- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.2515 OF 2025 (U/S 14(A) (2)) C/W CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.5 OF 2026 (U/S 14(A) (2)) IN CRL.A. NO.2515/2025 BETWEEN: BHASKAR @ SAGAR AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS, S/O LATE VENKATESHA R/AT KAVALAHOSAHALLI VILLAGE, JANATA COLONY, KASABA HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK-562 016. (IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY). …APPELLANT (BY SRI M.R. CHINNASWAMY MANOHAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY SURYANAGARA P.S., ANEKAL SUB-DIVISION, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-01. 2. PADMARAJU S/O LATE THIMMAIAH, Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYAN N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS, R/AT MARASURU VILLAGE, INDIRANAGAR, KASABA HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK-562 016, BENGALURU DISTRICT. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. N. ANITHA GIRISH, HCGP FOR R-1; R-2 SERVED & UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 14(A) (2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT, 2015 PRAYING SET ASIDE THE BAIL ORDER DATED 23.09.2025 PASSED BY THE HON'BLE II ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BNEGLAURU RURAL DISTRICT, BENGALURU IN CRL.MISC.NO.1575/2025 AND ENLARGE THE APPELLANT/ACCUSED NO.4 ON BAIL IN SPL.C.C.NO.342/2024 (CRIME NO.109/2024) REGISTERED BY THE SURYANAGARA P.S., BENGLAURU RURAL DISTRICT FOR THE OFFENCE P/US/ 302, 201, 120-B, 109, 143, 144, 149 OF IPC AND SECTION 3(2)(va) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT NOW PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HON'BLE II ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, BENGALURU. IN CRL.A. NO.5/2026 BETWEEN: ARJUN S/O BHADRAIAH AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, R/AT AVADADENA HALLI VILLAGE, KASABA HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK, BENGALURU DISTRICT-562106 (NOW IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY). ...APPELLANT (BY SRI MANJUNATH M.R., ADVOCATE) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SURYANAGARA P.S., BENGALURU. REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. 2. PADMARAJU S/O LATE THIMMAIAH, AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS, R/AT MARASURU VILLAGE (INDIRANAGARA), KASABA HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK, BENGALURU-562106. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. N. ANITHA GIRISH, HCGP FOR R-1; R-2 SERVED & UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 14(A)(2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT, 2015 PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER PASSED BY II ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND SPECIAL JUDGE BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, BENGALURU IN SPL.NO.342/2024 ON 09.12.2025 AND ETC. THESE APPEALS COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA ORAL JUDGMENT 1. The appellant in Crl.A.No.2515/2025 has preferred this appeal against the order dated 23rd September, 2025 in Crl.Misc.No.1575 of 2025 and the appellant in Crl.A.No.5/2026 is preferred against the order dated 09.12.2025 in Spl.C.No.342/2024, both passed by the II Additional District - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru (for short 'the trial Court'). 2. For the sake of convenience, the parties herein are referred to as per their rank before the trial Court. 3. Brief facts leading to these appeals are that, on the basis of the complaint filed by one Padmaraju, S/o late Thimmaiah, Suryanagar Police have registered the case in Crime No.109/2024 against the accused-Arjun and others for the offence under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code. After completion of investigation, the Investigating Officer has submitted the charge-sheet against accused Nos.1 to 9 for the offence under Sections 302, 201, 120(B), 109, 143, 144, 149 of Indian Penal Code read with Section 3(2)(va) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. 