- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505032026 NC: 2026:KHC:45154 CRL.P No. 11076 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. 11076 OF 2026 BETWEEN: RAMAVATH SEENU AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS S/O RAMAVATH RAHAMAHAL R/AT PALAGU THANDA ODIPATTALA, DEVARAGUDDA NELAGONDA DISTRICT TELANGANA STATE - 508 001. …PETITIONER (BY SMT. SONU S, ADV., FOR SMT. VANDANA P.L, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY MANIPAL POLICE STATION REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINYA MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL INC ONNECTION CRIME NO.39/2026N REGISTERED BY THE MANIPAL POLICE STATION, FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 140(2), 140(3) BNS, PENDING ON 2ND ADDL. SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND ACJM, UDUPI. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505032026 NC: 2026:KHC:45154 CRL.P No. 11076 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused no.1 in Crime No.39/2026 registered by Manipal Police Station, Udupi District, for the offences punishable under Section 140(2) & 140(3) & 140(4) of BNS, 2023 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. FIR in Crime No.39/2026 was registered by Manipal Police Station, Udupi District, initially for the offences punishable under Section 140(2) & 140(3) of BNS, 2023 against petitioner herein and others based on the first information dated 31.03.2026 received from Sri Rama Madivala, brother of the alleged victim Rajesh Madivala. In the said case, petitioner, who was arrayed as accused no.1 was arrested on 09.04.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl. Misc. No.262/2026 was rejected on 30.06.2026. Therefore, petitioner is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505032026 NC: 2026:KHC:45154 CRL.P No. 11076 of 2026 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that investigation of the case is now completed and charge sheet has been filed as against eight persons and petitioner is arrayed as accused no.1 in the charge sheet. He submits that the alleged victim had borrowed huge money from the accused persons and others at Ranga Reddy District in Telangana State. He is facing multiple criminal cases in Telangana State and was absconding. Petitioner and other accused persons wanted to apprehend Rajesh Madivala and produce him before the police at Telangana. Petitioner has no other criminal antecedents. Accordingly, he prays to allow the petition. 5. Per contra, learned HCGP who has opposed the petition submits that victim has suffered grievous injuries as a result of assault made by the accused persons. He was confined for a period of four days in the custody of the accused persons. Alleged offences are punishable with life imprisonment. Accordingly, he prays to dismiss the petition. 6. In the first information dated 31.03.2026 submitted by the brother of the alleged victim, he has stated that at about - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505032026 NC: 2026:KHC:45154 CRL.P No. 11076 of 2026 12.15 p.m. on the said day, when he and his brother were drinking tea in the hospital canteen at Manipal, eight persons who came there in a Seltos car allegedly forcibly took his brother Rajesh Madivala in their vehicle and escaped. He has stated that his brother Rajesh was doing real estate business in Telangana State and about two months earlier, 12 people had come in search of his brother and had threatened with dire consequences to his life. It is under these circumstances, FIR was registered. During the course of investigation, some of the accused persons were arrested in the present case. 7. Material made available to this Court by the learned Counsel for the petitioner would go to show that the alleged victim is facing multiple criminal cases in Telangana State and he has also produced material, which prima facie shows that the alleged victim had borrowed huge money from the accused persons. 8. According to the learned Counsel for the petitioner, accused persons had come to Manipal only to apprehend the alleged victim and produce him before the concerned police in - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505032026 NC: 2026:KHC:45154 CRL.P No. 11076 of 2026 Telangana State, since the alleged victim was absconding in the criminal cases registered against him. 9. In the charge sheet which is now filed, it is alleged that accused persons who had kidnapped the alleged victim, confined him in a hotel room and had assaulted him in the background of the financial dispute between the parties. Accused nos.3 & 8 as against whom similar allegations are found in the present case have been granted regular bail by this Court in Crl.P.No.7820/2026 & Crl.P.No.7659/2026, respectively. 10. It is not in dispute that petitioner herein has no criminal antecedents. Investigation of the case is now completed and charge sheet is filed. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that petitioner's prayer for grant of regular bail is required to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order: 11. Criminal petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.39/2026 registered by Manipal Police Station, Udupi District, for offences punishable under - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505032026 NC: 2026:KHC:45154 CRL.P No. 11076 of 2026 Section 140(2), 140(3) and 140(4) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties (Out of which one must be local 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; 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 KK