- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 30TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13988 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. CHANDRASHEKHAR M.V S/O LATE VENKATEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS WORKING AS REVENUE INSPECTOR, KASABA HOBALI, HASSAN TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 201. RESIDING AT NO. 11/2 ADRASHA NAGARA, HASSAN TOWN, HASSAN. (HE WAS WORKING AS SDA, TALUK OFFICE SAKALESHAPURA, HASSAN TALLUK 2009 TO 2021) 2. LEO DEEPAK ALWIN S/O HRUDAYA KUMAR AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER SHETTYHALLI CIRCLE, HASSAN TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 213. RESIDING AT JOSEPH NAGAR, T. GUDDENAHALLI POST, ALUR TALLUK, ALURU. (HE WAS WORKING IN THE ABBANA CIRCLE ALUR TALLUK FROM 2007-2017) Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 3. CHANDRASHEKARA B S S/O B.T. SHIVAPPA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER KANATHURU CIRCLE, ALUR TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 213. RESIDING AT B.M. ROAD BALLUPETE, SAKALESHPUR TALUK. (HE WAS WORKING IN THE KARAGOADU CIRCLE ALUR TALLUK FROM 2013-2024) 4. SHARIF MUDNUR S/O LATE KALLAPPA MUDNUR AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS WORKING AS SPECIAL REVENUE INSPECTOR ETTINAHOLE PROJECT, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 213. RESIDING AT, ASHOK NAGARA, HASSAN (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE HEMMIGE CIRCLE ALUR TALLUK FROM 2010-2023) 5. RANGASWAMY K J S/O JAVARAIAH AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER KARAGODU CIRCLE, ALUR TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 213. RESIDING AT KANATHURU VILLAGE, PALYA HOBALI, ALUR TALLUK, (HE WAS WORKING IN THE MAGGE CIRCLE, ALUR TALLUK FROM 2015-2024) - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 6. K.N. JNANENDRA S/O LATE K.C. NINGAIAH AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS WORKING AS REVENUE INSPECTOR KASABA HOBALI, ALUR TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 213. RESIDING AT PUSHPAGIRI NILAYA, GOWRI KOPPALU, MAIN ROAD, HASSAN. (HE WAS WORKING AS FDA IN THE HASSAN TALLUK FROM 2017-2023) 7. SANTHOSH B J S/O JAGADISH AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS WORKING AS REVENUE INSPECTOR KUNDURU HOBALI, ALUR TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 213. RESIDING AT BHAGIRATHI BADAVANE, ALUR TOWN, ALUR. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE KUNDURU CIRCLE ALUR TALLUK FROM 2017-2021) 8. NAGESH B S/O LATE MARUBASAPPA AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, SHINGODNAHALLI CIRCLE, PALYA HOBALI, ALUR TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 213. RESIDING AT, NANJUNDESHWARA NILAYA, BASAVESHWRA NAGARA, HASSAN TOWN, HASSAN. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE BELLURU CIRCLE, ALUR TALLUK FROM 2008-2015) 9. SUHAS N S/O C. SHASHIDHARAN AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, BYADARAHALLI CIRCLE, KATTAYA HOBALI, HASSAN TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 201, RESIDING AT NANJUNDESHWARA NILAYA, KEMPEGOWDA ROAD, UADAYAGIRI, HASSAN TOWN, HASSAN. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE SANYASIHALLI CIRCLE BELUR TALLUK FROM 2014-2017) 10. HANAMANT SANTAPPA MASADAR S/O SANTAPPA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, PEERANAWADI CIRCLE, BELAGAVI HOBALI BELAGAVI TALLUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT - 590 009. RESIDING AT SAINIK NAGAR, LAXMITEK BELAGAVI TOWN, BELAGAVI. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE HUNASAVALLI CIRCLE ALUR TALLUK FROM 2015-2021) 11. J. RAVINAIK S/O JATRANAIK D AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 BYRAPURA CIRCLE, ALUR TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 213, RESIDING AT PRAKRUTHI NAGARA, 2 STAGE, ALUR TOWN, ALURU. (HE WAS WORKING IN THE PONNATHAPURA CIRCLE, ALUR TALLUK FROM 2017-2023) 12. R. OBALAESHA S/O RANGAPPA AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS WORKING AS REVENUE INSPECTOR, KASABA HOBALI, ARASIKERE TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 201. RESIDING AT, BEHIND MINI VIDHANA SOUDHA, ARASIKERE TOWN, ARASIKERE, HASSAN DISTRICT. