- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010648702026 NC: 2026:KHC:53828 CRL.P No. 14596 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14596 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SMT. RESHMA W/O SRI MOHAMMED HAKEEM AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.7-2-71/72 ISLAMPURA, NALGONDA TELANGANA - 508 001. …PETITIONER (BY MS. SHAMBHAVI S, ADV., FOR SRI PARIKSHITH D.P, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SOUTH EAST CEN POLICE STATION BENGALURU CITY, REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDINGS DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI RAHUL RAI K, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HER ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH CRIME NO.57/2026 REGISTERED BY THE SOUTH EAST CEN POLICE STATION, BENGALURU CITY, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 66(C) AND 66(D) OF THE I.T. ACT, 2000 AND SEC. 318(4) AND 319(2) OF THE BNS, 2023 ON THE FILE OF LEARNED 47TH ADDL. CJM, BENGALURU CITY. 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: KAHC010648702026 NC: 2026:KHC:53828 CRL.P No. 14596 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Petitioner is before this Court under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.57/2026 registered by South East CEN Police Station, Bengaluru City for offences punishable under Sections 66(C) & 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of BNSS, 2023. 2. FIR in Crime No.57 of 2026 was registered by South East CEN Police Station, Bengaluru City for the aforesaid offences against unknown persons, based on the first information dated 25.02.2026, received from Sri S Rupesh Kumar S/o Srinivas, who is the alleged victim in the present case. Apprehending arrest, the petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.8082/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court which was rejected on 22.08.2026. Therefore, she is before this Court. 3. A reading of the first information dated 25.02.2026 would go to show that, the first informant came across an - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010648702026 NC: 2026:KHC:53828 CRL.P No. 14596 of 2026 online trading advertisement through Face book and persons, who were managing the said group, allegedly represented themselves as officials of a company known as "Standard Chartered Securities (India) Ltd". As per the advice of the representatives of the aforesaid company, the first informant allegedly had transferred a total amount of Rs.1,66,40,000/- from his bank account to various bank accounts between 05.01.2026 and 10.02.2026 as directed by the representatives of the aforesaid company for the purpose of investment in online trading and share market. It appears that during the course of investigation of the said case, enquiry notice was received by the petitioner and therefore, apprehending arrest, she had approached the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.8082/2026 which was rejected on 22.08.2026. Therefore, she is before this Court. 4. The documents made available to this Court would reveal that, the petitioner and her husband, Mohammed Hakeem, were the directors of the company known as "M/s NTNL Infra Projects India Pvt. Ltd". Since certain amount was transferred to the bank account of the aforesaid company from - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010648702026 NC: 2026:KHC:53828 CRL.P No. 14596 of 2026 the account of the first informant, enquiry notice was issued to the petitioner, who was the director of the said company. 5. The documents made available to this Court by the learned counsel for the petitioner would go to show that the petitioner had resigned to the post of director of the aforesaid company in the month of March, 2024 and her resignation was accepted by the Board of Directors of the company known as "M/s NTNL Infra Projects India Pvt. Ltd". Subsequently, even in the office of the registrar of companies, the name of the petitioner from the post of director of the aforesaid company was deleted and in place, the name of Ms. Barkha Singh is reflected as director of the aforesaid company. Records would reveal that as on this date the petitioner's husband Mohammed Hakim and Ms. Barkha Singh, are the directors of the company known as "M/s NTNL Infra Projects India Pvt. Ltd." 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner has also submitted that pursuant to enquiry notice received by the petitioner she had approached the investigation officer in the - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010648702026 NC: 2026:KHC:53828 CRL.P No. 14596 of 2026 present case, who in turn has asked her to appear on a future date. 7. The alleged offences are all triable by the Court of Magistrate and maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of seven years. The petitioner, who is a married lady having no other criminal antecedents has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Accordingly, the following: ORDER (i) The Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of her arrest in Crime No.57/2026 registered by South East CEN Police Station, Bengaluru City for offences punishable under Sections 66(C) & 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of BNSS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: 1. The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010648702026 NC: 2026:KHC:53828 CRL.P No. 14596 of 2026 certified copy of this order on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer/jurisdictional Court. 2. The petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. 3. The petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and she shall co-operate with the Police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon. 4. The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future. In view of disposal of main petition, I.A.No.1/2026 will not survive for consideration. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NMS/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 99