- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4713 CRL.P No. 17068 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 17068 OF 2025 [(439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)] BETWEEN: NAVEEN VENKATARAMANA NAIK S/O. VENKATARAMANA NAIK, AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, OCCUPATION - SENIOR MANAGER, CATENA HOMES INDIA PVT. LTD., RESIDENT OF NO.21, DEVI KRUPA, FOREST COLONY, SRIVANA NAGAR, CHIPPAGI VILLAGE, SIRSI TALUKA, UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT - 581 401. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. BIKKANNAVAR S.T., ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPT., (CID) BENGALURU. RPTD. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME NO.327/2025 OF Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4713 CRL.P No. 17068 of 2025 ELECTRONIC CITY POLICE STATION, BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 318(4) AND 316(2) READ WITH 3(5) OF BNS, 2023, BEING INVESTIGATED BY CID, BENGALURU, PENDING ON THE FILE OF I A.C.J.M. BENGALURU. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, 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 Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant bail in Crime No.327/2025 of Electronic City Police Station, Bengaluru, registered for offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2) read with 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent - State. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4713 CRL.P No. 17068 of 2025 3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that, the petitioner pursuant to the notice appeared before the Investigating Officer and he has been arrested. The petitioner was taken to Police custody for seven (7) days and nothing has been seized from him. The petitioner is not beneficiary of any amount misappropriated by accused No.1 who is the Managing Director of the company. It is accused No.1 who has cheated the customers in non-returning the lease amount. Now, accused No.1 has been arrested. So far as this petitioner is concerned, the charge sheet has been filed and the case is registered in C.C.No.45834/2025. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life and they are triable by Magistrate. The petitioner was only an employee in the company and there are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. The petitioner has received salary and incentives. With these, he prayed to allow the petition. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4713 CRL.P No. 17068 of 2025 4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent would contend that, the petitioner was Sales Executive in the company. The company provided rental houses on lease basis to the customers. After completion of the term, the lease amount has not been returned to the customers to the extent of Rs.22,00,00,000/-. There are more than 200 complaints against the company. Accused No.1 is the Managing Director of the said company. There is a transfer of Rs.65,00,000/- to the account of this petitioner and it is indicated in his bank account statement. The further investigation is still going on. With these, he prayed for dismissal of the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsels appearing for parties, the Court has perused the charge sheet and other materials placed on record. 6. The petitioner has been arrayed as accused No.3 and the petitioner is employed in Catena Homes - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4713 CRL.P No. 17068 of 2025 India Pvt. Ltd., as a Sales Executive. There is an allegation that the said company did not returned the lease amount to the customers after completing the lease term to the extent of Rs.22,00,00,000/-. Accused No.1 is stated to be the Managing Director of the said company. It is submitted that, accused No.1 has now been arrested and investigation against him is going on. The petitioner has been taken to Police custody for seven (7) days. It is submitted that, nothing has been seized from the petitioner. It is further submitted that, there is a credit of totally Rs.65,00,000/- to the account of this petitioner. It is submitted that, the said deposit to the account of the petitioner is towards his salary and incentive. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life and they are triable by Magistrate. The investigation so far petitioner is concerned is over and charge sheet has been filed against him and case is registered in C.C.No.45834/2025. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4713 CRL.P No. 17068 of 2025 7. Considering all the above aspects, the petitioner has made out 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.327/2025 of Electronic City Police Station (pending in C.C.No.45834/2025), 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 Jurisdictional Court. ii) The petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. iii) The petitioner shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer in further investigation, if any. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4713 CRL.P No. 17068 of 2025 iv) The petitioner shall appear before the trial Court on all dates of hearing unless exempted by the Court and cooperate for speedy disposal of the case. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE KLV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 23