- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505352026 NC: 2026:KHC:45482 CRL.P No. 10988 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. 10988 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)-) BETWEEN: SRI. SANTOSH KUMAR.S S/O. G SRINIVAS MURTHY, AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, CURRENTLY RESIDING AT NO. 215, 8TH CROSS, ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL ROAD, NEAR GURUSWAMY FLOOR MILL, RAMAMURTHY NAGAR, BENGALURU - 560 016 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. AJITH N.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY K R PURAM POLICE STATION, BENGALURU DISTRICT - 560 036 REP. BY HCGP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU - 560 001 2. SRI. PREAM KUMAR R @ PREM KUMAR S/O. LATE. K RAMAKRISHNAN AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, R/AT NO. T07, 4TH MAIN, HARBAN, CASTER LAYOUT, T C PALYA MAIN ROAD, K R PURAM, BENGALURU - 560 036 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. SHIVANANDA REDDY, ADVOCATE FOR R2) Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505352026 NC: 2026:KHC:45482 CRL.P No. 10988 of 2026 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT ENLARGE REGULAR BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN CRIME NO.411/2026 LODGED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 K.R. PURAM POLICE ON THE BASIS OF THE DE-FACTO COMPLAINANT U/S 7 AND 8 OF PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012 BY SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 03.07.2026 PASSED IN CRL.MISC.NO.5948/2026 PASSES BY THE FTSC-I, I ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT BENGALURU AT ANNEXURE - E. 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 in Crime No.411/2026 registered by the K.R.Puram Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offence punishable under Sections 7 and 8 of the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012, (for short POCSO Act), is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.411/2026 was registered by K.R.Puram Police Station, Bangalore City, for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner based on the first information dated - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505352026 NC: 2026:KHC:45482 CRL.P No. 10988 of 2026 07.06.2026 received from respondent No.2 who is the father of the alleged victim girl, aged 14 years. During the course of investigation of the case, the petitioner was arrested on 07.06.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions court in Crl.Misc. No.5948/2026 was rejected on 03.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. In the first information dated 07.06.2026 submitted by the father of the victim girl, it is stated that on the said date at about 7.10 pm., the victim girl had telephoned to her brother and informed him that a stranger had touched her private part inappropriately near Lakshmi Jewellery shop at T.C.Palya Main Road, K.R.Puram. Immediately thereafter, son of the first informant had gone to the said spot and when he enquired with the person who had touched his sister inappropriately, the said person was simply laughing. It is under these circumstances, FIR was registered against the petitioner. 5. During the course of investigation, he was arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Major portion of the investigation is already completed. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505352026 NC: 2026:KHC:45482 CRL.P No. 10988 of 2026 6. Considering the nature of allegations found against the petitioner and the punishment provided for the alleged offence, 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: ORDER (i) The criminal petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.411/2026 registered by the K.R.Puram Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offence punishable under Sections 7 and 8 of the POCSO Act, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioner shall execute a 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 their appearance for valid reasons; c) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010505352026 NC: 2026:KHC:45482 CRL.P No. 10988 of 2026 d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE ND List No.: 1 Sl No.: 84