- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5579 CRL.P No. 16520 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. 16520 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI BHARATH G N S/O NAGARAJAGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS, R/AT GUBBIGA VILLAGE, N.R. PURA TALUK CHIKMAGALUR DISTRICT. …PETITIONER (BY SRI NATARAJ DONKENNANAVAR, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. PRUTHVI WODEYAR.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPUTY RANGE FOREST OFFICER CHAKKA AGRAHARA BRANCH AND RANGE, CHIKMAGALUR HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE-01. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT.WAHEEDA M.M., HCGP) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5579 CRL.P No. 16520 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.P.C (U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL AND DIRECT THE RESPONDENT ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF ARREST IN WLOR 1/2025-26 (FIR NO.44/2025) DTD 28.09.2025 REGISTERED BY RESPONDENT FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 9, 39, 48(A), 51 OF WILD LIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972 AND AMENDED ACT, 2022. 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 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in WLOR No.1/2025-26 (FIR No.44/25) registered by the Deputy Range Forest Officer, Chikka Agrahara Branch and Range for the offences punishable under Sections 9, 39, 48(A) and 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 read with Amended Act, 2022. 2. Heard the learned counsel for petitioner and the learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent/State. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5579 CRL.P No. 16520 of 2025 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the petitioner has been arrayed as an accused solely on the ground that the car in which the dead deer was found belongs to him and is registered in his name. He submits that the petitioner is innocent and has not been involved in the commission of any offence. The maximum sentence that can be imposed for the offence alleged against him is imprisonment which may extend to three years and fine which may extend to Rs.1,00,000/-. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with the Investigating Officer in investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. The petitioner is not having any criminal antecedents. With this, he prayed for allow the petition. 4. Per contra, the learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent/State would contend that the hunted deer's body was found in the car. The said car belongs to this petitioner. The petitioner has no explanation for dead deer found in his car. The petitioner - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5579 CRL.P No. 16520 of 2025 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. On receipt of credible information, when the Range Police Officer was following the vehicle, the accused who were in the car stopped the vehicle and ran away from the spot. The said car is having registration number KA34MD7799 and in the said car dead deer's body was found. It is alleged that there was hunting of the said deer by the petitioner. The name of the petitioner has been arrayed as an accused solely on the basis that a copy of the insurance policy found in the car was in the name of the petitioner. Whether the petitioner is involved in hunting of a deer and transporting its dead body is a matter of investigation. The offence alleged against the petitioner is provided with sentence of imprisonment which - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5579 CRL.P No. 16520 of 2025 may extend to three 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 petitioner is ordered to be release on bail in the event of his arrest in WLOR No.1/2025-26 registered by the Deputy Range Forest Officer, Chikka Agrahara Branch and Range for the offences punishable under Sections 9, 39, 48(A) and 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 read with Amended Act, 2022 subject to following conditions: - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5579 CRL.P No. 16520 of 2025 a) The petitioner shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within fifteen days from this day and execute a bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the 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. d) The petitioner shall appear before the Trial Court on all dates of hearing and cooperate for speedy disposal of the case in case of filing of the charge sheet or report/complaint against him. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE BKM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 23