4. Appellant-Bhaskara, who is accused No.4, had filed application under Section 439 of Cr.P.C and accused No.1-Arjun had filed application under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023. Both came to be rejected by the trial Court. Being aggrieved by - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 rejection of bail applications by the trial Court, appellants have preferred these appeals. 5. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant/accused No.4, would submit that the appellant is innocent and has got valid and tenable defence. The appellant has been falsely implicated in the above case at the instance of persons inimical towards him. The name of the appellant is neither found in the complaint nor in the FIR. The appellant has been arrested on 29.02.2024 and till date he is in judicial custody i.e., for almost two years. The Investigating Officer has cited 44 witnesses in the charge sheet and till now the trial is not yet commenced. Considerable time is required to conclude the trial. Till conclusion of the trial, the detention of the accused amounts to pre-trial punishment. Ultimately, if this Court acquits the accused, State will not compensate the ordeal undergone by the accused as an under-trial prisoner. The accused has already been subjected to prolonged incarceration amounting to pre-trial punishment. The motive and intention attributed by the prosecution to the appellant is baseless and the appellant has absolutely no connection or motive to participate in the alleged incident. The Post-Mortem report of - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 the deceased reveals that the death was due to skull fracture and intracranial hemorrhage as a result of sharp force injuries. There is no medical opinion connecting the appellant to the alleged blow which has been attributed to him. The entire case of the prosecution rests on the statement of CW4-Srikanta, who is alleged to be an eye-witness to the said incident. The statement of the said witness is recorded on 02.03.2024, i.e. after lapse of one week. The alleged eye-witness has stated in his statement that he was present near the spot of incident in the early morning around 03.30 a.m., which itself is unbelievable. Apart from that, he has stated in statement under Section 164 of Cr.P.C that he was near the place of incident for about 45 minutes. Later, he left that place and again came back to the place of incident and saw the police were inspecting the spot and verifying the dead body. This witness has not whispered anything either to the police or to the people assembled at the spot regarding physical features of the assailants and also this witness has not identified the appellant accused No.4, in the police station. The conduct of the alleged eyewitness clearly goes to show that, he has not witnessed the incident and the IO has planted this witness as an eyewitness - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 to strengthen the case of the prosecution and to detain the appellant and other recruit persons in judicial custody till conclusion of the trial. The Investigating Officer has not conducted test identification parade, as the assailants are not known to the eyewitness. 