- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3669 CRL.A No. 2561 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.2561 OF 2025 (U/S 14(A) (2)) BETWEEN: SRI SADDAM HUSSAIN @ SADDAM S/O HUSSAIN, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/AT NEAR GNANA JYOTHI SCHOOL BYE PASS ROAD, MULBAGAL TOWN, KOLAR-563131. …APPELLANT (BY SRI M.R. NANJUNDA GOWDA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY MULBAGAL RURAL POLICE, KOLAR DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, DR. MABEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560 001. 2. SMT. VINUTHA B.S. D/O SHIVAKUMAR, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, R/AT HANUMANTHANAHALLI GATE, MULBAGALA TALUK, KOLAR-563131. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI M. DIWAKAR MADDUR, HCGP FOR R-1; SRI RAJESHEKARA H.M., ADVOCATE FOR R-2) THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 14(A)(2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT, 1989 PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE BAIL ORDERS DATED 07.11.2025 PASSED IN CRL.MISC.NO.868/2025 ON THE FILE OF THE 2ND ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, Digitally signed by PANKAJA S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3669 CRL.A No. 2561 of 2025 KOLAR AND ALLOW THE APPEAL AND GRANT AN ORDER OF BAIL TO THE APPELLANT FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S. 323, 341, 342, 347, 376(c), 420, 504, 506 R/W 34 OF IPC AND SECTIONS 3(1)(r) AND (s), 3(1)(w)(i)(ii), 3(2)(v) OF S.C./S.T PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES ACT, 1989. THIS APPEAL COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA ORAL JUDGMENT The appellant has preferred this appeal against the order dated 07.11.2025 passed in Crl.Misc.No.868/2025 by the II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kolar. 2. The brief facts leading to this appeal is that on the basis of the complaint filed by the complainant, Mulbagal Rural Police have registered the case in Crime No.149/2025 against accused Nos.1 to 5 for commission of offence punishable under Sections 376(c), 341, 342, 347, 420, 323, 504, 506 read with Section 34 of IPC and Section 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(1)(w)(i)(ii), 3(2)(v) of SC/ST (POA) Act. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3669 CRL.A No. 2561 of 2025 3. The appellant had filed application under Section 438 of Cr.P.C for grant of anticipatory bail and the same came to be rejected on 07.11.2025. 4. Being aggrieved by this order, the appellant has preferred this appeal. 5. The learned counsel for the appellant would submit that the investigation officer has already completed investigation and submitted the charge sheet against the accused. The accused is not required for custodial interrogation. Accused Nos.2 to 5 were already released on bail by the II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kolar in Crl.Misc.No.514/2025 vide order dated 30.06.2025. 