- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5547 CRL.P No. 16510 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 31ST DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 16510 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI RAJENDRA @ GOOLI S/O DUNDASHETTYTY AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS., R/O MOOGURUMOLE VILAGE, MOOGURU HOBLI T.NARASIPURA TALUK, MYSURU DISTRICT PIN-571 124 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHRINIVAS B S.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY FOREST MOBILE SQUAD CHAMARAJANAGARA REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001 …RESPONDENT (BY Smt.WAHEEDA M.M, HCGP) *Page No.1 retyped and replaced vide chamber order dated 04.02.2026 Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5547 CRL.P No. 16510 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CASE NO. W.L.O.R.NO.8/2025, PCR NO.227/2025 FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 9, 39, 39(D), 48(A), 50, 51, 55, 57 OF WILD LIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972, SCHEDULE-2, PART-A, MAMMALS SL.NO.11; WHICH WAS REJECTED BY THE HONBLE PRINCIPAL DISTRICT AND AT JUDGE SESSIONS ON 18/11/2025 IN CHAMARAJANAGARA CRL. MISC.467/20251, VIDE ANNEXURE- B. 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.3 under Section 482 of Bhartatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in W.L.O.R.No.8/2025 of Sub- Inspector of Police, Forest Police Mobile Squad, Chamarajanagar registered for the offences punishable under Sections 9, 39, 39(D), 48(A), 50, 51, 55, 57 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 pending in PCR No.227/2025 on the file of learned Principal Civil Judge and JMFC, Chamarajanagara. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5547 CRL.P No. 16510 of 2025 2. Heard the learned counsel for petitioner and the learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent/State. 3. The learned counsel for petitioner would contend that three persons were moving on a two wheeler and on suspecting them, two persons were caught one person ran away and 16 kgs 900 grams of deer meat was found with them. The said persons who were caught disclosed the name of this petitioner as a person who ran away. The said meat has been seized under a mahazar. The accused Nos.1 and 2, who were caught, were granted bail by the learned Magistrate. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable with death or imprisonment for life. The maximum sentence that can be imposed is imprisonment which may extend to seven years. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with further investigation, if any, and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5547 CRL.P No. 16510 of 2025 4. Per contra, the learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent/State would contend that the petitioner was also with accused Nos.1 and 2 in transportation of deer meat etc. The deer meat to the extent of 16 kgs. 900 grams has been seized along with the weapons used by the accused persons and the two wheeler. The petitioner is required for custodial interrogation. With this, she prayed to reject the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsel, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 6. The name of the petitioner has been disclosed by accused Nos.1 and 2 as the person ran away from the spot, accused No.1 and 2 were caught when they were moving on a scooter and found transporting a deer meat weighing 16 kgs. and 900 grams. The petitioner is stated to have ran away from the spot. The same has been disclosed by the arrested accused persons, who have - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5547 CRL.P No. 16510 of 2025 stated so in their voluntary statements. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. The maximum sentence that can be imposed imprisonment which may extend to seven years. The petitioner has undertaken to cooperate with the Investigating Officer in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. 7. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following: ORDER i) The petition is allowed ii) The petitioners is order to be released on bail in the event of his arrest in W.L.O.R.No.8/2025 of Sub- Inspector of Police, Forest Police Mobile Squad, - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5547 CRL.P No. 16510 of 2025 Chamarajanagar registered for the offences punishable under Sections 9, 39, 39(D), 48(A), 50, 51, 55, 57 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 pending in PCR No.227/2025 on the file of learned Principal Civil Judge and JMFC, Chamarajanagar subject to following conditions. a) The petitioner shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within fifteen days from this day and execute bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the like sum for the satisfaction of Investigating Officer. b) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for and cooperate for investigation. c) 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. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5547 CRL.P No. 16510 of 2025 d) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer on every Sunday for period of one month or till filing of the final report whichever is earlier. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE BKM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 21