- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1398 CRL.P No. 16413 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 9TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION No. 16413 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. DODDAIAH A B S/O LATE BHEEMAIAH AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS RETIRED CHIEF ENGINEER R/AT No.22, BEML 10TH STAGE 1ST MAIN, 1ST CROSS CHANNASANDRA, R.R NAGAR BANGALORE – 560 098. 2. SRI. SATEESH S/O LATE KARIGOWDA AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS R/AT No.1183/A, 17TH MAIN CHOCOLATE FACTORY ROAD BTM 1ST STAGE BANGALORE -560 029. PRESENTLY WORKING AS AEE GREATER BENGALURU AUTHORITY TVC NR SQUARE, BANGALORE- 560 002. 3. SRI VIJAY KUMAR.N S/O. LATE N.M LINGEGOWDA RETIRED CHIEF ENGINEER AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS RETIRED CHIEF ENGINEER BBMP R/AT No.713, 2ND MAIN 11TH BLOCK, NAGARABHAVI BANGALORE -560 072. Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1398 CRL.P No. 16413 of 2025 4. SRI BASAVARAJU S/O LATE NANJALAH AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS R/AT No.GF02, SV BREZZA SAPTAGIRI LAYOUT MUTTURAYANAGARA BANGALORE – 560 048. PRESENTLY WORKING AS AEE TECHNICAL AND MAINTENANCE DIVISION BANGALORE EAST CITY CORPORATION GREATER BENGALURU AUTHORITY PHOENIX MALL OPP. MAHADEVAPURA BANGALORE- 560 048. 5. SRI M SIDDARAMAIAH S/O LATE MAHADEVAPPA AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS R/AT No.53/A, SRI NANDI 2ND CROSS, 1ST MAIN ARUNACHALAM LAYOUT KOMMAGHATTA MAIN ROAD KENGERI, BANGALORE – 560 060. PRESENTLY WORKING AS ASSISTANT ENGINEER TECHNICAL AND MAINTENANCE DIVISION BANGALORE WEST CITY CORPORATION DIVISION ZONE-I BENGALURU. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI H V MANJUNATHA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY LOKAYUKTA POLICE BANGALORE CITY POLICE STATION, No.1 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI B B PATIL, ADVOCATE) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1398 CRL.P No. 16413 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) Cr.P.C PRAYING TO ALLOW THE INSTANT PETITION AND ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST BY THE RESPONDENT KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA, BENGALURU POLICE IN RESPECT OF CRIME No.55/2025 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE BEFORE THE HON’BLE COURT OF 23TH ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS COURT, BENGALURU (CCH-24) FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 13(1)(a) R/W SEC.13(2) OF PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT 1988 AND SECTIONS 120(B),409,419,420,417 OF IPC 1860. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL ORDER 1. This petition is filed by accused Nos. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 under Section 482 of BNSS praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No. 55/2025 of Karnataka Lokayuktha Police Station, Bengaluru registered for offences under Sections 13(1)(a) and Section 13(2) of IPC and Sections 120(B), 409, 419, 420, 417 of IPC. 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioners and learned counsel for respondent. 3. Learned counsel for petitioners would contend that the complaint has been made on 02.09.2020 and FIR - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1398 CRL.P No. 16413 of 2025 has been registered on 06.11.2025 and there is a huge delay of more than 5 years in registering the case. The work has been carried out by Cradle and not by the BBMP. Petitioners were then working in BBMP. Petitioner Nos. 1 and 3 who were working as Chief Engineers are retired now. Other petitioners are working in Greater Bangalore Authority, East and West Corporations. The premises of the petitioners have been raided and documents have been seized. There is no specific allegation against the petitioners in the entire complaint. The allegations in the complaint are general in nature. Petitioners have co- operated with the investigation and are also ready to further co-operate with the investigating agency in the investigation. The offences alleged against the petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra learned counsel for respondent would contend that earlier complaint was made to ACB and subsequently after ACB was abolished documents - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1398 CRL.P No. 16413 of 2025 were transferred to the Lokayukta. Now case has been registered by Lokayukta which caused delay in registering the case. There was a raid on the premises of the petitioners and documents were collected. The alleged incidents have been done during pandemic and amount involved is Rs.250 crores. There are no reasonable grounds for petitioners that they will be arrested if they cooperate with the investigation. The petitioners had earlier worked in high positions in the BBMP and three petitioners are still working and there is likelihood of they tampering with the prosecution witnesses and hampering the investigation. He placed reliance on the decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Sushila Aggarwal and others v. State (NCT of Delhi) 2020 (5) SCC 1. On these grounds he prayed to reject the petition. 5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, this Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1398 CRL.P No. 16413 of 2025 6. Complaint is dated 02.09.2020 and it is made by Member of Parliament to ACB. FIR has been registered on 06.11.2025 by Karnataka Lokayukta, Bengaluru. It is contended by learned counsel for respondent that ACB was abolished and documents were transferred to the Lokayukta and therefore there is delay in registering the case. A perusal of page 3 of the complaint indicates that there is a mention that information was given to Lokayukta institution also in regard to the allegations made in the complaint. Considering the said aspect, it is clear that even the Lokayukta had information regarding the corruption made by the accused persons even prior to or on the date of complaint dated 02.09.2020. Even though names of petitioners are mentioned in the complaint, there is no specific allegation against them. The premises of the petitioners have been raided and documents were collected. Petitioners have undertaken to cooperate with the Investigating Agency and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. The offences - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1398 CRL.P No. 16413 of 2025 alleged against the petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. Petitioners are retired Chief Engineers and working Engineers and their presence can be secured easily for investigation and trial. Considering the above aspects, the petitioners have made out case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. 7. In the result, the following; O R D E R Petition is allowed. Petitioners are ordered to be released on bail in the event of their arrest in Crime No. 55/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta Police Station, Bengaluru subject to following conditions: I. Petitioners shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within 10 days from this day and execute bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1398 CRL.P No. 16413 of 2025 II. Petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer on first and third Sunday of every month for a period of 3 months or till filing of the final report whichever is earlier. III. Petitioners shall co-operate with the Investigating Officer in the investigation. IV. Petitioners 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. In view of disposal of the petition, pending applications, if any, also stand disposed off. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE LRS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 16 Ct.sm