6. There is abnormal delay in filing this complaint and appellant is ready to abide by the conditions to be imposed by this Court. Hence, he sought for allowing of this appeal. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3669 CRL.A No. 2561 of 2025 7. I have examined the materials placed before this Court. The FIR reveals that the alleged incident took place from 01.01.2017 to 30.06.2024. The investigation is already completed and the investigation officer has submitted the charge sheet against the accused. 8. In column No.17 of the charge sheet, it is stated as under: “:PÁ®A £ÀA.17: ªÀÄļÀ¨ÁUÀ®Ä vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ PÀªÀÄäzÀnÖ PÁªÀÄ£ÀÆgÀÄ UÁæªÀÄzÀ ¸ÀªÉð £ÀA.395 gÀ d«Ää£À°è F zÉƵÁgÉÆÃ¥ÀuÉ¥ÀnÖ CAPÀt.12 gÀ°è zÀAqÀ DgÉÆÃ¥À.1 ¸ÀzÁÝA ºÀĸÉãï @ ¸ÀzÁÝA ©£ï ºÀĸÉãï gÀªÀjUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀ ªÀÄÆ£ï¯ÉÊmï ºÁ¯ÉÆà ©æPïì ¥ÁåPÀÖjAiÀÄ°è PÉ®¸À ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä ¸ÁQë.1 ªÀ¤vÀ gÀªÀgÀÄ 2018£Éà ¸Á°£À°è vÀ£Àß UÀAqÀ ¥Àæ±ÁAvï gÀªÀgÉÆA¢UÉ PÀÆ° PÉ®¸À ªÀiÁrPÉÆAqÀÄ PÀÆ°AiÀĪÀjUÉ PÉÆnÖzÀÝ ±Éqï£À°è ªÁ¸À«zÀÄÝ, ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ UÀAqÀ ºÉZÁÑV ªÀÄzÀå¥Á£À ªÀiÁqÀÄwÛzÀÝ PÁgÀt DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ UÀAqÀ¤UÉ ºÉZÁÑV ªÀÄzÀå¥Á£À ªÀiÁr¹ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ §UÉÎ E®è¸À®èzÀ ªÀiÁvÀÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ºÉý ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß £ÉÆÃrzÀgÉ DUÀzÀAvÉ ªÀiÁrzÀÄÝ, ¸ÁQë.1 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¥Àæ±ÁAvï gÀªÀjUÉ ¸ÀA¸ÁgÀzÀ°è ºÉÆAzÁtÂPÉ E®èzÉ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ UÀAqÀ ¥Àæ±ÁAvï gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ UÀAqÀÄ ªÀÄUÀ£À eÉÆvÉ J°èUÉÆà ºÉÆgÀlĺÉÆÃVgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ vÀ£Àß ªÀÄUÀ¼À eÉÆvÉAiÀÄ°è DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀgÀ ¥ÁåPÀÖjAiÀÄ°è PÉ®¸À ªÀiÁrPÉÆArzÀÄÝ, ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀjUÉ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà ¢PÀÄÌ E®èzÀAvÁVzÀÝjAzÀ DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß ªÀÄzÀĪÉAiÀiÁUÀĪÀÅzÁV C«ÄõÀ MrØ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÉÆA¢UÉ zÉÊ»PÀ ¸ÀA¥ÀPÀð ¨É¼É¹ ¯ÉÊAVPÀªÁV §¼À¹PÉÆArzÀÄÝ, ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß ªÀÄzÀĪÉAiÀiÁUÀĪÀAvÉ PÉýzÁUÀ, DgÉÆæ.1 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3669 CRL.A No. 2561 of 2025 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀjUÉ E®è¸À®èzÀ ªÀiÁvÀÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ºÉý 6 ªÀµÀðUÀ½AzÀ PÉ®¸À ªÀiÁrzÀ ¸ÀA§¼À ¸ÀºÁ PÉÆqÀzÉ EzÀÄÝ, ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¥Àj²µÀÖ eÁwUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀªÀ¼ÉAzÀÄ w½zÀÄ DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀgÀ PÀÄlÄA§zÀªÀgÁzÀ DgÉÆæ.2 jAzÀ DgÉÆæ.5 gÀªÀgÀÄ 2024£Éà ¸Á°£À°è ¸ÁQë.1 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀgÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É UÀ¯ÁmÉ ªÀiÁrzÀÄÝ, £ÀAvÀgÀ DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆj£À PÁqÀÄUÉÆrAiÀÄ ¥ÀmÁ®A ¯ÉÃOmï£À°è UÀUÀ£ïgÉrØ JA§ÄªÀªÀjUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀ ©.1 gÀ ªÁ¸ÀzÀ ªÀÄ£ÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¨ÁrUÉUÉ ¥ÀqÉzÀÄ ¸ÀĪÀiÁgÀÄ 6 wAUÀ¼À PÁ® ªÁ¸À«zÀÄÝ, DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÉÆA¢UÉ zÉÊ»PÀ ¯ÉÊAVPÀ ¸ÀA¨ÉÆÃUÀ ªÀiÁrzÀÄÝ, £ÀAvÀgÀ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ ªÀÄUÀĪÀ£ÀÄß ºÉƸÀPÉÆmÉ §½¬ÄgÀĪÀ §Æ¢UÉgÉ PÁæ¸ï §½ ©lÄÖ "¤Ã£ÀÄ QüÀÄeÁwAiÀĪÀ¼ÀÄ, ¤£Àß «µÀAiÀÄ £ÀªÀÄä ªÀÄ£ÉAiÀÄ°è UÉÆvÁÛVzÉ. CªÀgÀÄ ¤£ÀߣÀÄß M¥ÀÄàªÀÅ¢®è £Á£ÀÄ ¨ÉÃgÉ ªÀÄzÀĪÉAiÀiÁUÀÄvÉÛÃ£É ¤£Àß fêÀ£À ¤Ã£ÀÄ £ÉÆrPÉÆÃ, ¤£ÀUÉ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ £À£ÀUÉ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà ¸ÀA§AzsÀ E®è. ¤Ã£ÀÄ J°èAiÀiÁzÀgÀÆ ºÉÆÃUÀÄ" JAzÀÄ eÁwAiÀÄ §UÉÎ »AiÀiÁ½¹ ¨ÉÊzÀÄ, ©lÄÖ ¸ÀA¥ÀPÀðPÉÌ ¹UÀzÉ ºÉÆgÀlĺÉÆÃVzÀÄÝ, £ÀAvÀgÀ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀjUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀ PÀªÀÄäzÀnÖ PÁªÀÄ£ÀÆgÀÄ UÁæªÀÄzÀ ¸ÀªÉð £ÀA.395 gÀ d«Ää£À°è PÀÆ°AiÀĪÀgÀ ±ÉÃqï£À°è vÀ£Àß ºÉtÄÚªÀÄUÀÄ«£ÉÆA¢UÉ ªÁ¸À«zÀÄÝ, ¢£ÁAPÀ:28.03.2025 gÀAzÀÄ gÁwæ ¸ÀĪÀiÁgÀÄ 8.00 UÀAmÉAiÀÄ°è DgÉÆæ.2 jAzÀ DgÉÆæ.5 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ ªÁ¸À«zÀÝ ºÀ£ÀĪÀÄ£ÀºÀ½î UÉÃmï£À ±ÉÃqï£À §½ §AzÀÄ, ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É PÉÊUÀ½AzÀ ºÀ¯Éè ªÀiÁr ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀ §mÉÖUÀ¼À£ÀÄß JwÛ ©¸Ár, "¤Ã£ÀÄ E¯Éèà EzÀÝgÉ ¥Áæt¸À»vÀ ©qÀĪÀÅ¢®è" JAzÀÄ ¨ÉzÀjPÉ ºÁQzÀÄÝ. ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ DgÉÆæ.2 gÀªÀjUÉ "¤£Àß ªÀÄUÀ¤AzÀ vÀ£Àß fêÀ£À ºÁ¼ÁVgÀĪÀÅzÁV ºÉýzÁUÀ, DgÉÆæ.2 gÀªÀgÀÄ "K ¯ÉÆÃ¥Àgï ªÀÄÄAqÉ ¤£Àß eÁw K£ÀÄ CAvÀ £ÀªÀÄUÉ UÉÆvÀÄÛ, ¤£ÀßAvÀ QüÀÄ eÁwAiÀĪÀ¼À£ÀÄß £À£Àß ªÀÄUÀ ªÀiÁrPÉƼÀÄîªÀÅ¢®è. £ÁªÀÅ ¸ÀºÁ ¤£ÀߣÀÄß ªÀÄzÀĪÉAiÀiÁUÀ®Ä ©qÀ®è. CzÉà £ÀqÉzÀgÉ, ¤£Àß ¸ÁªÀÅ RavÀ" JAzÀÄ eÁw£ÀAzsÀ£É ªÀiÁr ¥Áæt ¨ÉzÀjPÉ ºÁQgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ ¸ÁPÁëöåzsÁgÀUÀ½AzÀ ¸Á©üÃvÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀjAzÀ, DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ PÀ®A.376(¹), 341, 342, 347, 420, 504 L¦¹ & PÀ®A.3 ¸À¨ï ¸ÉPÀë£ï (1) PÁè¸ï (r) & PÁè¸ï (sss) & PÀ®A.3 ¸À¨ï ¸ÉPÀë£ï (1) PÁè¸ï (w) ¸À¨ï PÁè¸ï (i)(ii) & PÀ®A.3 - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3669 CRL.A No. 2561 of 2025 ¸À¨ï ¸ÉPÀë£ï (2) PÁè¸ï (v) J¸ï.¹/J¸ï.n ¦.M.J. PÁAiÉÄÝ jÃvÁå C¥ÀgÁzsÀªÉ¸ÀVgÀĪÀÅzÁV, DgÉÆæ.2 jAzÀ DgÉÆæ.5 gÀªÀgÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ PÀ®A.323, 504, 506 gÉ/« 34 L¦¹ & PÀ®A.3 ¸À¨ï ¸ÉPÀë£ï (1) PÁè¸ï (r) & PÁè¸ï (s) J¸ï.