6. The case of the prosecution is that during the course of investigation, the Investigating Officer has collected DVR and CCTV found near the place of incident and claimed that it has been sent to FSL to retrieve the images. However, charge sheet is filed on 02.05.2024. Till the date, IO has not produced the FSL report of the DVR. The provisions of SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989 does not apply to the appellant, as he himself is a member of Scheduled Caste. Absolutely, there is no material to connect the appellant to the alleged crime. Accused Nos.3, 5 to 9 have already been granted bail by the Sessions Court and by this Court. The appellant is also standing on the same footing. As such, he is also entitled for bail on the principle of parity. On all these grounds, it is sought to allow the appeal. 7. As against this, Smt. N. Anitha Girish, the learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for the respondent-State, - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 would submit that the trial Court has appreciated the evidence on record in accordance with law and facts and there are no grounds to interfere with these appeals and accordingly, sought for dismissal of appeals. 8. Sri Manjunath M.R., learned counsel appearing for the appellant/accused No.1-Arjun in Criminal Appeal No.5 of 2026, after arguing the matter at length, prays the leave of the court to withdraw the appeal. He has also filed a memo to that extent. Memo is taken on record. Accordingly, Criminal Appeal No.5 of 2026 in respect of accused No.1-Arjun, is dismissed as withdrawn. 9. Having heard the learned counsel appearing on behalf of appellant in Criminal Appeal No.2515 of 2025 and the learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent-State and on perusal of materials placed before this Court, the following point would arise for my consideration: "Whether the appellant in Criminal Appeal No.2515 of 2025 has made out a ground to interfere with the impugned order?" - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 10. I have examined the materials placed before the court. On the basis of the complaint filed by Padmaraju, Suryanagar Police have registered a case in Crime No.109 of 2024 against the accused Arjun for the offence punishable under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code. The investigating officer submitted charge-sheet against accused 1 to 9 in which it is shown accused 8 and 9 are absconding. In column 17 of the charge- sheet, it is alleged as under: "17 PÉù£À ¸ÀAQë¥ÀÛ «ªÀgÀ : [CªÀ±Àå«zÀÝ°è ¥ÀævÉåÃPÀ ºÁ¼É ®UÀwÛ¹] Brief Facts of the case Add separate sheet if necessary. PÀ®A 302-201-120(©)-109-143-144-149 L¦¹ eÉÆvÉUÉ PÀ®A 3 PÁè¸ï 2(va) J¸ï.¹/J¸ï.n DPïÖ. 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F J¯Áè zÀȱÀåªÀ½UÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÀܼÀzÀ°èzÀÝ ¹¹n«AiÀÄ°è (gÉPÁqïð) ¸ÉgÉAiÀiÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ PÀAqÀÄ §A¢gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. £ÀAvÀgÀ 1 jAzÀ 7 gÀ ªÀgÀV£À DgÉÆæUÀ¼ÀÄ C°èAzÀ vÀ¦à¹PÉÆAqÀÄ vÀ«Ä¼ÀÄ£ÁqÀÄ PÀqÉUÉ ºÉÆÃV qÉAPÀtÂPÉÆÃmÉAiÀÄ°ègÀĪÀ ¸ÁQë-18 gÀªÀgÀ §mÉÖ CAUÀrAiÀÄ°è 6 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 7£Éà DgÉÆæUÀ¼ÀÄ J®èjUÀÆ ºÉƸÀ §mÉÖUÀ¼À£ÀÄß vÉUÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ §AzÀÄ, qÉAPÀtÂPÉÆÃmÉ vÁ®ÄèPÀÄ, ºÀ¼ÉHgÀÄ UÁæªÀÄzÀ SÁ gÁV ºÉÆ®zÀ°è ºÉƸÀ §mÉÖUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ºÁQPÉÆAqÀÄ. «dAiÀÄPÀĪÀiÁgÀ£À£ÀÄß PÉÆ¯É ªÀiÁqÀĪÀ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄzÀ°è zsÀj¹zÀÝ §mÉÖUÀ½UÉ gÀPÀÛPÀ¯ÉAiÀiÁVzÀÝjAzÀ J®ègÀÄ CzÉà ºÉÆ®zÀ°è §mÉÖUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ©aÑ ¨ÉAQ¬ÄAzÀ ¸ÀÄlÄÖºÁQ ¸ÁQëAiÀÄ£ÀÄß £Á±À¥Àr¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. PÉÆ¯É ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä G¥ÀAiÉÆÃV¹zÀÝ 2 ¯ÁAUï ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 1 ªÀÄZÀÑ£ÀÄß vÀ«Ä¼ÀÄ£Ár£À ¸ÀƼÀVj vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ gÁAiÀÄPÉÆÃmÉ gÀ¸ÉÛAiÀÄ°ègÀĪÀ d«Ää£À°è PÀvÁÛ¼É VqÀzÀ ¥ÉÆzÉ M¼ÀUÉ AiÀiÁjUÀÆ PÁtzÀAvÉ §aÑlÄÖ, PÀÈvÀåPÉÌ G¥ÀAiÉÆÃV¹zÀÝ | DmÉÆà ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 