- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010449682026 NC: 2026:KHC:44585 CRL.P No. 9620 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. 9620 OF 2026 BETWEEN: TIRUMALA DEVARAPALLI @ GANGADHAR T S/O NARASIMHAPPA AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS RESIDENT OF PULAKUNTA VILLAGE SRIKANTHAPURA VILLAGE AND POST ANANTHAPURA DISTRICT ANDRAPRADESH - 515 201. …PETITIONER (BY SRI DILRAJ JUDE ROHIT SEQUEIRA, ADV.) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY STATION HOUSE OFFICER, KUMARASWAMY LAYOUT POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU-560001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY 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 U/S 483 OF THE BNSS IN CONNECTION WITH CRIME NO.216/2021 REGISTERED BY KUMARASWAMY LAYOUT POLICE STATION NOW PENDING BEFORE THE HONBLE COURT OF 66TH ADDL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT BENGALURU IN SC NO.1497/2021 FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 201, 302, 120(B) R/W 34 OF IPC. 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: KAHC010449682026 NC: 2026:KHC:44585 CRL.P No. 9620 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.2 in SC No.1497/2021 pending before the Court of LXVI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, arising out of Crime No.216/2021 registered by Kumaraswamy Layout Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 201, 302, 120B and 34 of IPC, 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.216/2021 was registered by Kumaraswamy Layout Police Station, Bengaluru, against unknown persons based on the first information dated 20.08.2021 received from Christina, wife of George. During the course of investigation, petitioner was arrested on 23.08.2021 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing investigation, charge sheet is filed against 4 persons and petitioner is arrayed as accused No.2 in the charge sheet. His bail application filed before the Trial Court was rejected and - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010449682026 NC: 2026:KHC:44585 CRL.P No. 9620 of 2026 therefore, he had earlier approached this Court in Crl.P.No.4/2022, which was dismissed as withdrawn on 07.09.2022. Subsequently, he had filed Crl.P.No.1206/2023, which was dismissed for non-prosecution on 24.09.2024. Thereafter, he had filed Crl.P.No.6244/2025 which was dismissed by this Court on merits on 22.07.2025. It is under these circumstances, petitioner is before this Court in this successive bail petition. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that accused No.4 has been granted regular bail by the Coordinate Bench of this Court in Crl.P.No.2141/2026. The allegation against the petitioner and accused No.4 are similar in the charge sheet. Petitioner has no other criminal antecedents. Accordingly, he prays to allow the petition. Learned HCGP has opposed the petition. 5. As per the charge sheet allegations, accused No.1 was the tenant in the premises of deceased Shantharaju and his wife deceased Premalatha. Accused No.1 had conspired with the other accused to commit the murder of Shantharaju and his - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010449682026 NC: 2026:KHC:44585 CRL.P No. 9620 of 2026 wife and rob the gold and silver jewelry and other valuables from their house. On the alleged date of incident, accused Nos.1 to 4 having entered the house of deceased couple had caught hold of Premalatha and had committed her murder by strangulating her neck with a clutch wire. Thereafter, they had entered into the room where Shantharaju was sleeping and committed his murder by stabbing him repeatedly with a screwdriver. Subsequently, they had escaped from the said house along with gold and silver jewelry and other valuables. 6. The allegation as against petitioner herein and accused No.4, is similar in the charge sheet. Accused No.4 has been granted regular bail by the Coordinate Bench of this Court in Crl.P.No.2141/2026 vide order dated 17.04.2026. In paragraph No.7 of the said order, it is observed as follows:- "7. Having heard learned counsel for the respective parties, it appears that, the entire case is based on circumstantial evidence. Some material witnesses have been examined as P.W.-1 to 23 and documents have been marked as Ex-P.1 to P.47. As per the submission of learned counsel for the petitioner, none of the witnesses have supported - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010449682026 NC: 2026:KHC:44585 CRL.P No. 9620 of 2026 the case of the prosecution. Having considered the said changed circumstances it is appropriate to grant the relief as prayed for." 7. It is not in dispute that petitioner has no other criminal antecedents. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively on the ground of parity. Accordingly, the following order:- 8. The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in SC No.1497/2021 pending before the Court of LXVI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, arising out of Crime No.216/2021 registered by Kumaraswamy Layout Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 201, 302, 120B and 34 of IPC, 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; - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010449682026 NC: 2026:KHC:44585 CRL.P No. 9620 of 2026 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 DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 54