- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010541742026 NC: 2026:KHC:47592 CRL.P No. 11845 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11845 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. B.S. RAJESH, S/O SRINIVASA AGED ABOUT 21 YEARS R/O AKKIHEBBALU KUVEMPUNAGARA K.R. PETE TALUKU MANDYA DISTRICT - 01. 2. C. SHANMUGAM S/O SAHADEA AGED ABOUT 21 YEARS R/AT AANJANEYA GUTTA KEELAPATTU CHITTURU DISTRICT ANDHRAPRADESH - 01. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI PRATHEEP K.C, ADV.) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY V.V. PURAM POLICE STATION MYSURU DISTRICT, REP. BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE - 01. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS PETITION AND GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CR.NO.25/2026 PENDING ON THE FILE OF JMFC II COURT, MYSURU FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 86 OF KARNATAKA FOREST AND U/S 303(2) BNS 2023, BY V.V.PURAM POLICE STATION, MYSURU. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010541742026 NC: 2026:KHC:47592 CRL.P No. 11845 of 2026 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused Nos.1 and 2 in Crime No.25/2026 registered by V V Puram Police Station, Mysuru, for the offences punishable under Section 303(2) of BNS, 2023 and Section 86 of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, are 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.25/2026 was registered by V V Puram Police Station, Mysuru, for the aforesaid offences against unknown persons based on the first information dated 28.05.2026 received from Eshwara S/o late Ramaiah. During the course of investigation of the said case, petitioners herein were arrested on 20.06.2026 and subsequently, remanded to judicial custody. Their bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.1116/2026 was rejected on 24.07.2026. Therefore, they are before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010541742026 NC: 2026:KHC:47592 CRL.P No. 11845 of 2026 4. A perusal of the first information dated 28.05.2026 would reveal that on the said date, at about 01.30 a.m. the security guard of Lions Seva Nikethan School within the jurisdiction of V V Puram Police Station, Mysuru, heard some noise inside the compound of the School and when he went towards the said side, he found that the standing sandalwood tree inside the compound wall was cut and accused persons, who had managed to cut the said tree, had escaped. It is under these circumstances, FIR was registered against unknown persons. During the course of investigation, petitioners were apprehended based on their confession statement. They have been arraigned as accused Nos.1 and 2 in the present case. It is not in dispute that petitioners do not have any criminal antecedents. In the present case, allegation is that an attempt was made to commit theft of the sandalwood tree. Considering the nature of allegations found against the petitioners and also the fact that they do not have any other criminal antecedents, I am of the opinion that their prayer for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order:- - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010541742026 NC: 2026:KHC:47592 CRL.P No. 11845 of 2026 5. The petition is allowed. The petitioners are directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.25/2026 registered by V V Puram Police Station, Mysuru, for the offences punishable under Section 303(2) of BNS, 2023 and Section 86 of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioners shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with two sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court; b) The petitioners shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court exempts their appearance for valid reasons; c) The petitioners shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; d) The petitioners shall not involve in similar offences in future; Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE DN/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 53