- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6056 CRL.P No. 17098 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 17098 OF 2025 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: MR. VIKRAM SINGH S/O SHAYAR SINGH AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS SINGHASAN SHIKAR RAJASTHAN-332 027 (NOW IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY) BANGALORE CENTRAL JAIL PARAPPANA AGRAHARA BANGALORE-560 100) …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAKSHITH R, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY SUB-INSPECTOR OF POLICE, HSR LAYOUT POLICE BENGALURU-560 102 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE-01 2. STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY PSI CEN CRIME POLICE STATION SOUTH EAST DIVISION BANGALORE CITY Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6056 CRL.P No. 17098 of 2025 BANGALORE-560 102 REP. BY SPP, HIGH COURT BANGALORE-01 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. M.R. PATIL, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 OF CR.P.C (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.384/2025 IN HSR LAYOUT POLICE STATION BENGALURU ON THE FILE OF THE 39TH ACMM, BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 66-C,66-D,84-B OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2000 AND SECTION 318(4),319,61(2) R/W SEC.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.18 under Section 483 of BNSS, praying to grant bail in Crime No.384/2025 of HSR Layout Police Station, registered for offences under Section 66(C), 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 318(4), 319, 61(2) r/w 3(5) of BNS. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent/State. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the petitioner and accused No.19 were the Directors - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6056 CRL.P No. 17098 of 2025 of Cybits Solution Pvt. Ltd. at the time of incorporation of the said Company. Subsequently, accused No.18 resigned from the Directorship and his resignation has been accepted with effect from 17.09.2021. The company came to be incorporated on 20.07.2021. The offences alleged have not taken place between 20.07.2021 till petitioner/accused No.18 resigned on 17.09.2021. The allegation against the petitioner is that he paid rent to the landlord. There is no any amount credited to the bank account of this petitioner. The petitioner is not involved in commission of any offence as alleged. There is no recovery. The petitioner is not having any criminal antecedents. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable with death or imprisonment for life and the maximum punishment provided is imprisonment for 7 years. As the charge sheet is filed, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6056 CRL.P No. 17098 of 2025 4. Per contra, learned HCGP would contend that the petitioner was Director of the Company. The petitioner has received the money. The charge sheet indicates that the petitioner was a Director. There is allegation of digital arrest of the citizens of US and Australia. The offence alleged against the petitioner is a heinous offence. The charge sheet material show prima-facie case against the petitioner for offences alleged against him. With this, he prayed to reject the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsels, the Court has perused the charge sheet and other materials placed on record. 6. This Court, while considering bail/anticipatory bail petitions of accused Nos.3, 5, 6 to 9, 10 to 12, 13, 15 and 17, 20, 21, 34 in Crl.P.No.15649/2025 with connected petitions in the order dated 17.12.2025, has observed as under: 10. On the complaint of PSI, HSR Layout Police Station dated 07.10.2025, case came to - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6056 CRL.P No. 17098 of 2025 be registered in Crime No.384/2025 for offences punishable under Sections 66(C), 66(D), 84(B) of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 61(2), 318(4), 319, read with Section 3(5) of BNS against Cybits Solution Private Limited and others. During investigation some of the accused persons have been arrested. During investigation, requisition has been filed to insert Sections 111(2) and 111(4) of BNS. 11. After investigation, charge sheet has been filed against accused Nos. 1 to 34 for offences punishable under Sections 66(C), 66(D), 84(B) of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 61(2), 318(4), 319, read with Section 3(5) of BNS. The charge sheet has not been filed for offences punishable under Sections 111(2) and 111(4) of BNS, as accused persons are not involved in more than one crimes during last 10 years. Accused No.2 is working as Office Boy maintaining attendance records of employees of accused No.1 -Company. Accused No.4 is working as Closure. Accused Nos.3, 5, 6 to 17 are working as Dialers/Closures in accused No.1 -Company. Accused Nos.2 to 17 are the - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6056 CRL.P No. 17098 of 2025 employees of accused No.1 -Company. The allegation against accused No.1 -Company and it’s employees i.e., accused Nos.2 to 17 is that they are making calls to the citizens of US and Canada stating that they are the US Customs and Border Protection Force, Drug Enforcement and Administration and Department of Homeland Security and used to get the details of the said victims, their passport, bank accounts, driving license and threatening them stating that they are involved in commission of offence and getting money transferred from them to different accounts and keeping them in digital arrest and in order to get money from them asking them to purchase gift card of Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Dollar General, HEB Store and sending Bitcoin QR Code and asking them to transfer money. Accused persons were acting as Investigating Officers of United States and creating arrest warrant of United State Supreme Court and United State District Court. Employees of accused No.1 -Company used to make calls to citizens of US and Canada in that regard. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6056 CRL.P No. 17098 of 2025 7. The charge sheet material indicate that the petitioner/accused No.18 was Director along with accused No.19 at the time of incorporation of the Company that is on 20.07.2021. The charge sheet material further indicate that petitioner/accused No.18 has resigned and ceased to be Director with effect from 17.09.2021. Whether there is any allegation of digital arrest as alleged in the charge sheet between 20.07.2021 and 17.09.2021 is a matter of trial. The allegation against this petitioner is that he was a Director and he paid rent of the premises to the landlord. There is no any recovery at the instance of the petitioner. The petitioner is not having any criminal antecedents. The petitioner is in judicial custody since 03.11.2025 and as the charge sheet is filed, he is not required for further custodial interrogation. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6056 CRL.P No. 17098 of 2025 8. Considering the above aspects, petitioner has made out case for grant of bail with conditions. In the result, the following: ORDER The petition is allowed. The petitioner is granted bail in Crime No.384/2025 of HSR Layout Police Station, subject to following conditions: (i) Petitioner shall execute a bail bond for a sum of Rs.5,00,000/- with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of jurisdictional Court. (ii) Petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. (iii) Petitioner shall appear before the trial Court on all dates hearing unless exempted and co-operate for speedy disposal of the case. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6056 CRL.P No. 17098 of 2025 (iv) Petitioner shall appear before the IO whenever called for, if his presence is required for further investigation, if any. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DKB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 13