- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010574492026 NC: 2026:KHC:50368 CRL.P No. 12736 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12736 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MR SUNIL S/O SUMANTH AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS R/OF KANNAYAKAN AGRAHARA VILLAGE, JIGANI HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK, BENGALURU RURAL - 562 106. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SUMANTH, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BANNERAGHATTA P S REP. BY SPP HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.P.C. (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS PETITION AND GRANT BAIL TO THE PETITIONER WHO IS ARRAYED AS ACCUSED IN CRIME NO.326/2025 BANNERGATTA POLICE STATION IN S.C.NO.5056/2026 FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 85 AND 108 OF THE BNS, 2023, NOW PENDING ON THE FILE OF HONBLE Digitally signed by ANNAPURNA G Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010574492026 NC: 2026:KHC:50368 CRL.P No. 12736 of 2026 COURT OF THE III ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT ANEKAL, BENGALURU RURAL. 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.1 in Special Case No.5056/2026 pending before the Court of the III Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru Rural District (sitting at Anekal), arising out of Crime No.326/2025 registered by Bannerghatta Police Station, Bengaluru District for the offences punishable under Sections 85 and 108 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.326/2025 was registered by Bannerghatta Police Station, Bengaluru District initially for the offences punishable under Sections 80(2) read with - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010574492026 NC: 2026:KHC:50368 CRL.P No. 12736 of 2026 Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 against the petitioner and two others, based on the first information dated 10.11.2025 received from Sabanna, father of deceased Renuka. In the said case, the petitioner was arrested on 13.11.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completing the investigation charge sheet is filed against the petitioner for the aforesaid offences. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court was rejected. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Material on record would go to show that the marriage of the petitioner with Renuka was performed on 04.05.2018 and from the said wedlock they have two minor children. It appears that Renuka had committed suicide in her matrimonial house on 10.11.2025 and suspecting the cause of her death, her father had approached the Police. It is under these circumstances, initially FIR was registered against the petitioner and his family members invoking the offence punishable under Section 80(2) of BNS, 2023. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010574492026 NC: 2026:KHC:50368 CRL.P No. 12736 of 2026 5. In the charge sheet which is filed subsequently, the other accused persons named in the FIR have been given up and as against the petitioner, charge sheet is now filed for the offences punishable under Sections 85 and 108 of BNS, 2023. Though in the charge sheet it is alleged that the petitioner was ill-treating his wife in furtherance of his demand for dowry, the offences punishable under the provisions of Dowry Prohibition Act have not been invoked in the present case. Investigation of the case is now completed and the alleged offences are not punishable with death or life imprisonment. The petitioner is required to take care of his minor children. Under the circumstances the following: O R D E R i) The Criminal Petition is allowed. ii) The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Special Case No.5056/2026 pending before the Court of the III Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010574492026 NC: 2026:KHC:50368 CRL.P No. 12736 of 2026 Rural District (sitting at Anekal), arising out of Crime No.326/2025 registered by Bannerghatta Police Station, Bengaluru District for the offences punishable under Sections 85 and 108 of BNS, 2023, 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; e) The petitioner shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010574492026 NC: 2026:KHC:50368 CRL.P No. 12736 of 2026 permission of the said Court until the case registered against him is disposed off. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE SHS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 66