- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010530462026 NC: 2026:KHC:52225 CRL.A No. 1310 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1310 OF 2026 (U/S 14(A) (2)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. KUMAR, S/O. NANJUNDAN, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/O NO. 5/549, T. MAINALI VILLAGE, PUTHUTHOTTAM POST, UDHAGAMANDALAM TALUK, NILGIRIS DISTRICT, TAMILNADU-641604. …APPELLANT (BY SRI. ANIL SHEKAR K.S.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE BY KARNATAKA, BY GUNDLUPETE POLICE STATION, GUNDLUPETE - CHAMARAJNAGAR- 571111 REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU - 560001. 2. SMT. VANAJA, W/O. LATE. DEVARAJU, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, RESIDING AT # 30/J, EILKE HILL, KUMARAN NAGARA, OOTY TOWN, NILGIRIS, TAMILNADU-643002. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K. NAGESHWARAPPA, HCGP FOR R1, R2 - SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED.) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYAN N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010530462026 NC: 2026:KHC:52225 CRL.A No. 1310 of 2026 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 ALLOW THE PETITION AND ENLARGE APPELLANT ON BAIL IN SPL.C NO.109/2025 IN CRIME NO.46/2025 FOR AN OFFENCE U/S 103, 238 OF BNS ACT 2023 AND U/S 3(2)(v)(v-a) OF SC AND ST (POA) ACT 1989 BY THE RESPONDENT GUNDLUPET POLICE STATION PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE LEARNED PRL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT CHAMARAJANAGAR BY ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 07.08.2025 PASSED IN SPL.CC NO.109/2025 ON A FILE OF PRL.DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, AT CHAMARAJANAGAR. THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA ORAL JUDGMENT 1. The appellant has preferred this appeal against the order dated 07.08.2025 passed in Spl.C.No.109/2025 by the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chamarajanagara (for short. 'the trial Court'). 2. For the sake of convenience, the parties are herein are referred to as per their rank before the trial Court. 3. On the basis of the complaint filed by Smt. Vanaja, Gundlupete Police have registered the case in Crime No.46/2025 against the unknown accused for the offence - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010530462026 NC: 2026:KHC:52225 CRL.A No. 1310 of 2026 under Sections 103 and 238 of BNS. During the course of investigation, the Investigating Officer has arrested the accused on 25.02.2025 and he was remanded to judicial custody. Till today the accused is in judicial custody. After investigation, IO has submitted the charge sheet against the accused for the offences punishable under Sections 103 and 238 of BNS and Section 3(2)(v),(va) of SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989. Bail application under Section 483 of BNS, 2023, was filed on behalf of the appellant. Same came to be rejected by the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chamarajanagara on 07.08.2025. Being aggrieved by the rejection of bail application, appellant has preferred this appeal. 4. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant would submit that the appellant is an innocent and not committed any offence as alleged against him. Even if the allegation made against him is accepted on its face value, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that he is guilty of the offence alleged. The allegation - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010530462026 NC: 2026:KHC:52225 CRL.A No. 1310 of 2026 made against the appellant will not attract on the allegation under Section 103 of BNS, 2023, in absence of motive/intention to kill. The injuries mentioned in the Post-mortem report are not fatal and are not sufficient cause for the death in the ordinary course. No particular role has been attributed to the involvement of the appellant nor has expressly mentioned by the complainant in his complaint or in the statement of eye witnesses of CW4 to CW6, CW12 to CW14. One of the eyewitness PW8 turned hostile. CW4 and CW5 have not supported the case of the prosecution. CW12 and CW13 have not come to the Court to give evidence. The prosecution, even at this stage, has not placed any evidence for motive or intention for commission of alleged offence by the appellant. There are no materials to show that the accused has committed the offence under the penal provisions of SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989. The trial Court has not properly appreciated the materials on record in accordance with law and facts. There is nothing to be recovered from the appellant in the - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010530462026 NC: 2026:KHC:52225 CRL.A No. 1310 of 2026 case and the investigation is already completed. The appellant is not required for further investigation. The appellant is ready to abide the conditions that may be imposed by this Court and on all these grounds it is sought to allow the appeal. 5. As against this, the learned High Court Government Pleader would submit that the trial Court has properly appreciated the materials on record. There are no grounds to interfere with the impugned order and sought for dismissal of the appeal. 6. I have examined the materials placed before this Court. 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CW1-Smt.Vanaja said to be the complainant examined as PW1. She has deposed in her evidence as to filing the complaint. PW2 and PW4 are the eye-witnesses to the incident, have supported to the case for the prosecution. The commission of alleged offence is heinous in nature and are exclusively triable by the Court of - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010530462026 NC: 2026:KHC:52225 CRL.A No. 1310 of 2026 Sessions and are punishable with imprisonment for life or death. The trial Court has already recorded the evidence of 8 witnesses. 8. On perusal of the entire materials placed before the Court, at this stage, there are prima facie materials to constitute the offence under Section 103 of BNS, 2023. However, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, considering the nature and gravity of offence, I am of the opinion that the trial Court has properly appreciated the materials on record in accordance with law and facts. I do not find any legal or factual error in the impugned order passed by the trial Court. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: O R D E R Appeal is dismissed. Sd/- (G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE DHA