- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:767 CRL.P No. 16113 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION No. 16113 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. GURUMURTHY M R S/O LATE RAJE GOWDA AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS R/A WARD No.7, B G THILAK ROAD GAYATHRI EXTENTION CHANNARAYAPATNA, HASSAN KARNATAKA-573 116. …PETITIONER (BY SRI CHETAN KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR SRI SUBRAMANYA R, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THE HASSAN CITY POLICE STATION REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU- 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) Cr.P.C PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CRIME No.154/2025 REGISTERED BY HASSAN CITY POLICE STATION PENDING BEFORE THE HON’BLE COURT OF PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT, HASSAN FOR THE Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:767 CRL.P No. 16113 of 2025 OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 316(4),318(3),318(4) OF BNS. 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.2 under Section 482 of BNSS praying to grant anticipatory bail in Cr.No.154/2025 of Hassan City Police Station registered for offences punishable under Section 316(4), 318(3), 318(4) of BNS. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent/State. 3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that prior to he assuming charge of his office, earlier the process has been made and he has continued the said process. The petitioner is not involved in commission of any offence as alleged. It is the accused No.3 who is a District Nodal Officer is involved in commission of the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:767 CRL.P No. 16113 of 2025 offence. The petitioner is ready to co-operate with the IO in the investigation. The offence alleged against the petitioner is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned HCGP would contend that this petitioner is directly involved in commission of the offence and he has used login and dongle of the complainant - Taluka Executive Officer, Taluk Panchayat, Hassan and transferred the amount to non-beneficiaries and misappropriated the amount. The investigation is in progress and the petitioner is required for custodial interrogation. With this, he prayed to reject the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsels, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 6. On perusal of averments of the complaint, there is an allegation against accused Nos.1 to 3 that they have - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:767 CRL.P No. 16113 of 2025 transferred Rs.7.5 lakhs in total to non-beneficiaries and mis-appropriated the amount. The matter is under investigation. What is the role of this petitioner is to be ascertained in the investigation. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable either with death or imprisonment or life. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. The petitioner has undertaken to co- operate with the IO in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this court. 7. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has made out case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following: ORDER The petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on bail, in the event of his arrest in Crime No.154/2025 of Hassan City Police Station, subject to following conditions: - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:767 CRL.P No. 16113 of 2025 1. The petitioner shall voluntarily appear before the IO within 10 days from this day and execute a bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh only) with one surety to the satisfaction of IO. 2. The petitioner shall appear before the IO whenever called for and co-operate in the investigation. 3. The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DKB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 14 Ct.sm