- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4283 CRL.P No. 16701 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 16701 OF 2025 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI AKASH S/O. LATE MANJUNATHA, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, RESIDING AT KARAKUCHI VILLAGE, LAKKAVALLI HOBLI, TARIKERE TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT 577101 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. ASHOKA T.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY LAKKAVALLI POLICE STATION, THARIKERE TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4283 CRL.P No. 16701 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL FOR THE IN CRIME NO.66/2025 OF THE RESPONDENT POLICE BY LAKKAVALLI POLICE STATION PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, TARIKERE, CHIKKAMAGALURU FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 126(2), 103(1), 49 READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF BNS. 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 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant bail in Crime No.66/2025 of Lakkavalli Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Sections 126(2), 103(1), 49 read with Section 3(5) of BNS. 2. Heard the learned counsel for petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent/State. 3. The learned counsel for petitioner would contend that the allegation of assault and cause of death of the deceased is against accused Nos.1 and 2. The allegation against this petitioner is that he took the deceased on the bike to the spot. There is no allegation of any assault by this - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4283 CRL.P No. 16701 of 2025 petitioner on the deceased. The name of petitioner is not in the FIR. He is in judicial custody since 20.08.2025 and as the charge sheet filed, he is not required for custodial interrogation. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, the learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent/State would contend that the petitioner is having main role and took the deceased on the bike to the spot, and that the accused Nos.1 and 2 assaulted the deceased and committed the murder. CW15 and CW16 are two eyewitnesses, who have seen accused Nos.1 and 2 and another coming hurriedly from the place where they heard the sound of screaming. The charge sheet materials show a prima facie case against the petitioner. With this, he prayed to reject the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsel, the Court has perused the charge sheet and other materials placed on the court. 6. As per the charge sheet, the case of the prosecution is that the deceased/Charanraj had committed the murder of his wife Meghana, and was facing trial in SC No.81/2024. He - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4283 CRL.P No. 16701 of 2025 has been granted bail and released on 30.06.2025. Accused No.1 is the brother of Meghana, and accused Nos.2 and 3, including this petitioner, are friends of accused No.1, and they were wreaking vengeance against the deceased, Charanraj. Accused Nos.1 to 4 planned to kill the deceased. As per the said plan, this petitioner/accused No.3 took the deceased on the bike to the spot where accused Nos.1 and 2 came and assaulted the deceased/Charanraj with machete on his head and body and caused his death. 7. The accusation against this petitioner is that he has brought the deceased on the bike to the spot as per their plan and facilitated the accused Nos.1 and 2 to kill the deceased. Even though there is an allegation that the petitioner was present on the spot, he has not assaulted the deceased. The charge sheet has been filed and therefore the petitioner is not required for custodial interrogation. The petitioner is in judicial custody since 20.08.2025. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. 8. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of bail with conditions. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4283 CRL.P No. 16701 of 2025 In the result, the following ORDER: i) The petition is allowed. ii) The petitioner is granted bail in Crime No.66/2025 of Lakkavalli Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Sections 126(2), 103(1), 49 read with Section 3(5) of BNS subject to following conditions: a) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. b) The petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. c) The petitioner shall attend the Trial Court on all dates of hearing unless exempted and cooperate for speedy disposal of the case. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE bkm List No.: 1 Sl No.: 18