- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010478822026 NC: 2026:KHC:44951 CRL.P No. 10273 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 10273 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)-) BETWEEN: 1. M.T.AJJANNA @ AJJAIAH S/O. THIPPESWAMY, AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, OCC COOLIE WORK IN BRICK KILN, R/AT YERRENAHALLI VILLAGE, MOLAKALMURU TALUK CHITRADURGA DIST.- 577535 (NOW IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY) …PETITIONER (BY SRI. S G RAJENDRA REDDY.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE BY MOLAKALMURU POLICE, CHITRADURGA DIST. RPTD. BY S.P.P., HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) CRL.P FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CR.NO.38/2026 OF MOLAKALMURU P.S. CHITRADURGA DIST. PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE 1ST ADDL.DIST. AND SESSIONS Digitally signed by DHANALAKSHMI MURTHY Location: HIGH COURTOF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010478822026 NC: 2026:KHC:44951 CRL.P No. 10273 of 2026 JUDGE, CHITRADURGA IN S.C.NO.99/2026 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 103(1),238,190 OF BNS, 2023. 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 No.5 in SC No. 99/2026 pending before the Court of I Additional District & Sessions judge, Chitradurga, arising out of Crime No.38/2026 registered by Molakalmuru Police Station, Chitradurga for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 238 and 190 of BNS, 2023 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.38/2026 was registered by Molakalmuru Police Station for the offence punishable under Section 103(1) of BNS, 2023 against unknown persons based on the first information dated 17.02.2026, received from one Pavan, nephew of the deceased Obanna. During the course of investigation, 6 persons - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010478822026 NC: 2026:KHC:44951 CRL.P No. 10273 of 2026 were arrested and after completing investigation, charge sheet is filed against accused Nos. 1 to 5 and another juvenile. The petitioner is arrayed as accused No. 5 in the charge sheet. His bail application filed before the Trial Court in SC No. 99/2026 was rejected on 03.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Perusal of the charge sheet materials would go to show that deceased Obanna allegedly had illicit relationship with accused No.3, who is the mother of the juvenile accused. Accused No.2 is the husband of accused No.4. It appears that, Obanna was spreading rumours that accused No.1 had illicit relationship with accused No.4 and therefore, accused Nos. 1 and 2 also had developed vengeance against Obanna. Since the juvenile accused was being teased by the villagers for the reason that his mother had illicit relationship with Obanna, he also had an ill-will against Obanna. It is under these circumstances, accused persons had conspired to commit the murder of Obanna. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010478822026 NC: 2026:KHC:44951 CRL.P No. 10273 of 2026 5. On the alleged date of incident, accused persons had gone near the brick unit of CW14 Lakshmana, in which deceased Obanna was working. Allegation against the petitioner is that, at the instance of other accused persons, he had disconnected electricity supply to the brick unit and thereafter accused Nos. 1 to 4 caught hold of Obanna, the juvenile accused had strangulated the neck of Obanna with a towel and committed his murder. 5. The entire case of the prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence. The only allegation as against the petitioner is that, he had disconnected the electricity supply to the brick unit of CW14 at the instance of other accused persons, who had conspired to commit the murder of Obanna. Investigation of the case is completed. Petitioner, who has no other criminal antecedents, is in custody from 19.02.2026. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter and more so the nature of allegations against the petitioner, I am of the opinion that - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010478822026 NC: 2026:KHC:44951 CRL.P No. 10273 of 2026 his prayer for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively. In view of the above, the following: ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in SC No. 99/2026 pending before the Court of I Additional District & Sessions judge, Chitradurga, arising out of Crime No.38/2026 registered by Molakalmuru Police Station, Chitradurga for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 238 and 190 of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioner shall execute 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; - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010478822026 NC: 2026:KHC:44951 CRL.P No. 10273 of 2026 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 CM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 65