- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010531712026 NC: 2026:KHC:45960 CRL.P No. 11663 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11663 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SMT. SUDHA H W/O K. PRATHAP NAIKA AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS R/AT MALAVAGOPPA NEAR CHANNABASAVESHWARA TEMPLE, SHIVAMOGGA - 577 222. …PETITIONER (BY SRI MAHAMED GUFRAN N, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY DODDAPETE POLICE STATION SHIVAMOGGA, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF ARREST OF PETITIONER IN CR.NO.239/2026 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT DODDAPETE POLICE STATION, SHIVAMOGGA FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 61(1), 318(4), OF BNS ACT 2023, PENDING BEFORE THE HONBLE COURT OF JMFC-II, SHIVAMOGGA. 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: KAHC010531712026 NC: 2026:KHC:45960 CRL.P No. 11663 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused No.2 in Crime No.239/2026 registered by Doddapete Police Station, Shivamogga, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4) and 61(1) of BNS, 2023, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.239/2026 was registered by Doddapete Police Station, Shivamogga, for the aforesaid offences against one Lokesh and two others, based on the first information dated 03.07.2026 received from Daravatto Kranthi Kumar, manager and authorized representative of Punjab National Bank. Apprehending arrest in the case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.712/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court which was rejected on 22.07.2026. Therefore, she is before this Court. 4. In the first information dated 03.07.2026, it is stated that accused Nos.1 and 2, who were holding savings bank account - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010531712026 NC: 2026:KHC:45960 CRL.P No. 11663 of 2026 in Punjab National Bank had availed gold loan after pledging their gold jewelry. The allegations against the petitioner is that she had totally borrowed a sum of Rs.3,98,000/- from the bank by pledging her gold jewelries. Subsequently, it was found that the gold jewelry which were pledged by petitioner were spurious. Accused No.3 is the authorized appraiser of gold working for Punjab National Bank. It is not in dispute that only based on his report, loan was sanctioned to the petitioner by the bank. After a period of 3 months, complaint is now lodged stating that gold jewelries, which were pledged by the petitioner are spurious. Considering the nature of allegations found against the petitioner, who is a married lady, having no other criminal antecedents, I am of the opinion that her prayer for grant of anticipatory bail, needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following order:- 5. The petition is allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.239/2026 registered by Doddapete Police Station, Shivamogga, for the - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010531712026 NC: 2026:KHC:45960 CRL.P No. 11663 of 2026 offences punishable under Sections 318(4) and 61(1) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. 2. Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and he shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. 4. The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 88