- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010499212026 NC: 2026:KHC:45346 CRL.P No. 10851 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 10851 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SUBRAMANI K C S/O LATE CHIKKAPPAYA, AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS, RESIDING AT KALAPPANAHALLI VILLAGE, NADAGUDI HOBALI, HOSAKOTE TALUK KARNATAKA - 562 122 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. GIRISH R., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY NADAGUDI PS NOW REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. LALITHAMMA W/O NARAYANASWAMY AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, R/AT NADUVINAPURA VILLAGE, NANDAGUDI HOBALI, HOSAKOTE TQ, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT - 562 122. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R1 MS. ANANYA B., ADVOCATE FOR R2) Digitally signed by ANNAPURNA G Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010499212026 NC: 2026:KHC:45346 CRL.P No. 10851 of 2026 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO PASS AN ORDER GRANTING REGULAR BAIL THEREBY DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NANDAGUDI POLICE TO RELEASE THE ACCUSED/ PETITIONER IN SPL.C.NO.564/2026 IN CR.NO.71/2026 PENDING ON THE FILE OF HONBLE ADDL.DIST. AND SESSIONS JUDGE FTSC-II BENGALURU RURAL DIST. AT BENGALURU FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE P/U/S 127(4),64(2)(m),137(2),64(2)(i) OF BNS AND SEC.12,6,5(L),4(1) OF POCSO ACT. 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 in Special Case No.564 of 2026 pending before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-II, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru arising out of Crime No.71 of 2026 registered by Nandagudi Police Station, Bengaluru District for the offences punishable under Section 127(4), 64(2)(m), 137(2), 64(2)(i) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 12, 6, 5(L), 4(1) of 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 parties. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010499212026 NC: 2026:KHC:45346 CRL.P No. 10851 of 2026 3. FIR in Crime No.71 of 2026 was registered by Nandagudi Police Station, Bengaluru District for the offence punishable under Section 137(2) of BNS, 2023 against unknown person, based on first information dated 03.04.2026 received from respondent No.2, who is the mother of the alleged victim girl, aged 17 years. During the course of investigation, the accused and the victim girl were traced. Subsequently, the accused was arrested on 16.04.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge sheet is filed against him for the aforesaid offence. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.1217 of 2026 was rejected on 14.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. In the typed first information dated 03.04.2026 submitted by mother of the victim girl aged 17 years, it is stated that the victim girl, who was studying in II PUC was found missing from their house on 03.04.2026. Efforts made to trace her had failed. Therefore, the first informant - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010499212026 NC: 2026:KHC:45346 CRL.P No. 10851 of 2026 had approached the police on 03.04.2026. During the course of investigation, the petitioner and the victim girl were traced. Petitioner was arrested on 16.04.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. 5. Material on record would to go show that the petitioner and the victim girl were in love and on 02.04.2026 she had voluntarily left her house and accompanied the petitioner. Thereafter, the petitioner and the victim girl had stayed together for a period of 15 days before they were traced and brought back to their home. During the said period, the victim girl has not made any serious allegations against the petitioner of having committed forcible sexual assault on her. Investigation of the case is already completed. 6. Petitioner aged 23 years is in custody for the last more than 4 months. The continued detention of the petitioner in custody is likely to have an adverse effect on his future. Considering the nature of allegations found - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010499212026 NC: 2026:KHC:45346 CRL.P No. 10851 of 2026 against the petitioner and the age of the petitioner and the victim girl, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following: O R D E R The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Special Case No.564 of 2026 pending before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-II, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru arising out of Crime No.71 of 2026 registered by Nandagudi Police Station, Bengaluru District for the offences punishable under Section 127(4), 64(2)(m), 137(2), 64(2)(i) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 12, 6, 5(L), 4(1) of POCSO Act, 2012, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioner shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010499212026 NC: 2026:KHC:45346 CRL.P No. 10851 of 2026 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; 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.: 69