¹/J¸ï.n ¦.M.J. PÁAiÉÄÝ jÃvÁå C¥ÀgÁzsÀªÉ¸ÀVgÀĪÀÅzÁV DgÉÆÃ¥À. ¸ÁQë.1 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¥Àj²µÀÖ £ÁAiÀÄPÀ d£ÁAUÀPÉÌ ¸ÉÃjzÀªÀ£ÁVzÀÄÝ, DgÉÆæ.1 jAzÀ DgÉÆæ.5 gÀªÀgÀÄ ªÀÄĹèA d£ÁAUÀPÉÌ ¸ÉÃjzÀªÀgÁVgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. PÀÈvÀåªÀÅ ªÀÄļÀ¨ÁUÀ®Ä vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ ºÀ£ÀĪÀÄ£ÀºÀ½î UÉÃmï §½¬ÄgÀĪÀ PÀªÀÄäzÀnÖ PÁªÀÄ£ÀÆgÀÄ UÁæªÀÄzÀ ¸ÀªÉÃð £ÀA.395 gÀ DgÉÆæ.1 gÀªÀgÀ d«Ää£À°ègÀĪÀ PÀÆ°AiÀĪÀgÀ ±Éqï §½, ºÉƸÀPÉÆÃmÉ §½¬ÄgÀĪÀ §Æ¢UÉgÉ PÁæ¸ï£À°è ºÁUÀÄ ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ PÁqÀÄUÉÆrAiÀÄ ¥ÀmÁ®A ¯ÉÃOmï£À°ègÀĪÀ UÀUÀ£ïgÉrØ gÀªÀjUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀ ©.1 gÀ ¨ÁrUÉ ªÀÄ£ÉAiÀÄ°è ¸ÀA¨sÀ«¹gÀÄvÉÛ. DzÀÝjAzÀ DgÉÆæ.1 jAzÀ DgÉÆæ.5 gÀªÀgÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ F ªÉÄîÌAqÀ PÀ®AUÀ¼À jÃvÁå ²PÁëºÀðgÉAvÀ F zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥ÀuÁ¥ÀnÖ." 9. A perusal of the materials placed before this Court reveals that there is delay in filing the complaint and the averments of the charge sheet also reveal that accused No.2 has abused the complainant by referring her caste. However, the Trial Court has granted anticipatory bail. The order dated 30.06.2025 passed in Crl.Misc.No.514/2025 by the II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kolar has - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3669 CRL.A No. 2561 of 2025 not been challenged by the State or the victim. Considering the abnormal delay in filing the complaint, conduct of the complainant/victim and the principle of parity, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i. The appeal is allowed. ii. The order dated 07.11.2025 passed in Crl.Misc.No.868/2025 by the II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kolar is hereby set aside. iii. Consequently, the application filed under Section 438 of Cr.P.C is allowed. iv. The appellant shall be released on bail on executing a self bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Trial Court; v. The appellant shall appear before the Trial Court in Spl.C.IPC.SC/ST.No.13/2025 before the Trial Court. vi. The appellant shall appear before the Trial Court on all the dates of hearing and shall co-operate for trial. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3669 CRL.A No. 2561 of 2025 vii. The appellant shall not threaten the complainant and shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses in any manner. The appellant shall not indulge in any criminal activities. viii. The appellant shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without prior permission. The Registry is directed to send the copy of this order to the Trial Court. SD/- (G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE PKS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 28