2 ªÉÆÃmÁgï ¸ÉÊPÀ¯ïUÀ¼À£ÀÄß C£ÉÃPÀ¯ï vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ gÁªÀÄPÀȵÁÚ¥ÀÅgÀ UÁæªÀÄzÀ ºÀwÛgÀ EgÀĪÀ PÀȶ E¯ÁSÉ vÀgÀ¨ÉÃw PÉÃAzÀæzÀ ¥ÀPÀÌzÀ°ègÀĪÀ PÁqÀÄ VqÀªÀÄgÀUÀ¼ÀÄ ¨É¼ÉzÀÄ ¤AwÛgÀĪÀ ªÀÄgÀVqÀUÀ¼À ºÀwÛgÀ ¤°è¹ ºÉÆÃVgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. PÁ®A 12 gÀ°è PÀAqÀ 8 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 9£Éà DgÉÆæUÀ¼ÀÄ ¤ÃrzÀ PÀĪÀÄäQ̤AzÀ, 1£Éà DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ¥ÉæÃgÀuÉUÉÆAqÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ zÉéõÀ¢AzÀ 2 jAzÀ 7gÀ ªÀgÀV£À DgÉÆæUÀ¼À£ÀÄß vÀ£Àß eÉÆvÉ ¸ÉÃj¹PÉÆAqÀÄ M¼À¸ÀAZÀÄ gÀƦ¹, ¥Àj²µÀÖ eÁwUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀ ¸ÁQë-1 gÀªÀgÀ ªÀÄUÀ «dAiÀÄPÀĪÀiÁgÀ£À£ÀÄß C¥ÁAiÀÄPÀgÀ DAiÀÄÄzsÀUÀ½AzÀ ºÉÆqÉzÀÄ, §§ðgÀªÁV PÉÆ¯É ªÀiÁr, ¸ÁQëAiÀÄ£ÀÄß £Á±À ªÀiÁrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ JAzÀÄ zÁR¯ÉUÀ½AzÀ ¸ÁQëzÁgÀgÀ «ZÁgÀuɬÄAzÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ vÀ¤SɬÄAzÀ DgÉÆÃ¥À zÀÈqÀ ¥ÀnÖgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. - 13 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 DzÀÝjAzÀ ªÉÄîÌAqÀ PÁ®A 12 gÀ°è PÀAqÀ 1 jAzÀ 9 gÀ ªÀgÀV£À DgÉÆæUÀ¼À «gÀÄzÀÞ ºÉÆj¸À®àlÖ zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥Àt ¥ÀnÖ." 11. With regard to accused No.4-Bhaskar in criminal Appeal No.2515 of 2025 is concerned, it is alleged by the prosecution that when Vijayakumar fell on road, accused No.4 brought machete from autorickshaw and assaulted Vijayakumar on his back. The eye-witness Srikantha has not identified this accused in the police station. The trial court has granted bail to accused No.8-Karthik in Criminal Misc.160 of 2025 dated 3rd March 2025. The trial court has also granted bail to Manoj Kumar @ Manoj in Criminal Misc. No.1610 of 2024 dated 08th August, 2024. This court has granted bail to accused No.3- Mahesh and accused No.6 and 7 viz. Hemanth and Murugesh in Criminal Appeals No.2356 of 2024 and 1916 of 2024 dated 24th June, 2025. Accused No.4 is in judicial custody, since the date of arrest i.e. 29th February, 2024. Considering the nature and gravity of the offences, fact and circumstances of the case and granting of bail to other accused, I am of the opinion that it is just and proper to grant bail to accused No.4 with conditions. - 14 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 Hence, I answer the point that arose for my consideration, in the affirmative. 12. Resultantly, I proceed to pass the following: O R D E R i) Criminal Appeal No.5 of 2026 preferred by accused No.1-Arjun is dismissed as withdrawn. However, the appellant/accused No.1 is reserved liberty to file bail application after recording evidence of material witnesses before the trial court; ii) Criminal appeal No.2515 of 2025 is allowed; iii) Order dated 23rd September, 2025 passed in Crl.Misc.No.1575 of 2025 by the II Additional District & Sessions Judge, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru, is set aside. Criminal Misc.No.1575/2025 filed by Accused No.4 under Section 439 of Code of Criminal Procedure, is allowed; iv) Appellant-Accused No.4 shall be released on bail upon executing self-bond for Rs.2,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional court; v) Appellant-accused No.4 shall not commit similar offence; - 15 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5927 CRL.A No. 2515 of 2025 C/W CRL.A No. 5 of 2026 vi) Appellant-accused No.4 shall not threaten or tamper the prosecution witnesses in any manner; vii) Appellant-accused No.4 shall appear before the court on all dates of hearing; viii) Appellant-accused No.4 shall co-operate for trial. Registry is directed to send the copy of this judgment to the concerned court. Sd/- (G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE DHA,LNN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 4