- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010587562026 NC: 2026:KHC:53968 CRL.P No. 13150 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13150 OF 2026 BETWEEN: VASEEM AKRAM A S/O AHMED AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS R/AT NO. 137, 3RD CROSS ADARSHA NAGAR, HASSAN KARNATKA - 573 201 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. HASAINAR, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE BY UDUPI CEN P S REP BY SPP HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE - 01 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.P.C. (U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO.3 ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CR.NO.6/2025 REGISTERED BY UDUPI CEN CRIME P.S., FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 318(4) OF BNS, 2023, U/S 66(C) AND 66(D) OF I.T ACT, 2000, BEFORE 4TH ACJ AND JMFC COURT UDUPI DISTRICT, PENDING INVESTIGATION. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010587562026 NC: 2026:KHC:53968 CRL.P No. 13150 of 2026 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Petitioner who is apprehending arrest in Crime No.6 of 2025 registered by Udupi CEN, Udupi for the offences punishable under Section 66(D) and 66(C) of Information Technology Act, 2008 and 318(4) 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.6 of 2025 was registered by Udupi CEN, Udupi for the aforesaid offences against unknown persons, based on the first information dated 21.01.2025 received from Thirtharaja Shenoy son of Bhaskar Shenoy. Apprehending arrest in the case, the petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.277 of 2026 before the - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010587562026 NC: 2026:KHC:53968 CRL.P No. 13150 of 2026 jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 15.07.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. In the first information dated 21.01.2025 submitted by the alleged victim Thirtharaja Shenoy, it is stated that his name was included in a Telegram group known as "Capital Gain Crew" by one Adi Nihal and subsequently, his name was included in another group known as "Fidility Institutional Partners F-101". On instructions from unknown persons in the said group, the first informant allegedly had deposited a total amount of Rs.44,00,000/- for the purpose of investment in stock market and trading for the period between 19.12.2024 to 07.01.2025. 5. During the course of investigation, it was found that an amount of Rs.5,00,000/- was transferred to the account of one Mudashir Ahmed from the bank account of the first informant. It is under these circumstances, the said Mudashir Ahmed was arrested and he allegedly - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010587562026 NC: 2026:KHC:53968 CRL.P No. 13150 of 2026 confessed that, out of the amount of Rs.5,00,000/-, which was transferred to his account, he had deducted a sum of Rs.20,000/- towards his commission and handed over the balance amount of Rs.4,80,000/- to one Shoib, who in turn had paid an amount of Rs.3,00,000/- to the petitioner herein. According to the petitioner, Shoib had earlier borrowed a sum of Rs.3,00,000/- from him and repaid the same and therefore, the petitioner is otherwise not at all connected to the crime in question. 6. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter and also having regard to the fact that the alleged offences are triable by the court of Magistrate and maximum punishment for the same is imprisonment for a period of 7 years, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following : - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010587562026 NC: 2026:KHC:53968 CRL.P No. 13150 of 2026 O R D E R The criminal 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.6 of 2025 registered by Udupi CEN, Udupi for the offences punishable under Section 66(D) and 66(C) of Information Technology Act, 2008 and 318(4) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) 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. b) Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010587562026 NC: 2026:KHC:53968 CRL.P No. 13150 of 2026 c) Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and he shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. d) Petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE AMM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 59