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, IN KUNDURU CIRCLE, ALUR TALLUK FROM 2010 TO 2017) 13. RAGHAVENDRA N.M S/O MANJUNATH N.C AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, CHIKKURU CIRCLE, KASABA HOBALI, ARASIKERE TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 201. RESIDING AT NERALIGE VILLAGE, JAVAGAL HOBLI, ARASIKERE TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, IN ALUR TALLUK, FROM 2010 TO 2017) - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 14. RAJESAB SHADALAGERI S/O LATE PEERASAB SHADALAGERI AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, SATANAGERE CIRCLE, KANAKATTE HOBALI ARASIKERE TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 201 RESIDING AT, HENJAGONDANAHALLI, ARASIKERE TOWN, ARASIKERE, HASSAN DISTRICT. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE HUNASAVALLI CIRCLE ALUR TALLUK, FROM 2015-2021) 15. KANTHARAJU B R S/O RAJAPPA B M AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, KCHIGATTA CIRCLE, BANAVARA HOBALI, A RASIKERE TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 201. RESIDING AT BEHIND MINI VIDHANA SOUDHA, ARASIKERE TOWN, ARASIKERE, HASSAN DISTRICT. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE HUNASAVALLI CIRCLE ALUR TALLUK FROM 2015-2021) 16. SHRINIVAS R S/O RANGAPPA T AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 SHIVAGANAGA CIRCLE, TALYA HOBALI, HOLALKERE TALLUK, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT - 577 526. RESIDING AT HANUMANAKATTE VILLAGE, KASABA HOBALI, HOLALKERE TALLUK, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE YALAHANKA CIRCLE, BELUR TALLUK FROM 2013-2020) 17. VEERANNAGOWDA DANNAPPAGOWDRA S/O SHIVANANDAGOWDA AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, BETAGERE CIRCLE, BETAGERE HOBALI, GADAG TALLUK, GADAG DISTRICT - 582 101. RESIDING AT MALLAPURA VILLAGE, RONA TALLUK, GADAG DISTRICT. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE ANDALE CIRCLE, BELUR TALLUK FROM 2015-2020) 18. KOLUSAB CHUDARI S/O LATE SAHEBALAL CHOUDARI AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, KHEDAGI CIRCLE, INDI HOBALI, INDI TALLUK, VIJAYAPURA DISTRICT - 586 209. RESIDING AT BHAGAVAN NAGAR, INDI TALLUK, VIJAYAPURA DISTRICT. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE G-MAILANAHALLI CIRCLE, HASSAN TALLUK FROM 2013-2019) - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 19. SUNIL GOWDA B S S/O SATHYA AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, ANEKANNAMBADI CIRCLE, HALLIMYSORE HOBALI HOLENARASIPURA TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 201. RESIDING AT, BIDARURU VILLAGE, KONANURU HOBALI, ARKALGUDU TALLUK, HASSAN DISTRICT. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, IN BANNURU CIRCLE, ARKALGUD TALLUK, FROM 2010 TO 2019) 20. AUDALASIDDA GUBYAD S/O TIPPANNA AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, KORAWARA CIRCLE, DEVARAHIPPARAGI HOBALI DEVARAHIPPARAGI TALLUK, VIJAYAPURA DISTRICT - 586 115. RESIDING AT, SHIVANAGI VILLAGE, VIJAYAPURA HOBALI, VIJAYAPURA TALLUK, VIJAYAPURA DISTRICT. (HE WAS WORKING AS VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, IN KYAMANAHALLI CIRCLE, SAKALESHAPURA TALLUK, FROM 2015 TO 2021) …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. AMARTHYASEN M.S, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. MARUTHI S, ADVOCATE) - 9 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HASSAN CITY POLICE STATION, HASSAN DISTRICT, NOW INVESTIGATED BY CID POLICE - 560 001. REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONERS IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST BY THE RESPONDENT POLICE IN CR.NO.157/2019 OF HASSAN CITY P.S (NOW INVESTIGATED BY CID POLICE) FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 465, 468, 420 OF IPC AND SEC.192(a)(1)(2)(3) OF THE KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT 1964 AND SEC.4(1)(2)(3) OF THE KARNATAKA LAND GRABBING PROHIBITION ACT 2007 PENDING BEFORE THE PRL. CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT HASSAN. