- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010657602026 NC: 2026:KHC:52705 CRL.P No. 14573 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14573 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI HONNAPPA METI S/O BHEMMAPPA METI AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS R/AT NO.27, BOLARI KANNAGURU, YADGIR - 585 323. …PETITIONER (BY SRI RAMESHA H.N, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SOLADEVANAHALLI P.S. 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 438 CR.P.C (U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO.5 ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST ARISING OUT OF CR.NO.226/2026 REGISTERED BY SOLADEVANAHALLI P.S., FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 109,324(4),329 R/W 3(5) OF BNS, PENDING BEFORE THE HONBLE CJM, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, BENGALURU. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010657602026 NC: 2026:KHC:52705 CRL.P No. 14573 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused no.5 in Crime No.226/2026 registered by Soladevanahalli Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offences punishable under Sections 109, 324(4), 329 read with 3(5) of BNS, 2023, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.226/2026 was registered by Soladevanahalli Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the aforesaid offences against three unknown persons based on the first information dated 03.07.2026 received from Akhil Naik who is one of the injured victims in the present case. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had approached the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl. Misc. No.1741/2026, which was dismissed on 08.09.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. Accused nos.1 to 4, who were arrested in the present case, had approached this Court in Crl.P.No.11734/2026 - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010657602026 NC: 2026:KHC:52705 CRL.P No. 14573 of 2026 seeking regular bail. In paragraph no.4 of the order passed in Crl.P.No.11734/2026, it is observed as under: "4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that on the intervening night of 02.07.2026 and 03.07.2026 at about 12.30 a.m. when the first informant and his friends were near Acharya School of Technology within the jurisdiction of Soladevanahalli Police Station, three persons, who came there allegedly asked them for a drop in their car. It is stated that accused persons were fully drunk and since the first informant and his friends refused to give them drop, they allegedly quarreled with them and thereafter assaulted them. In the incident in question, first informant Akhil Naik, has suffered two injuries out of which, one injury is said to be grievous injury. He was admitted in the Hospital on 03.07.2026 and was discharged on 04.07.2026 and his medical records would go to show that his condition is stable. Other injured persons in the present case have suffered only simple injuries. It is not in dispute that petitioners, who are youngsters have no other criminal antecedents. Major portion of investigation is already completed." 5. It is brought to the notice of this Court that accused nos.1 to 3 are the persons who had assaulted the victims in the present case. Petitioner, who is arrayed as accused no.5, was present along with accused nos.1 to 4 at the time of the incident. It is stated that he has no other criminal antecedents. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010657602026 NC: 2026:KHC:52705 CRL.P No. 14573 of 2026 He has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that petitioner's prayer for grant of anticipatory bail is required to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order: 6. The petition is allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.226/2026 registered by Soladevanahalli Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offences punishable under Sections 109, 324(4), 329 read with 3(5) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. 2. Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and he shall co-operate with - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010657602026 NC: 2026:KHC:52705 CRL.P No. 14573 of 2026 the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. 4. The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KK