- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626422026 NC: 2026:KHC:51880 CRL.P No. 13976 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13976 OF 2026 BETWEEN: RAHUL B S/O BHASKAR AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS AGRICULTURIST R/AT BAGGODIGE, SHIRURU POST THIRTHAHALLI TALUK SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT KARNATAKA - 577 424. …PETITIONER (BY SRI VEDHU KUMAR Y.S, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY DODDAPETE POLICE STATION SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 06.08.2026 PASSED BY THE LD II ADDL.DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, SHIVAMOGGA IN CRL.MISC NO.816/2026 INSOFAR AS IT REJECTS THE PETITIONERS APPLICATION FOR BAIL. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626422026 NC: 2026:KHC:51880 CRL.P No. 13976 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused no.4 in Crime No.239/2026 registered by Doddapete Police Station, Shivamogga, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4) and 61(1) 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.239/2026 was registered by Doddapete Police Station, Shivamogga, for the aforesaid offences against Lokesh and others, based on the first information dated 03.07.2026 received from Daravatto Kranthi Kumar, Manager and Authorized Representative of Punjab National Bank. Petitioner, who is arrayed as accused no.4 in the said case, was arrested on 11.07.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl. Misc. No.816/2026 was rejected on 06.08.2026. Therefore, petitioner is before this Court. 4. In the first information dated 03.07.2026, it is stated that accused nos.1 and 2, who were holding savings bank account in - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626422026 NC: 2026:KHC:51880 CRL.P No. 13976 of 2026 Punjab National Bank had availed gold loan after pledging their gold jewelry. Subsequently, it was found that the gold jewelry which were pledged by accused nos.1 & 2 were spurious. Accused No.3 is the authorized appraiser of gold working for Punjab National Bank. It is not in dispute that only based on his report, loan was sanctioned to the petitioner by the bank. After a period of 3 months, complaint is now lodged stating that gold jewelries, which were pledged by the petitioner are spurious. 5. Petitioner, who is accused no.4 in the present case, is said to be the friend of accused no.5 who allegedly has supplied the fake gold jewelry to accused nos.1 & 2 who had pledged the same and borrowed money from the bank. There is no material on record to show that accused nos.4 & 5 had conspired with accused nos.1 & 2 and had supplied the fake gold jewelry to the said accused for the purpose of pledging the same with the complainant and borrowing money. It is not the case of the prosecution that accused no.4 was the beneficiary of the loan borrowed by accused nos.1 & 2. It is submitted that accused no.4 has no other criminal antecedents and he has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626422026 NC: 2026:KHC:51880 CRL.P No. 13976 of 2026 Accused nos.1 & 2 as against whom the allegation of pledging spurious gold jewelry have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in Crl.P.No.13264/2026 & Crl.P.No.11663/2026 disposed of on 31.08.2026 & 25.08.2026, respectively. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that his prayer for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following:- 7. The petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.239/2026 registered by Doddapete Police Station, Shivamogga, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4) and 61(1) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) 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; - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626422026 NC: 2026:KHC:51880 CRL.P No. 13976 of 2026 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 KK