- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010507352026 NC: 2026:KHC:47143 CRL.P No. 11084 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 31ST DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11084 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: SRI BHARATH KUMAR SON OF RUDHRAIAH, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS RESIDING AT AVARAGERE COLONY VILLAGE, BIDADI HOBLI, RAMANAGARA TALUK, BENGALURU SOUTH DISTRICT-562109. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. P.M. GOPI, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. P.M. SIDDAMALLAPPA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY KUMBALAGUDU POLICE STATION BENGALURU, REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. XXXXXXXXX …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP FOR R1; R2 SERVED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S. 439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO GRANT REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME NO.145/2026 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE (FTSC II), BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 64(2) OF BNS 2023 AND SECTIONS 4 AND 6 OF Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010507352026 NC: 2026:KHC:47143 CRL.P No. 11084 of 2026 POCSO AND SECTON 9 OF PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT OF BNS 2023 BY ALLOWING THE ABOVE PETITION. 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 in Crime No.145/2026 registered by Kumbalagodu Police Station, Bengaluru for offences punishable under Section 64(2) of BNS, 2023, Sections 4 and 6 of POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 9 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 is before this Court, in this petition, filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for the respondent No.1 – State. Respondent No.2, even though served in the matter, has remained unrepresented before this Court. 3. FIR in Crime No. 145/2026 was registered by Kumbalagodu Police Station, Bengaluru for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein, based on the first - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010507352026 NC: 2026:KHC:47143 CRL.P No. 11084 of 2026 information dated 13.05.2026 received from respondent No. 2, who is the father of the alleged victim girl aged 17 years. During the course of investigation, petitioner was arrested on 14.05.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.1371/2026 was rejected on 10.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Material on record would go to show that the petitioner aged 25 years and the victim girl aged 17 years are close relatives. In the statement of the victim girl under Section 183 of BNSS, 2023, recorded in the present case on 10.06.2026 by the Court of Jurisdictional Magistrate, victim girl has stated that, she and the petitioner, who is her close relative, are in love. Mother of the petitioner had come to her house with a proposal to perform the marriage of the petitioner with the victim girl. Her parents had informed the mother of the petitioner that marriage would be performed after victim girl attains the - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010507352026 NC: 2026:KHC:47143 CRL.P No. 11084 of 2026 age of majority. Subsequently, her parents had sent her to her grandmother's house and the petitioner who came there took her with him and they got married in a temple at Nelamangala. She has not made any allegation against the petitioner of he committing any kind of sexual assault on her. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, the following: ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No. 145/2026 registered by Kumbalagodu Police Station, Bengaluru for offences punishable under Section 64(2) of BNS, 2023, Sections 4 and 6 of POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 9 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioner shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010507352026 NC: 2026:KHC:47143 CRL.P No. 11084 of 2026 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; 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.: 67