- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:759 CRL.P No. 16043 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. 16043 OF 2025 [(439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)] BETWEEN: MANJUNATHA @ MAANANGI MANJUNATH AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, S/O HANUMANTHAPPA, COOLIE WORK, R/AT KEMPANAHALLI VILLAGE, CHANNAGIRI TALUK, DAVANGERE - 577 213. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KETHAN KUMAR, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, SANTHEBENNUR POLICE STATION, DAVANGERE DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. MOHD. AYUB ALI, ADDITIONAL SPP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:759 CRL.P No. 16043 of 2025 PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE ABOVE CASE IN CONNECTION WITH CRIME NO.180/2025 DATED 20.10.2025 REGISTERED BY SANTHEBENNUR POLICE STATION, DAVANGERE DISTRICT FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 329(4), 352, 109(1) AND 351 OF BNS 2023, PENDING ON THE FILE OF II ACJ AND JMFC COURT, CHANNAGIRI. 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 sole accused under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant bail in Crime No.180/2025 of Santhebennur Police Station, registered for offences punishable under Sections 329(4), 352, 109(1) and 351 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:759 CRL.P No. 16043 of 2025 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned Additional State Public Prosecutor for respondent - State. 3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that, the allegation against the petitioner is that, the complainant has informed the alleged theft by the petitioner to the uncle of the petitioner. Enraged by that, the petitioner stated to have attempted to kill the complainant by chasing him with machete and the complainant escaped the said slash made by the petitioner. There is no injury sustained by the complainant. The petitioner is in judicial custody since 21.10.2025 and as the major portion of the investigation is over, he is not required for custodial interrogation. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. With these, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned Additional State Public Prosecutor for respondent would contend that, the incident - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:759 CRL.P No. 16043 of 2025 has been captured in the CCTV footage. The petitioner has attempted to commit the murder of the complainant. The investigation is in progress. With these, he prayed for dismissal of the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsels appearing for parties, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 6. On perusal of the averments in the complaint indicates that, the complainant has informed theft of coconut by this petitioner to his uncle. Enraged by that, the petitioner holding machete and slashed it towards the complainant and he escaped and again the petitioner slashed the machete towards the complainant and at that time, the persons gathered there and snatched the machete from the petitioner. Considering the said aspect, there is no injury caused to the complainant. The petitioner is in judicial custody since 21.10.2025 and as the major portion of the investigation is over, the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:759 CRL.P No. 16043 of 2025 petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. There are no criminal antecedents of 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.180/2025 of Santhebennur 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 trial 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:759 CRL.P No. 16043 of 2025 exempted by the Court and cooperate for speedy disposal of the case. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE KLV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 9