252026 NC: 2026:KHC:46276 CRL.P No. 11306 of 2026 5. FIR in Crime No.154 of 2026 was registered by Vishwanathapura Police Station, Bengaluru District for the afioresaid offences petitioners herein, based on the first information dated 08.07.2026, received from Smt. Akshata, sister of deceased Ranjitha. Apprehending arrest in this case, petitioner no.2 had filed Crl.Misc.No.15158 of 2026 which was dismissed by the jurisdictional Sessions Court on 18.07.2026. Therefore, she is before this Court. 6. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that the deceased Ranjitha had married accused no.1 against the wishes of her parents and relatives. Petitioner, who is arrayed as accused no.2 in the FIR is the mother of accused no.1. In the first information, it is alleged that after marriage, initially accused no.1 was taking care of his wife properly and subsequently, there was a demand made for payment of dowry and in the furtherance of the same he was allegedly ill-treating the deceased. It is also alleged that in compliance of the demand made by accused no.1, amount was paid by the relatives of the deceased as dowry for the purpose of purchasing a vehicle. In the first information, it is alleged that - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010513252026 NC: 2026:KHC:46276 CRL.P No. 11306 of 2026 the deceased was repeatedly tortured in her matrimonial house and ultimately she had committed suicide by hanging herself on 7.07.2026. 7. A reading of the averments found in first information would go to show that, allegation of receiving money from the relatives of deceased as dowry is found only as against accused no.1, who is the husband of the deceased. Omnibus allegations are found against the petitioner, who is a lady aged 42 years. She has undertaken to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. 8. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by petitioner no.2 is required to be granted. Accordingly, the following: ORDER (i) The Criminal Petition is partly allowed. (ii) The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release accused no.2 / petitioner no.2 in the event of her arrest in Crime No.154 of 2026 registered by Vishwanathapura Police Station, Bengaluru - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010513252026 NC: 2026:KHC:46276 CRL.P No. 11306 of 2026 District for offences punishable under Sections 108 & 85 of BNS, 2023 and Sections 3 & 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, subject to the following conditions: 1. The petitioner no.2 / accused no.2 shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer/jurisdictional Court. 2. The petitioner no.2 / accused no.2 shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. The petitioner no.2 / accused no.2 shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and she shall co-operate with the Police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. 4. The petitioner no.2 / accused no.2 shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NMS/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 42