- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010196752026 NC: 2026:KHC:55917 CRL.P No. 4315 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 5TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4315 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MR. RAMESH AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS NO.57/5 1ST FLOOR 11TH MAIN NEAR CLUNY CONVENT SCHOOL MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE NORTH - 560 003. …PETITIONER (BY SRI ANAND MUTTALLI, ADV.) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY RMC YARD POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT, BANGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI RAHUL RAI K, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO ALLOW THE INSTANT PETITION AND RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST BY THE RESPONDENT R M C YARD POLICE, IN RESPECT OF CRIME NO.40/2026 BASED ON COMPLIANT REGISTERED BY SMT. AKSHATA J RAJPOOT FOR OFFENCE P/US/ 75(2),75(3) OF BNS 2023 ON THE FILE OF THE XXXI 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: KAHC010196752026 NC: 2026:KHC:55917 CRL.P No. 4315 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER 1. Accused in Crime No.40 of 2026 registered by RMC Yard Police Station, Bengaluru City for offences punishable under Sections 75(2) & 75(3) of BNS, 2023 is before this Court in this petition filed under 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.40 of 2026 was registered by RMC Yard Police Station, Bengaluru city for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein, based on first information dated 23.02.2026 received from the alleged victim lady, aged 35 years, who is working in the factory belonging to the petitioner. Apprehending arrest in the case, the petitioner had approached the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.2265 of 2026 which was rejected on 09.03.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010196752026 NC: 2026:KHC:55917 CRL.P No. 4315 of 2026 4. Perusal of the material on record would go to show that, the alleged victim lady, aged 35 years was appointed on probation to the post of plotter cutting operator. Allegation against the petitioner is that he was unnecessarily summoning the victim lady, to his chambers and was misbehaving with her. He also used to touch her body with sexual intent. It is under these circumstances, the victim lady had approached the police. 5. Material on record would go to show that, prior to the victim lady approaching the police, a warning letter was issued to her in the month of May, 2025 by the management of the company of which the petitioner is the director. On the allegation that victim lady was in the habit of arriving late to the work, in the said warning letter it is mentioned that disciplinary action will be initiated against the victim lady in the event she continues to come late to the office. 6. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner since the petitioner has now appointed another lady to the post of victim lady, FIR has been registered against him. Be that as - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010196752026 NC: 2026:KHC:55917 CRL.P No. 4315 of 2026 it may, the fact remains that maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of three years. The petitioner is a senior citizen who has no other criminal antecedents. The petitioner has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Under the circumstances, 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 his arrest in Crime No.40 of 2026 registered by RMC Yard Police Station, Bengaluru City for offences punishable under Sections 75(2) & 75(3) of BNS, 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 certified copy of this order and shall execute 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. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010196752026 NC: 2026:KHC:55917 CRL.P No. 4315 of 2026 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 he 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. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE NMS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 93