- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3159 CRL.P No. 13914 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13914 OF 2025 [(439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)] BETWEEN: M. JANARDHAN S/O LATE. N.MADEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, RESIDING AT KADATHANALU VILLAGE, S.R. PATNA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 435. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. TONY SEBASTIAN, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. RENY SEBASTIAN, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SRIRANGAPATNA RURAL POLICE STATION, MANDYA DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. M.R. PATIL, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO RELEASE OF THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.99/2025 REGISTERED FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONSS 103, 238(a) AND Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3159 CRL.P No. 13914 of 2025 3(5) OF BNS, 2023 IN C.C.NO.1018/2025 PENDING ON THE FILE OF ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN.) AND JMFC, S.R. PATNA AT MANDYA DISTRICT. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL ORDER This petition is filed by accused No.1 under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant bail in Crime No.99/2025 of Srirangapatna Rural Police Station registered for offences punishable under Sections 103, 238(a) and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. Heard learned Senior Counsel for petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent - State. 3. Learned Senior Counsel for petitioner would contend that, the petitioner reached the spot and at that time, accused Nos.2 and 3 have already assaulted the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3159 CRL.P No. 13914 of 2025 deceased and he was unconscious. The allegation against the petitioner is that, in order to hide the evidence, he instructed the other accused to damage the indicators of vehicle of the deceased to show it as an accident. There is no serious overtact of assault is alleged against the petitioner. The petitioner is not having any criminal antecedents and he is in judicial custody since 27.05.2025. As the charge sheet is filed, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. With these, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent would contend that, the petitioner who came to the spot and in order to destroy the evidence and to show the act as an accident, damaged the indicators of the vehicle of the deceased. The charge sheet materials show that, there is a prima-facie case against the petitioner for offences alleged against him. With these, he prayed for dismissal of the petition. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3159 CRL.P No. 13914 of 2025 5. Having heard the learned counsels appearing for parties, the Court has perused the charge sheet and other materials placed on record. 6. As per the charge sheet, the case of the prosecution is that, the deceased came to Vishranthi Dhaba on his motorcycle and ordered for meals. When there was delay in supply of meals, he started making galata and at that time, accused Nos.2 and 3 assaulted him with a fist on his face, chest and stomach and dashed his head to the wall and caused severe injuries. Due to which, the deceased became unconscious. At that time, accused No.1/petitioner herein came to the spot and in order to hide the acts of accused Nos.2 and 3 told them to keep the body near the garage situated by the side of the Dhaba and damaged the indicators of motorcycle of the deceased to show it as an accident. There is no serious overtact of assault is alleged against the petitioner. The serious overtact of assault is alleged against accused Nos.2 and 3. The petitioner is in judicial custody since - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3159 CRL.P No. 13914 of 2025 27.05.2025 and as the charge sheet is filed, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. There are no criminal antecedents to the petitioner. 7. Considering all the above aspects, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of bail with conditions. In the result, the following; ORDER The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is granted bail in Crime No.99/2025 of Srirangapatna Rural Police Station, subject to following conditions: i) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the like-sum to the satisfaction of the Jurisdictional Court. ii) The petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. iii) The petitioner shall appear before the trial Court on all dates of hearing unless - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3159 CRL.P No. 13914 of 2025 exempted by the Court and cooperate for speedy disposal of the case. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE KLV List No.: 2 Sl No.: 10