- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1680 CRL.P No. 17347 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION No. 17347 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. MR P R RAVIKUMAR AGED 46 YEARS S/O LATE RUDRAPPA P R R/AT PANCHANAHALLI PANACHANAHALLI KADUR TALUK CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT – 577 182. …PETITIONER (BY SRI P P HEGDE, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI GANAPATHI BHAT, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE KADUR POLICE STATION CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE- 01. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI M R PATIL, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.P.C (UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT AN ORDER OF ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO.3, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT IN DAKUR P.S., TO RELEASE THE Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1680 CRL.P No. 17347 of 2025 PETITIONER FORTH WITH ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH FIR IN CR.No.366/2025 DTD 21.11.2025 OF KADUR P.S., CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 406,409,465,468,471 OF IPC, 1860. 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 the petitioner -accused No.3 under Section 482 of BNSS praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.366/2025 of Kadur Police Station registered for offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 465, 468 and 471 of IPC. 2. Heard learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent –State. 3. Learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner would contend that there is no role of this petitioner who is working as Revenue Inspector to grant of old age pension. The report of Assistant Commissioner indicates that the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1680 CRL.P No. 17347 of 2025 petitioner is not involved and in spite of his report, the higher authority has sanctioned old age pension. The petitioner is ready to co-operate with the police in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent –State would contend that the acts of the accused persons caused loss to the State to the extent of more than Rs.9,00,000/-. Accused persons prepared false report regarding age of the applicants and sanctioned old age pension. The petitioner is required for custodial interrogation. With this, he prayed to reject the petition. 5. Having heard learned counsels, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1680 CRL.P No. 17347 of 2025 6. On the complaint of Tahsildar, Kadur, a case has been registered against eleven accused persons in Crime No.366/2025 of Kadur Police Station for aforesaid offenses. The allegation in the complaint is that old age pension has been sanctioned to in-eligible persons and causing loss to the State to the extent of Rs.9,03,200/-. The petitioner is working as Revenue Inspector. As per the report of the Assistant Commissioner, there is no role of this petitioner in sanctioning the old age pension to the ineligible persons. Whether the petitioner is involved in commission of the offence alleged against him is matter of investigation. The petitioner has undertaken to co-operate with the police in the investigation and abide by any terms and conditions to be imposed by this Court. Offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioner is Revenue Inspector and he can be secured easily for investigation and trial. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has made out case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1680 CRL.P No. 17347 of 2025 7. In the result, the following ORDER i) The petition is allowed. ii) The petitioner is ordered to be released on bail in the event of his arrest in Crime No.366/2025 of Kadur Police Station subject to following conditions: a) The petitioner –accused No.3 shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from this day and execute bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. b) The petitioner –accused No.3 shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for and cooperate for investigation. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1680 CRL.P No. 17347 of 2025 c) The petitioner –accused No.3 shall not directly or indirectly make an inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such a facts to the court or police officer or tamper with the evidence. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DSP List No.: 1 Sl No.: 21 Ct.sm