- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6127 CRL.P No. 17203 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. 17203 OF 2025 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: MR. MANJUNATHA S/O LATE SRINIVASA AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS R/AT WARD NO.12, K.R.EXTENTION CHINTHAMANI TOWN AND TALUK CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-563 125 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. JAGADISH J.R, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY S.H.O.SHIDLAGHATTA RURAL P.S SHIDLAGHATTA-562 105 REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 OF CR.P.C. (FILED UNDER SECTION 483 OF BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CC NO.1346/2025 (CR.NO.216/2025 REGISTERED BY SHIDLAGHATTA RURAL POLICE) AND NOW PENDING TRIAL ON THE FILE OF THE II ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT CHIKKABALLAPURA Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6127 CRL.P No. 17203 of 2025 SITTING AT CHINTAMANI, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 120B, 364, 302, 149 ETC., OF I.P.C. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL ORDER 1. This petition is filed by accused No. 10 under Section 483 of BNSS praying to grant bail in Crime No. 216/2025 of Shidlagatta Rural Police Station registered for offences punishable under Sections 364, 302, 120(B) read with Section 149 of IPC. 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent - State. 3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that accused Nos. 5 to 9 have been granted bail by this Court in Crl.P. Nos. 13617/2025, 13117/2025 and 16557/2025 by orders dated 03.11.2025, 17.11.2025 and 02.02.2026 respectively. The allegation against the petitioner is that he pushed the deceased inside the car and accused Nos. 1 to 6 took the deceased in that car. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6127 CRL.P No. 17203 of 2025 There is no overt act alleged against this petitioner of assaulting the deceased and committing his murder. Petitioner is in judicial custody since 19.08.2025 and as chargesheet is filed he is not required for custodial interrogation. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. With this he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned HCGP would contend that the petitioner and other accused conspired to kill the deceased. Accused Nos. 1 to 6 have kidnapped the deceased and killed him. This petitioner pushed the deceased in the car and thereafter accused Nos. 1 to 6 took the deceased in the car and killed him. Chargesheet material show prima facie case against the petitioner for offence alleged against him. With this, he prayed to reject the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties, the Court has perused chargesheet and other materials placed on record. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6127 CRL.P No. 17203 of 2025 6. This Court while granting bail to accused Nos. 5, 6 and 8 in the Order dated 17.11.2025 passed in Crl.P. No. 13117/2025 has observed as under: “6. After receipt of papers from Thali Police Station, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu, the FIR has been registered against accused Nos.1 to 6. The investigation officer has secured accused Nos.5 to 8 and recorded their voluntary statements. As per their voluntary statements, accused Nos.1 to 10 conspired to kill the deceased. Accordingly, accused Nos.1 to 6 kidnapped the deceased in Santro car, took him to Hosakote –Malur road and assaulted him with clubs and killed him. Thereafter, accused Nos.1 to 10 shifted the dead body to Tamil Nadu as per plan of accused No.9. Considering the above aspects, there is no role of this petitioner No.3/accused No.8 in murder of the deceased. Except voluntary statements of petitioner Nos.1 and 2 -accused Nos.5 and 6, at present there are no other circumstances. Petitioners have not been taken to police custody for interrogation and they are in judicial custody since 12.08.2025. Accused Nos.1 to 4 who is stated to - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6127 CRL.P No. 17203 of 2025 have role in kidnapping and murder of deceased -Girish have been granted bail earlier by Sessions Court/ High Court of Madras. As the major portion of the investigation is over, petitioners are not required for custodial interrogation. There are no criminal antecedents of petitioners. Considering the above aspects, petitioners have made out case for grant of bail with conditions.” 7. The accusation against this petitioner is that when the deceased Girish told that he will not board the car, at that time accused Nos. 1 to 8 and petitioner – accused No. 10 forcibly pushed the deceased - Girish and put him in the Santro car. There is no allegation against this petitioner of assaulting deceased - Girish and committing his murder. Said allegation is against accused Nos. 1 to 6. As chargesheet is filed, petitioner is not required for custodial interrogation. Petitioner is in judicial custody since 19.08.2025. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6127 CRL.P No. 17203 of 2025 8. Considering the above aspects, petitioner has made out case for grant of bail with conditions. In the result, the following; O R D E R Petition is allowed. Petitioner is granted bail Crime No. 216/2025 of Shidlagatta Rural Police Station subject to following conditions: I. Petitioner – accused No. 10 shall execute a personal bond for sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of Jurisdictional Court. II. Petitioner – accused No. 10 shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly. III. Petitioner – accused No. 10 shall attend the trial Court on all dates of hearing unless exempted and cooperate for speedy disposal of the case. IV. Petitioner – accused No. 10 shall not involve in commission of any offence. If petitioner is found - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:6127 CRL.P No. 17203 of 2025 involved in commission of any offence, the prosecution is at liberty to move application seeking cancellation of bail granted to him. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE LRS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 14