- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010559852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49684 CRL.P No. 12337 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12337 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI. IRFAN SAMSHUDDIN SAVANOOR S/O SHAMSUDDIN SAVANOOR AGE 45 YEARS, OCC: FABRICATION SHOP OWNER R/O H.NO-4/142/71-1, NEAR KGN MARBLE TALEM DURGABHAT PONDA, NORTH GOA, GOA. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. GUNDE NEELENDRA DHANYAKUMAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SHIKARPURA RURAL POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. SMT. RESHMA BANU AGED ABOUT 46 W/O TANVEER AHMED OCC: HOUSEWIFE R/AT SOCIETY KERI, SHIKARIPURA TOWN, Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010559852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49684 CRL.P No. 12337 of 2026 SHIVAMOGA, KARNATAKA - 577 427. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP FOR R1; R2 SERVED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT HIM ANTICIPATORY BAIL AND DIRECT RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE THEM ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST BY THE RESPONDENT POLICE IN THE CRIME NO.88/2026 OF SHIKARIPUR PS, REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 137(2), 87, 64(2)(f), 64(2)(m), 351(2), 127(3), OF BNS AND SEC.6 AND 17 OF POCSO ACT 2012, PENDING BEFORE LEARNED ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE FTSC-1 (POCSO) COURT SHIVAMOGGA IN SPL.(C) NO.189/2026. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused No.4 in Spl.C.No.189/2026 pending before the Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-1 (POCSO), Shivamogga arising out of Crime No.88/2026 registered by Shikaripura Rural Police Station, Shivamogga - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010559852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49684 CRL.P No. 12337 of 2026 for the offences punishable under Sections 137(2), 87, 64(2)(f), 64(2)(m), 351(2), 127(3) of BNS, 2023 and Sections 6 and 17 of POCSO Act, 2012, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader on behalf of respondent No.1-State. Respondent No.2 though served in the matter, has remained unrepresented before this Court. 3. FIR in Crime No.88/2026 was registered by Shikaripura Rural Police Station, Shivamogga against unknown persons for the offence punishable under Section 137(2) of BNS, 2023, based on the first information dated 22.03.2026 received from Reshma Banu, mother of victim girl aged 17 years. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.735/2026 before the - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010559852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49684 CRL.P No. 12337 of 2026 jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 28.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Daughter of the first informant, aged 17 years was found missing from their house on 22.03.2026. The efforts made to trace her had failed and therefore, her mother had approached the Police. During the course of investigation, the victim girl was found along with accused No.1, who had taken her to Goa. The petitioner is the owner of the house in which accused No.1 and the victim girl had stayed after they came to Goa from their village. Accused No.5 is the middleman who had provided the house to accused No.1 and the victim girl. Accused No.5 has been granted anticipatory bail in the present case by the jurisdictional Sessions Court. Only, the offence punishable under Section 17 of POCSO Act has been invoked in the present case as against the petitioner, who is the owner of the house in which accused No.1 and the victim girl had stayed. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010559852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49684 CRL.P No. 12337 of 2026 5. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, I am of the opinion that prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following: O R D E R i) The criminal petition is allowed. ii) 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.88/2026 registered by Shikaripura Rural Police Station, Shivamogga for the offences punishable under Section 137(2), 87, 64(2)(f), 64(2)(m), 351(2), 127(3) of BNS 2023 and Sections 6 and 17 of POCSO Act, 2012, subject to the following conditions: a) The 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 - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010559852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49684 CRL.P No. 12337 of 2026 sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. b) The petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. c) The 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) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE SHS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 72