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Petitioners, who are apprehending arrest in Crime No.157/2019 registered by Hassan City Police Station, Hassan (now investigated by CID Police) for the offences - 10 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 punishable under Sections 465, 468 and 420 of Indian Penal Code, 1860, Sections 192(a)(1)(2)(3) of Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 and Sections 4(1)(2)(3) of Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2007, are 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.157/2019 was registered by Hassan City Police Station, Hassan, for the aforesaid offences against unknown persons, based on the first information dated 24.10.2019 received from Cptn. V. Srinivasagowda, Special Land Acquisition Officer, Hemavathi River Project, Hassan. Apprehending arrest in the said case, the petitioners had filed Crl.Misc.No.768/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 22.08.2026. Therefore, they are before this Court. - 11 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that similarly situated other accused persons have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in Crl.P.No.14205/2026 C/w. Crl.P.No.14007/2026, Crl.P.No.14025/2026, Crl.P.No.14027/2026, Crl.P.No.14125/2026, Crl.P.No.14130/2026 and Crl.P.No.14367/2026 vide order dated 28.09.2026. The said submission is not disputed by the learned High Court Government Pleader. 5. In paragraph Nos.4, 5 and 6 of the order passed in the aforesaid criminal petitions, it is observed as follows: "4. A reading of the first information dated 24.10.2019 received from the Special Land Acquisition Officer, Hemavathi River Project, Hassan, would go to show that, during the period from 01.01.2015 to 30.11.2018, fraudulent grants were made in respect of land that was reserved for the purpose of allotment to the land losers of Hemavathi River Project, to undeserving persons by the revenue officials in collusion with such persons. A reading of the first information would further go to show that as many as 414 such cases were traced and thereafter, the Land acquisition officer had approached the Police. 5. It appears that, on 16.03.2026, the Deputy Commissioner, Hassan, has directed to hold an enquiry as - 12 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 against 141 persons who were working in various capacities in the Department of Revenue during the period from 2015 to 2019. It is under these circumstances, the petitioners apprehended arrest and therefore, they had approached the Jurisdictional Sessions Court. 6. Material made available to this Court would go to show that the learned Sessions Judge has granted anticipatory bail to similarly placed other accused persons in Crl.Misc.No.808/2026 and Crl.Misc.No.780/2026. The petitioners have undertaken to co-operate with the Police for the purpose of investigation. The maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of seven years." 6. The aforesaid reasoning assigned by this Court squarely applies to the case of the petitioners, who have undertaken to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. 7. Under these circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioners for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following: - 13 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 O R D E R i) The criminal petition is allowed. ii) The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioners in the event of their arrest in Crime No.157/2019 registered by Hassan City Police Station, Hassan (now investigated by CID Police) registered for the offences punishable under Sections 465, 468 and 420 of Indian Penal Code, 1860, Sections 192(a)(1)(2)(3) of Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 and Sections 4(1)(2)(3) of Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2007, subject to the following conditions: a) The petitioners 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/- each with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. - 14 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010626032026 NC: 2026:KHC:54341 CRL.P No. 13988 of 2026 b) The petitioners shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons. c) The petitioners 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) The petitioners shall not involve in similar offences in future. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE SHS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 70