- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010480502026 NC: 2026:KHC:46537 CRL.P No. 10371 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12753 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 10371 OF 2026 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12753 OF 2026 IN CRL.P No. 10371/2026 BETWEEN: ARJUN S/O MALLIKARJUN, AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.32, MYLARAPPABADAVANE ABBIGERE VILLAGE, BENGALURU - 560 090 ADDRESS AS PER AADHAAR SHAKHAPUR, DIGGI, YADGIR - 585 287 ADDRESS AS PER FIR NIL …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SIJI MALAYIL, ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SADASHIVANAGAR PS, REPRESENTED BY HCGP, HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE - 560 001 …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ASPP FOR R/STATE) Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010480502026 NC: 2026:KHC:46537 CRL.P No. 10371 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12753 of 2026 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO 1.SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 08.07.2026 IN CRL.MISC.NO.6292/2026 PASSED BY THE LXVI ADDL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE BENGALURU CITY CCH-67 VIDE ANNEXURE-C. IN CRL.P NO. 12753/2026 BETWEEN: RONALD CARLO S/O. FRANCIS CARLO, AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, R/AT 2ND CROSS, GANGOTHRI LAYOUT, KATTIGENAHALLI, YELAHANKA, BENGALURU - 560 064. PERMANENT R/OF KARIMANE VILLAGE, THUMAKODU KARIMANE, NILSKAL HOSANAGARA, SHIVAMOGGA - 577 425. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. B.V. PINTO, ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SADASHIVANAGAR POLICE STATION, BENGALURU, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ASPP FOR R/STATE) - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010480502026 NC: 2026:KHC:46537 CRL.P No. 10371 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12753 of 2026 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.P.C. (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.61/2026 REGISTERED BY SADASHIVANAGAR POLICE STATION, BENGALURU, FOR OFFENCES P/U/S 61(2), 123, 109(1), 308(2) AND 351(2) R/W SEC.3(5) OF THE BNS, 2023 AND SEC.66(E) OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2000, PENDING ON THE FILE OF 1ST ACJM, COURT, BENGALURU CITY. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused Nos.3 and 6 in Crime No.61 of 2026 registered by Sadashivanagar Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offences punishable under Section 61(2), 123, 109(1), 308(2), 351(2), 3(5) of BNS, 2023 and Section 66(E) of Information Technology Act, 2000, are before this Court in these petitions filed under Section 482 of BNSS, - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010480502026 NC: 2026:KHC:46537 CRL.P No. 10371 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12753 of 2026 2023 seeking anticipatory bail and 483 of BNSS, 2023 seeking regular bail respectively. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.61 of 2026 was registered by Sadashivanagar Police Station, Bengaluru City for the aforesaid offences against Smt.Vasuki Ramaswamy and others, based on the first information dated 16.06.2026 received from Uday Kumar Reddy, who is the alleged victim in the present case. Apprehending arrest in the case, accused No.3 had filed Crl.Misc.No.6292 of 2026, which was rejected by the jurisdictional Sessions Court on 08.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court in Crl.P.No.10371 of 2026. 4. During the course of investigation, accused No.6 was arrested on 16.07.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.7492 of 2026 was rejected - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010480502026 NC: 2026:KHC:46537 CRL.P No. 10371 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12753 of 2026 on 04.08.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court in Crl.P.No.12753 of 2026. 5. Perusal of the first information submitted by the alleged victim, who is said to be an advocate by profession, would go to show that in the year, 2021, he had appeared on behalf of one Srinivas Reddy in a criminal case. Accused No.1 is said to be the wife of aforesaid Srinivas Reddy. Subsequently, accused No.1 allegedly developed a relationship with the first informant and in the year, 2021 she had invited the first informant to her house and allegedly gave him coffee and after consuming the same, the first informant allegedly had lost his consciousness. Subsequently, accused No.1 allegedly threatened him that she had recorded his nude videos while having sex with her. 6. In the first information, it is further alleged that the first informant therefore made accused No.1 as his partner and in spite of the same, she used to make - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010480502026 NC: 2026:KHC:46537 CRL.P No. 10371 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12753 of 2026 various demands. He has also alleged that on various dates, she had provided him ice cream etc., to consume and after consuming the same, he used to feel giddy. Subsequently, his health had deteriorated and therefore he was treated in the hospital. Accused Nos.2 and 3 are said to be the drivers of accused No.1. The allegation against accused No.3 is that he had given information to the first informant that accused No.1 was mixing some drugs in the juice and coffee that she was providing to the first informant. So far as accused No.6 is concerned, allegation against him is that he had assisted accused No.1 for the purpose of hacking the mobile phone of the first informant. Accused Nos.1 and 2, who were arrested in the present case have been granted regular bail by this Court in Crl.P.No.10380 of 2026 vide order dated 27.08.2026. 7. In view of the aforesaid aspects of the matter and considering the nature of allegations against the petitioners who are arraigned as accused Nos.3 and 6, I - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010480502026 NC: 2026:KHC:46537 CRL.P No. 10371 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12753 of 2026 am of the opinion that their prayer for grant of anticipatory bail and regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following: IN CRL.P.NO.10371/2026 O R D E R The criminal 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.61 of 2026 registered by Sadashivanagar Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offences punishable under Section 61(2), 123, 109(1), 308(2), 351(2), 3(5) of BNS, 2023 and Section 66(E) of Information Technology Act, 2000, subject to the following conditions: a) 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 - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010480502026 NC: 2026:KHC:46537 CRL.P No. 10371 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12753 of 2026 the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. b) Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. c) Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and he shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. d) Petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. IN CRL.P.NO.12753/2026 O R D E R The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.61 of 2026 registered by Sadashivanagar Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offences punishable under Section 61(2), 123, 109(1), 308(2), 351(2), 3(5) of BNS, 2023 and Section - 9 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010480502026 NC: 2026:KHC:46537 CRL.P No. 10371 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12753 of 2026 66(E) of Information Technology Act, 2000, subject to the following conditions: a) The 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; 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. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE AMM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 54