- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1287 CRL.P No. 16637 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. 16637 OF 2025 [(438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)] BETWEEN: MAYANK GOWDA S/O. Y.C. MANOHAR, AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, R/AT NO.5423, OLD HOUSING BOARD, RAVINDRA NAGAR, HASSAN - 573 201. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. C.V. NAGESH, SENIOR ADVOCATE ALONG WITH SMT. JYOTHI S.K., ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA PUTTENAHALLI POLICE STATION, JAYANAGAR SUB-DIVISION, BENGALURU - 560 078, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARANTAKA, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. WAHEEDA M.M. HCGP; SRI. SUNIL KUMAR S., ADVOCATE FOR DEFACTO COMPLAINANT) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1287 CRL.P No. 16637 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF ARREST IN CRIME NO.307/2025 ON THE FILE OF XXX ADDITIONAL CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 108, 351(2) AND 352 READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF BNS, REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT PUTTENAHALLI POLICE STATION, BENGALURU. 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 482 of Bharatiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.307/2025 of Puttenahalli Police Station, registered for offences punishable under Sections 108, 351(2), 352 read with 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. Heard learned Senior Counsel for petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent - - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1287 CRL.P No. 16637 of 2025 State who is assisted by learned counsel for defacto complainant. 3. Learned Senior Counsel for petitioner would contend that, the father of the deceased has filed a complaint and on going through the averments of the said complaint, the deceased was not interested in continuing relationship with the petitioner. The alleged conversation between the petitioner and the deceased was over phone call that to fifteen (15) days prior to the date of suicide by the deceased. Merely saying to go and die does not amounts to abetment to commit suicide. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with the Police in investigation and abide by any terms and conditions to be imposed by this Court. The offence alleged against the petitioner is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. With these, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent who is assisted by learned counsel - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1287 CRL.P No. 16637 of 2025 for defacto complainant would contend that, the petitioner who is in love affair with the deceased has made phone call to the deceased and told her that, he is loving another girl who is rich and his mother is also cooperating for the same and he is not required and also not interested in her and asked her to go and die. The said act of the petitioner amounts to abetment. The deceased depressed by the same has committed suicide on 21.11.2025. The Investigating Officer has recorded the statement of mother and sister of the deceased. The investigation is pending. The petitioner has moved with the deceased on several occasions. The iPhone of the deceased has been seized and it is sent for FSL and report is awaited. The petitioner is required for custodial interrogation. With these, she 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. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1287 CRL.P No. 16637 of 2025 6. The deceased who is daughter of the complainant committed suicide on 21.11.2025 at Bengaluru in the house of her maternal uncle. Both the deceased and the complainant were residents of Hassan. The petitioner and his mother - accused No.2 were also residents of Hassan. As per averments of the complaint, the petitioner has pestered the deceased to love him and forced him to have sexual intercourse and in that regard, he has given harassment to her several times. In that regard, the petitioner stated to have assaulted the deceased and gave her life threat. The mother of the petitioner has also stated to have abused the deceased in filthy words and gave her life threat and asked her to discontinue her conversation with the petitioner. The allegation is that the petitioner made a phone call to the deceased fifteen (15) days prior to she committing suicide and told her that, he is loving another rich girl and his mother is also cooperating for the same and he is not interested in her and asked her to go and die. The said - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1287 CRL.P No. 16637 of 2025 conversation over phone call alleged to have taken place fifteen (15) days prior to the deceased committing suicide. Whether the said act of the petitioner amounts to abetment to commit suicide is a matter of investigation and trial. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with the Police in investigation and abide by any terms and conditions to be imposed by this Court. The offence alleged against the petitioner is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioner is not having any criminal antecedents. 7. Considering all the above aspects, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following; ORDER The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is granted anticipatory bail in Crime No.307/2025 of Puttenahalli Police Station and is ordered to be released on bail in the event his arrest, subject to following conditions: - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1287 CRL.P No. 16637 of 2025 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 Investigating Officer. ii) The petitioner shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from this day and execute bail bond and furnish surety. iii) The petitioner shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer in investigation. iv) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for. v) 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. vi) The petitioner shall appear before the trial Court on all dates hearing unless exempted and cooperate for speedy disposal of the - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1287 CRL.P No. 16637 of 2025 case in case of filing the charge sheet against him. In view of the above order, I.A.No.2/2025 does not survive for consideration. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE KLV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 4