- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1286 CRL.P No. 16716 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. 16716 OF 2025 [(439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)] BETWEEN: RAMESH M. S/O. LATE M. ANANDRAO, AGED 53 YEARS, S.D.A. TALUK OFFICE, TARIKERE TALUK, R/O. KALIDASA BEGOORAIAHNA BEEDHI, NATIVE OF SHANKARAPURA, CHIKKAMAGALURU - 577 101. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAHUL R. GORAWAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARTNATAKA REP. BY LOKAYUKTHA POLICE, CHIKKAMAGALURU, THROUGH SPECIAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, CHIKKAMAGALURU - 577 101. 2. SRI. K.Y. VASU S/O. LATE YALLAPPA R. AGED 43 YEARS, R/O. DR.AMBEDKAR NAGARA, KADURU, CHIKKAMAGALURU - 577 101. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MANISH R. ADVOCATE FOR SRI. B.B. PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R1; R2 - SD BUT UNREPRESENTED) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1286 CRL.P No. 16716 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 (FILED UNDER SECTION 483 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.13/2025 REGISTERED BY LOKAYUKTHA POLICE STATION, CHIKKAMAGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 7(a) OF P.C. ACT, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRINCIPAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, CHIKKAMAGALURU. 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.13/2025 of Lokayuktha Police Station, Chikkamagaluru, registered for offence punishable under Section 7(a) of P.C. Act. 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned counsel for respondent No.1. Inspite of service of - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1286 CRL.P No. 16716 of 2025 notice to respondent No.2, he remained absent and unrepresented. 3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that, the petitioner is working as S.D.A. in Taluka Office, Tarikere. It is alleged that, in order to give some favour to the complainant, he alleged to have demanded the bribe and caught red handed when receiving the said amount. The investigation is over and charge sheet has been filed and therefore, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. The petitioner is already suspended. Therefore, there is no question of him tampering the prosecution witnesses. With these, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned counsel for respondent No.1 would contend that, there is a clear demand and acceptance of bribe. There is a pre-trap conversation recorded by the complainant which indicates the clear demand of bribe by this petitioner. The charge sheet - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1286 CRL.P No. 16716 of 2025 materials show that, there is a prima-facie case against the petitioner for offence alleged against him. 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. 6. The petitioner is working as S.D.A. in Taluka Office, Tarikere. The allegation against the petitioner is that in order to do the work of the complainant, he demanded bribe and trap has been laid and at the time of trap, he has received Rs.5,000/- from the complainant. The trap mahazar has been prepared. The investigation is over and charge sheet has been filed against the petitioner for offence under Section 7(a) of P.C. Act. As the charge sheet is filed, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. The offence alleged against the petitioner is not punishable either with death or - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1286 CRL.P No. 16716 of 2025 imprisonment for life. The petitioner is stated to have already been suspended. 7. Considering all the above aspects, the petitioner has made 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.13/2025 of Lokayuktha Police Station, Chikkamagaluru, 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:1286 CRL.P No. 16716 of 2025 exempted by the Court and cooperate for speedy disposal of the case. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE KLV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 5