- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5853 CRL.P No. 16957 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 16957 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI RANGANATHA N S/O NANJUNDAPPA, AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, R/ AT SADARLAHALLI VILLAGE, JEELAKUNTE POST, GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-561228. 2. SRI N. HEMANTH KUMAR S/O NAGARAJU, AGED ABOUT 20 YEARS, R/ AT VADDENAHALLI VILLAGE, GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-561206. 3. SRI PAVAN M. L S/O LAKSHMINARAYANA, AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS, R/ AT MARALURU VILLAGE, RAMAPURA POST, GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-561210. 4. SRI RAJESHA S/O LAKSHMAINARAYANAPPA, AGED ABOUT 21 YEARS, R/ AT GOTLAGUNTE VILLAGE, GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-561228. Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5853 CRL.P No. 16957 of 2025 5. SRI SUNIL KUMAR N. G S/O GANGADHARAPPA, AGED ABOUT 20 YEARS, R/ AT NAGARAGERE VILLAGE, NAGARAGERE HOBLI, GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-561228. 6. SRI PAVAN KALYAN M. R S/O RAMAKRISHNAPPA. P, AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS, R/ AT MARALURU VILLAGE, RAMAPURA POST, GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-561210. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. KEMPE GOWDA C M.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY GOWRIBIDANUR TOWN POLICE STATION, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING COMPLEX, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU- 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. M R PATIL, HCGP) CRL.P FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON BAIL, IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CRIME NO.201/2025 OF GOWRIBIDANUR TOWN POLICE STATION, GOWRIBIDANUR, UNDER SECTIONS 316 (4), 318 (4) OF BNS ACT 2023, NOW PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE (JUNIOR DIVISION) AND JMFC, GOWRIBIDANUR. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5853 CRL.P No. 16957 of 2025 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 Nos.1 to 6 under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.201/2025 of Gowribidanur Town Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Sections 316(4), 318(4) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. Heard the learned counsel for petitioners and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent/State. 3. The learned counsel for petitioner would contend that the alleged misappropriation has taken place on 16.06.2025 and the complaint has been filed on 30.10.2025 and there is a delay in filing the complaint. The petitioners were not working in the finance of the complainant as on the date of the complaint. The - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5853 CRL.P No. 16957 of 2025 petitioners are the students. They were working on part- time basis in the finance of the complainant. The offences alleged against the petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life and they are triable by learned Magistrate. The petitioners are ready to co- operate with the Investigating Officer in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. With this, he prays to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, the High Court Government Pleader would contend that accused No.5/petitioner No.5 has been arrested on 11.12.2025 and he is in judicial custody. Therefore, the petition filed by him does not survive for consideration. The petitioners have misappropriated the funds of the complainants' finance. The petitioners are required for custodial interrogation. If the petitioners are granted anticipatory bail, they will hamper the investigation and tamper the prosecution witnesses. With this, he prayed to reject the petition. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5853 CRL.P No. 16957 of 2025 5. Having heard the learned counsel, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 6. Since petitioner No. 5/accused No. 5 has been arrested, the petition filed by him does not survive for consideration and is accordingly dismissed as having become infructuous. 7. The allegation against the petitioners is that they were working in the finance of the complainant and they have misappropriated the funds of the finance of the complainant. The petitioner No.1 was working as Manager and other petitioners were working as recovery boys. Whether the petitioners have misappropriated the funds is a matter of investigation and trial. The offences alleged against the petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. The petitioners are stated to be students. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5853 CRL.P No. 16957 of 2025 8. Considering the above aspects, the petitioners 1 to 4 and 6 have made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following: ORDER i) The petition so far as petitioners 1 to 4 and 6 is allowed. ii) The petitioners No.1 to 4 and 6 are ordered to be released on anticipatory bail in the event of their arrest in Crime No.201/2026 of Gowribidanur Town Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Sections 316(4), 318(4) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 subject to following conditions. a) The petitioners 1 to 4 and 6 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/- - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5853 CRL.P No. 16957 of 2025 each with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. b) The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for and co- operate 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 petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer on every Sunday between 10.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. for a period of two months or till filing a final report whichever is earlier. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE BKM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 26