- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010602712026 NC: 2026:KHC:50742 CRL.A No. 1466 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1466 OF 2026 (U/S 14(A) (2)-) BETWEEN: 1. VINOD S S/O SHEKAR, AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS, R/A NO. 118, 13TH CROSS, NEAR VARASIDDHI VINAYAKA TEMPLE, BANDI REDDY CIRCLE, L.N.PURA, SRIRAMPURA, BENGALUR-560021. …APPELLANT (BY SRI. BRIJESH RAJPUT.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA SRIRAMPURA POLICE, REPT BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE-560001. 2. K. SAVITA, W/O B. KUMARESHAN, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, R/A U-40, 3RD CROSS, DAYANANDA NAGAR, SRIRAMPURA, BANGALORE-560021 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K. NAGESHWARAPPA, HCGP FOR R1, R2 SERVED & PRESENT BEFORE COURT.) CRL.A. FILED U/S 14(A)(2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT, 2015 BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE APPELLANT/S PRAYING THAT THIS HONBLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO SET-ASIDE THE ORDER PASSED BYTHE HONBLE ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE-FTSC-II, AT BANGALORE, IN CRL. MIS NO.7282/2026 Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYAN N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010602712026 NC: 2026:KHC:50742 CRL.A No. 1466 of 2026 ON 19-08-2026, BY ALLOWING THE CRIMINAL APPEAL AND ENLARGE THE APPELLANT ON BAIL ARRESTED BY THE RESPONDENT POLICE IN CRIME NO. 125/2026 AGAINST THE ABOVE APPELLANT FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 64 OF BNS AND SECTION 4 OF POCSO ACT 2012 AND SECTION 3(1) (w) (i) (ii) OF SC AND ST (PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES) AMENDMENT ACT, PENDING BEFORE THE HONBLE ADDL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE FTSC-II, AT BENGALURU. THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA ORAL JUDGMENT 1. Respondent No.2 present. Objection is not filed. However, on 10.09.2026 she endorsed on order- sheet that she has no objection to grant bail. 2. The appellant has preferred this appeal against the orders passed by Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, FTSC-III, C/C Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge - FTSC-II, Bengaluru City, in Crl. Misc No.7282/2026 dated 19.08.2026. Respondent No.2 appeared before this Court and she has no objection to grant bail. 3. I have heard the arguments on behalf of the appellant and learned HCGP Sri Nageshwarappa K. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010602712026 NC: 2026:KHC:50742 CRL.A No. 1466 of 2026 4. On the basis of the complaint filed by K.Savita, Srirampura Police registered the case in Crime No.125/2026 against the accused for the commission of offence under Sections 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Section 4 of POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 3(1)(w)(i)(ii) of the SC and ST (POA) Amendment Act, 2015. Accused was arrested by the police on 09.07.2026 and was produced before the Special Judge. Accused was remanded to judicial custody. Till this day, accused is in judicial custody. 5. It is submitted that charge-sheet is already filed against the accused/appellant for the offences punishable under Sections 4 and 6 of POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 3(1)(w)(i)(ii) and 3(2)(v) of the SC and ST (POA) Amendment Act, 2015 and Section 64 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. In the charge-sheet, at column No.17, it is alleged as under: "zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥Àt ¥ÀvÀæzÀ PÁ®A 12 gÀ°è £ÀªÀÄÆ¢¹gÀĪÀ DgÉÆævÀ£ÀÄ "ªÀ¤ßAiÀÄgï" (OBC) eÁwUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀªÀ£ÁVzÀÄÝ, ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ £ÀUÀgÀzÀ ²æÃgÁA¥ÀÅgÀ, J¯ï J£ï - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010602712026 NC: 2026:KHC:50742 CRL.A No. 1466 of 2026 ¥ÀÅgÀ, §Ar gÉrØ ¸ÀPÀð¯ï, 13£Éà PÁæ¸ï, ¥Àæ±ÁAvï £ÀUÀgÀzÀ°ègÀĪÀ ªÀgÀ¹¢Þ «£ÁAiÀÄPÀ zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£ÀzÀ ºÀwÛgÀ ªÀÄ£É £ÀA§gï 118 gÀ ¤ªÁ¹AiÀiÁVgÀÄvÁÛ£É. ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ £ÉÆAzÀ C¥Áæ¥ÀÛ ¨Á®Q ¸ÁQë 3 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¥Àj²µÀÖ eÁwAiÀÄ "D¢ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ" eÁwUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀªÀgÁVgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ¸ÁQë -3 gÀªÀgÀ d£Àä ¢£ÁAPÀ 09.01.2009 DVzÀÄÝ, PÀÈvÀå £ÀqÉzÀ ¢£ÁAPÀzÀAzÀÄ CªÀgÀ ªÀAiÀĸÀÄì 17 ªÀµÀð £Á®ÄÌ wAUÀ¼ÀÄ 26 ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ¸ÁQë 3 ºÁUÀÆ DgÉÆævÀ£ÀÄ ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ £ÀUÀgÀzÀ ²æÃgÁA¥ÀÅgÀ ¥Éǰøï oÁuÉ ¸ÀgÀºÀ¢Ý£À°è ªÁ¸ÀªÁVzÀÄÝ, E§âgÀÄ MAzÉà ¥ÀæzÉñÀzÀªÀgÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀjAzÀ ¸ÀĪÀiÁgÀÄ 08 ªÀµÀðUÀ½AzÀ ¥ÀgÀ¸ÀàgÀ ¥ÀjZÀAiÀÄ EgÀÄvÀÛzÉ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ E§âgÀÄ ¦æÃwAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ªÀiÁqÀÄwÛgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ¸ÁQë-22, ¸ÁQë-23 ¸ÁQë-24 ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÁQë-25 gÀªÀgÀÄUÀ½UÉ DgÉÆævÀ£ÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¸ÁQë-3 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¥ÀgÀ¸ÀàgÀ ¦æÃw¸ÀÄwÛzÀÝ «ZÁgÀ w½¢gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. DgÉÆævÀ¤UÉ ¸ÁQë-3 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¥Àj²µÀÖ eÁwUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀ C¥Áæ¥ÀÛ ¨Á®Q JAzÀÄ w½¢zÀÝgÀÆ ¸ÀºÀ DPÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¯ÉÊAVPÀªÁV §¼À¹PÉƼÀÄîªÀ GzÉÝñÀ¢AzÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ 04.06.2026 gÀAzÀÄ ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ £ÀUÀgÀzÀ ²æÃgÁA¥ÀÅgÀ J¯ï J£ï ¥ÀÅgÀ, §Ar gÉrØ ¸ÀPÀð¯ï, ¥Àæ±ÁAvï £ÀUÀgÀ, 13£Éà PÁæ¸ï £À°ègÀĪÀ ªÀgÀ¹¢Þ «£ÁAiÀÄPÀ zÉêÀ¸ÁÜ£À ºÀwÛgÀzÀ vÀ£Àß ªÀÄ£É £ÀA§gï 118 gÀ°è AiÀiÁgÀÄ E®è¢gÀĪÀÅzÀ£ÀÄß w½zÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ, ¸ÁQë-3gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß vÀ£Àß ªÀÄ£ÉUÉ PÀgɹPÉÆAqÀÄ ¸ÁQë-3 gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß ªÀÄzÀĪÉAiÀiÁUÀĪÀÅzÁV ¨sÀgÀªÀ¸É ¤Ãr ¥ÀĸÀ¯Á¬Ä¹ ¸ÁQë-3 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¤gÁPÀj¹zÀgÀÄ ¸ÀºÀ CªÀgÀ EZÉÒUÉ «gÀÄzÀÞªÁV §®ªÀAvÀªÁV ¯ÉÊAVPÀ zËdð£Àå J¸ÀVgÀÄvÁÛ£É. C®èzÉÃ, F «µÀAiÀĪÀ£ÀÄß AiÀiÁjUÀÆ ºÉüÀ¨ÁgÀzÉAzÀÄ ¸ÁQë-3 gÀªÀgÉUÉ ¨ÉzÀjPÉ ºÁQgÀÄvÁÛ£É. £ÀAvÀgÀ dÆ£ï 2026gÀ°è ¸ÁQë-3 gÀªÀgÀ DgÉÆÃUÀåzÀ°è KgÀÄ¥ÉÃgÀÄ GAmÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀ£ÀÄß UÀªÀĤ¹zÀ ¸ÁQë-1 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÁQë-3 gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß «ZÁj¹zÁUÀ, DgÉÆævÀ J-1 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¯ÉÊAVPÀ ¸ÀA¨sÉÆÃUÀ £ÀqɹzÀ ¥ÀjuÁªÀĪÁV ¸ÁQë-3 gÀªÀgÀÄ UÀ©üðt DVgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ w½zÀħA¢gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. £ÀAvÀgÀ ¤AiÀĪÀiÁ£ÀĸÁgÀ ªÉÊzÁå¢üPÁjAiÀiÁzÀ ¸ÁQë-16 gÀªÀgÀÄ C¥Áæ¥ÀÛ ¨Á®QAiÀÄ UÀ¨sÀðªÀ£ÀÄß ªÉÊzÀåQÃAiÀÄ «zsÁ£Á£ÀĸÁgÀ MTP ªÀiÁr¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010602712026 NC: 2026:KHC:50742 CRL.A No. 1466 of 2026 »ÃUÉ £ÉÆAzÀ C¥Áæ¥ÀÛ ¨Á®Q ¸ÁQë 3 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¥Àj²µÀÖ eÁw "D¢ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ" eÁwUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀªÀgÁVzÀÄÝ C¥Áæ¥ÀÛ ¨Á®Q DVgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ DgÉÆævÀ¤UÉ w½zÀgÀÆ ¸ÀºÀ CªÀgÀ£ÀÄß ¯ÉÊAVPÀªÁV §¼À¹PÉƼÀÄîªÀ GzÉÝñÀ¢AzÀ ¸ÀļÀÄî «ªÁºÀzÀ ¨sÀgÀªÀ¸É ¤Ãr £ÀA©¹ ºÁUÀÆ ¥ÀŸÀ¯Á¬Ä¹ CªÀgÀ EZÉÒUÉ «gÀÄzÀÞªÁV ¯ÉÊAVPÀ zËdð£Àå J¸ÀVgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ vÀ¤SÉAiÀÄ ¸ÀAzÀ¨sÀðzÀ°è ¸ÀAUÀ滸À¯ÁzÀ ¸ÁQëzÁgÀgÀ ºÉýPÉUÀ¼ÀÄ, zÁR¯ÁwUÀ¼ÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ EvÀgÉ ¸ÀPÁëöåzsÁgÀUÀ½AzÀ zÀÈqsÀ¥ÀnÖgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. DzÀÝjAzÀ DgÉÆævÀ «£ÉÆÃzsï J¸ï