- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010634182026 NC: 2026:KHC:52007 CRL.P No. 14310 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14310 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. SUBRAMANYA M S/O MYAKALAPPA AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.3A, 6TH CROSS AMBABHAVANI LAYOUT DODDABETTAHALLI, VIDYARANYAPURA POST BENGALURU CITY - 560 097. PERMANENTLY RESIDING AT MACHENAHALLI VILLAGE SONAGANAHALLI POST GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK CHICKABALLAPUR DISTRICT - 561 210. 2. MANJULA M.S W/O SUBRAMANYA M AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.3A, 6TH CROSS AMBABHAVANI LAYOUT DODDABETTAHALLI, VIDYARANYAPURA POST BENGALURU CITY - 560 097. PERMANENTLY RESIDING AT Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010634182026 NC: 2026:KHC:52007 CRL.P No. 14310 of 2026 MACHENAHALLI VILLAGE SONAGANAHALLI POST GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK CHICKABALLAPUR DISTRICT - 561 210. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. NAGESH K.N, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA YELAHANKA NEW TOWN POLICE STATION BENGALURU REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 OF CR.P.C (U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THEM ON BAIL IN CR.NO.346/2026 FILED BY THE RESPONDENT IN YELAHANKA NEW TOWN P.S., BENGALURU CITY, FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 123 OF BNS, 2023, U/S 32 AND 34 OF KARNATAKA EXCISE ACT, PENDING BEFORE THE HONBLE 55th ACJM, TILL DISPOSAL OF THE CASE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010634182026 NC: 2026:KHC:52007 CRL.P No. 14310 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused Nos.1 and 2 in Crime No.346/2026 registered by Yelahanka New Town Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offences punishable under Section 123 of BNS, 2023 and Sections 32 and 34 of Karnataka Excise Act, 1965 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.346/2026 was registered by Yelahanka New Town Police Station, Bengaluru City for the aforesaid offences, based on the first information dated 09.08.2026 received from Sri Madusudhan L., Police Officer attached to Yelahanka New Town Police Station, Bengaluru City. In the said case, the petitioners were arrested on 10.08.2026 and remanded to judicial custody. Their bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010634182026 NC: 2026:KHC:52007 CRL.P No. 14310 of 2026 Court in Crl.Misc.No.8373/2026 was rejected on 01.09.2026. Therefore, they are before this Court. 4. Perusal of the first information and other material made available to the Court would reveal that, on the instructions of the higher officer, the first informant and other staff of Yelahanka New Town Police Station raided the house of the petitioners herein, who are husband and wife, and recovered 125 litres of spirit, which the petitioners were allegedly in possession without any license or permission. It is under these circumstances, the petitioners were arrested and remanded to judicial custody. 5. It is brought to the notice of this Court by the learned High Court Government Pleader that the petitioners are persons with criminal antecedents. The list of cases registered against the petitioners would go to show that all the four cases under the Excise Act were registered against them in the year 2008. Thereafter, no - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010634182026 NC: 2026:KHC:52007 CRL.P No. 14310 of 2026 other criminal cases have been registered against them for the last 18 years. 6. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter and also the punishment that is provided for the alleged offences, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioners for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following: O R D E R i) The Criminal Petition is allowed. ii) The petitioners are directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.346/2026 registered by Yelahanka New Town Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offences punishable under Section 123 of BNS, 2023 and Sections 32 and 34 of Karnataka Excise Act, 1965 subject to the following conditions: - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010634182026 NC: 2026:KHC:52007 CRL.P No. 14310 of 2026 a) The petitioners shall execute 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; e) The petitioners shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without permission of the said Court until the case registered against them is disposed off. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE SHS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 20