- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010531932026 NC: 2026:KHC:47004 CRL.P No. 11710 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11710 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. MANJUNATHA S/O NAGAPPA AGED 35 YEARS R/AT GOLLAPALLI VILLAGE MADAKASIRA MANDAL MADAKASIRA TALUK SATHYASAI DIST.- 515 301. …PETITIONER (BY SRI MANJUNATH B.R, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY PAVAGADA POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON BAIL IN CR NO.184/2026 OF PAVAGADA POLICE STATION REGISTERED FOR OFFENCES P/U/S 109, 74, 115(2), 126(2), R/W 3(5) OF BNS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRL.CIVIL JUDGE (SR.DN) AND CJM COURT, PAVAGADA. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010531932026 NC: 2026:KHC:47004 CRL.P No. 11710 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Crime No.184 of 2026 registered by Pavagada Police Station, Tumakuru District for offences punishable under Sections 109, 74, 115(2), 126(2) R/w Section 3(5) 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.184 of 2026 was registered by Pavagada Police Station, Tumakuru District for offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 126(2) R/w Section 3(5) of BNS 2023 against unknown person, based on the first information dated 03.07.2026 received from Sri Prakash, husband of injured victim Smt. Nagalakshmi. During the course of investigation, petitioner herein was arrested on 07.07.2026 and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.5253 of 2026 was rejected on 22.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010531932026 NC: 2026:KHC:47004 CRL.P No. 11710 of 2026 4. First informant is the husband of the alleged victim Smt. Nagalakshmi. In the first information, it is averred that on 02.07.2026, Smt. Nagalakshmi, who had gone out of her house at about 08.00 a.m., had not returned home. Subsequently, the first informant received a phone call at 8.00 p.m, from hospital stating that his wife was admitted in the hospital. Immediately, he went to the hospital and on enquiry, his wife Nagalakshmi informed that two persons, who were wearing mask, came in a motorbike and had assaulted her on the face, nose, lips & ear etc and caused injuries. It is under these circumstances, FIR was registered against unknown person for the aforesaid offences. 5. During the course of investigation, petitioner was arrested on 07.07.2026. His remand application would go to show that on 03.07.2026, injured Nagalakshmi had made a statement before the police that she is not in a position to talk and she would come to the police station after taking treatment for the injuries suffered by her. Thereafter, on 07.07.2026, she had appeared before the police and had stated that on 02.07.2026, Manjunath, who is known to her induced her to sit - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010531932026 NC: 2026:KHC:47004 CRL.P No. 11710 of 2026 in his motorbike and took her to an isolated place near Palavalli Village where he allegedly misbehaved with her and had tried to sexually assault her. Thereafter, he allegedly assaulted her with a stone on her face causing injuries. From the aforesaid statement of the victim, it is very clear that, she knew the accused Manjunath, with whom she had travelled in the motorbike. But the first information is registered against unknown person, based on the information given by the victim lady. 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner has specifically stated in the petition that he had a financial transaction with the first informant and in order to overcome the same, a false complaint has been lodged against him. The wound certificate of the victim would go to show that she has suffered only simple injuries in the incident in question. 7. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following:- - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010531932026 NC: 2026:KHC:47004 CRL.P No. 11710 of 2026 ORDER (i) Criminal petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.184 of 2026 registered by Pavagada Police Station, Tumakuru District for offences punishable under Sections 109, 74, 115(2), 126(2) R/w Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) 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 NMS/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 29