JA§ÄªÀªÀgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ ¸ÉPÀë£ï 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Section 4 & 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 ºÁUÀÆ Sections 3(1)(w)(i), 3(1)(w)(ii) ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 jÃvÁå zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæªÀ£ÀÄß ¸À°è¸À¯ÁVzÉ. n¥ÀàtÂ: ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ £ÉÆAzÀ ¨Á®QAiÀÄ ªÉÊzÀåQÃAiÀÄ ¥ÀjÃPÉëAiÀÄ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄzÀ°è ¸ÀAUÀ滹zÀ gÀPÀÛzÀ ªÀiÁzÀjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¢£ÁAPÀ: 15.07.2026 gÀAzÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ J-1 DgÉÆæ¬ÄAzÀ ªÉÊzÀågÀÄ ¸ÀAUÀ滹zÀ gÀPÀÛzÀ ªÀiÁzÀjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß rJ£ïJ ¥ÀjÃPÉëUÉ ¢£ÁAPÀ 29.07.2026 gÀAzÀÄ J¥sï.J¸ï.J¯ï UÉ PÀ¼ÀÄ»¹ PÉÆnÖzÀÄÝ ªÀgÀ¢ §AzÀ £ÀAvÀgÀ ªÀiÁ£Àå £ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄPÉÌ ¸À°è¸À¯ÁUÀĪÀÅzÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¦AiÀiÁ𢠪ÀÄvÀÄÛ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ªÉƨÉÊ¯ï £ÀA§gï UÀ¼À ¹rDgï ªÀÄvÀÄÛ PÁå¥ï ªÀiÁ»wAiÀÄÄ PÁ®A 64(3) BSA-2023 jÃvÁå ¸ÀA§AzsÀ¥ÀlÖ PÀA¥À¤AiÀĪÀjAzÀ §gÀĪÀÅzÀÄ ¨ÁQ EzÀÄÝ §AzÀ £ÀAvÀgÀ ªÀiÁ£Àå £ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄPÉÌ ¸À°è¸À¯ÁUÀĪÀÅzÀÄ." 6. Learned counsel for the appellant would submit that absolutely there are no materials to attract the alleged aggravated penetrative sexual assault. In the statement recorded under Section 183 of BNSS, she has - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010602712026 NC: 2026:KHC:50742 CRL.A No. 1466 of 2026 clearly stated that there was a love affair between the victim and the accused. This statement clearly goes to show that there is no forcible sex and it is only a consensual sex and that there are no acceptable evidence as to the date of birth of the victim. The prosecution papers reveals that the age of the victim is more than 17 years 6 months. Further it is submitted that the relationship between the victim and the accused is a romantic relationship. In such circumstances, in view of the decision of Hon'ble Apex Court, in the case of Dharmender Singh @ Saheb v. State (Govt. Of Nct Of Delhi) & Anr. reported in 2020 SCC OnLine Del. 1267 and Riyaz v. State (Govt. Of NCT of Delhi) and Another reported in 2024 SCC OnLine Del 5918. Accused is entitled for Bail. On these grounds sought to allow this appeal. 7. On careful examination of the entire materials placed before this Court, at this stage, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, considering the statement of victim recorded under Section 183 of BNSS, - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010602712026 NC: 2026:KHC:50742 CRL.A No. 1466 of 2026 2023, and the submission of the victim before this Court, so also, as the investigation is already completed, I am of the opinion that, it is just and proper to allow this appeal with conditions. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i. Appeal is allowed. ii. The orders passed by the Addl. City Civil and Session Judge, FTSC-III C/C Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge, FTSC-II, Bengaluru City in Crl.Misc No.7282/2026 dated 19.08.2026, is set aside. iii. Consequently, application filed under Section 483 of BNSS is allowed. iv. The appellant/accused shall be released on bail on executing a self bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court. - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010602712026 NC: 2026:KHC:50742 CRL.A No. 1466 of 2026 v. The appellant/accused shall not tamper or threaten the prosecution witness in any manner. vi. The appellant shall appear before the trial Court on all dates of hearing. v. The appellant shall not indulge in similar offence. Registry is directed to communicate this order to the trial Court. Sd/- (G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE KBM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 69