- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479092026 NC: 2026:KHC:44586 CRL.P No. 10366 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 10366 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI GANGARAJU S/O GANGAPPA AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS R/AR. CHOKKANAHALLI VILLAGE MANDIKALLU HOBLI CHIKKABALLAPUR TALUK CHIKKABALLAPUR DISTRICT - 562 104. …PETITIONER (BY SRI DEVENDRA N, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY PERESANDRA POLICE STATION CHIKKABALLAPUR DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SR VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.P.C (U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON REGULAR BAIL IN CC.NO.629/2026 ARISING OUT OF CR.NO.53/2026 REGISTERED BY PERESANDRA P.S., CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT (RESPONDENT HEREIN) FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 80(2),85,3(5) OF BNS, 2023, U/S 3 AND 4 OF D.P ACT, 1961. 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: KAHC010479092026 NC: 2026:KHC:44586 CRL.P No. 10366 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.1 in Crime No.53/2026 registered by Peresandra Police Station, Chikkaballapura, for the offences punishable under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of BNS, 2023, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, 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.53/2026 was registered by Peresandra Police Station, Chikkaballapura, against petitioner and two others based on first information dated 08.03.2026, received from Narasimhappa, father of deceased Varalakshmi, who was the wife of the petitioner. During the course of investigation of the said case, petitioner was arrested on 08.03.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge sheet is filed for the aforesaid offences against three persons and petitioner is arrayed as accused No.1 in the charge sheet. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479092026 NC: 2026:KHC:44586 CRL.P No. 10366 of 2026 Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.327/2026 was rejected on 06.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that deceased Varalakshmi and the petitioner were loving each other however, the family members of Varalakshmi did not agree to perform her marriage with petitioner and therefore, on 11.09.2023, petitioner had taken Varalakshmi with him and had married her in a temple at Renumalakahalli, Chikkaballapura Taluk. A girl child was born to them, who is now aged two years. It appears that Varalakshmi had committed suicide in her matrimonial house on the intervening night of 07.03.2026 and 08.03.2026. Subsequently, her father had approached the police alleging that accused persons were ill-treating Varalakshmi in her matrimonial house in furtherance of demand for dowry and therefore, she had committed suicide. In the first information, it is not disclosed that relatives of Varalakshmi had not agreed for the marriage between petitioner and Varalakshmi. On the other hand, allegation is found in the first information that there was a demand for dowry. Since petitioner had married Varalakshmi against the - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479092026 NC: 2026:KHC:44586 CRL.P No. 10366 of 2026 wishes of her parents and relatives, the allegation of demand for dowry becomes doubtful. Petitioner is required to take care of his minor daughter, who is aged about two years. Investigation of the case is now completed and charge sheet is filed. Under the circumstances, the following order:- 5. The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.53/2026 registered by Peresandra Police Station, Chikkaballapura, for the offences punishable under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of BNS, 2023, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, subject to the following conditions: a) 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 his appearance for valid reasons; c) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010479092026 NC: 2026:KHC:44586 CRL.P No. 10366 of 2026 d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future; Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 64