- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2269 CRL.P No. 17329 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 17329 OF 2025 [(438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)] BETWEEN: MANU S/O. GOPAL REDDY, AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, R/AT BOMMEKALLU VILLAGE, CHINTAMANI TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 563 125. WORKING AS RURAL POST MASTER, AMMANALLUR POST OFFICE, KOLAR - 563 101. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAJESH GOWDA, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY VEMGAL POLICE STATION, VEMGAL, KOLAR TALUK - 563 101, REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT COMPLEX, BANGALORE - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RAHUL RAI K., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2269 CRL.P No. 17329 of 2025 POLICE/BEMAGAL P.S. VEMGAL, KOLAR TALUK, TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL, IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST BY VEMGAL P.S., VEMGAL, KOAR TALUK/RESPONDENT POLICE, UNDER SECTIONS 318(2), 336(3), 340(2) OF BNS 2023 AND ON ITS FILE IN CRIME NO.223/2025, ON THE FILE OF PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE (JUNIOR DIVISION) AND JMFC, KOLAR. 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 sole accused under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.223/2025 of Vemagal Police Station, registered for offences punishable under Sections 318(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent - State. 3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that, the offences alleged against the petitioner are triable - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2269 CRL.P No. 17329 of 2025 by Magistrate and not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioner is alleged to have mis-appropriated Rs.91,600/- deposited in the account of the deceased persons with respect of old aged pension. The petitioner is aged twenty four (24) years and is ready to cooperate with the Police in the investigation. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. With these, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent would contend that, the petitioner has written a letter to the Police admitting he committing the mis-appropriation of Rs.19,600/- and he is ready to deposit the said amount before the appropriate authority. The petitioner is required for custodial interrogation. With these, he prayed for dismissal of the petition. 5. Having heard the learned counsels appearing for parties, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2269 CRL.P No. 17329 of 2025 6. The petitioner was working as Rural Post Master. The allegation against him is that, he created the documents and withdrawn the amount deposited in the account of deceased persons towards old aged pension and total sum of mis-appropriation is Rs.19,600/- . The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life and triable by Magistrate. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with the Police in investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. 7. Considering all the above aspects, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following; ORDER The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is granted anticipatory bail in Crime No.223/2025 of Vemagal Police Station and is ordered to be released on bail in the event his arrest, subject to following conditions: - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2269 CRL.P No. 17329 of 2025 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 Investigating Officer. ii) The petitioner shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within 10 days from this day and execute bail bond and furnish surety. iii) The petitioner shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer in investigation. iv) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for. v) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case, so as to dissuade him from disclosing - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2269 CRL.P No. 17329 of 2025 such facts to the Court or to any Police Officer or tamper with the evidence. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE KLV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 13