- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1819 CRL.P No. 17678 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 17678 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI GIRISH P S/O LATE PRAHALLAD, AGED 41 YEARS, R/O# 158, 5TH CROSS, SDA TALUK OFFICE, KADUR TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT. &PETITIONER (BY SMT.KAVITHA H C.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY KADUR POLICE CHIKKAMAGALURU, REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BLDGS. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU-560 001. &RESPONDENT (BY SMT.WAHEEDA M M , HCGP) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1819 CRL.P No. 17678 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFENCES ALLEGED IN CR.NO 0366/2025, ON THE FILE OF THE RESPONDENT/ KADUR POLICE, KADUR CIRCLE, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT, ON THE FILE OF THE PRINCIPAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT CHIKKAMAGALURU IN CRL. MISC. PETITION NO 623/2025 DATED 12/12/20256, FOR THE OFFENCES UNDER SECTIONS 406, 409, 465, 468 AND 471 OF IPC AND THEREBY DIRECT THE RESPONDENT-POLICE TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL, BY ALLOWING THIS PETITION. 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 accused No.2 under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.366/2025 of Kadur Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 465, 468 and 471 of IPC. 2. Heard the learned counsel for petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent/State. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1819 CRL.P No. 17678 of 2025 3. The learned counsel for petitioner contended that, there is no role of this petitioner, who is working as a SDA, in granting old age pension. He had worked only for three months during September to November 2023. He was transferred in November 2023. He 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, she prayed to allow the petition in petition. 4. Per contra, the learned High Court Government Pleader for 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/-. The accused persons prepared a false report regarding age of applicants and sanctioned old age pension. The petitioner is required for custodial interrogation. With this, she prayed to reject the petition. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1819 CRL.P No. 17678 of 2025 5. Having heard the learned counsel, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 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 the aforesaid offences. The allegation in the complaint is that old age pension benefits were sanctioned to ineligible persons, thereby causing a loss to the State to the extent of ¹9,03,200/-. The petitioner was working as SDA at the relevant point of time. It is submitted that the petitioner, at the relevant time, had worked only for a period of three months, between September and November 2023.The petitioner has undertaken to cooperate with the police in the investigation, and abide by any terms and conditions to be imposed by this Court. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1819 CRL.P No. 17678 of 2025 7. The petitioner is a SDA and he can be secured easily for investigation and trial. 8. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions: 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 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 465, 468 and 471 of IPC subject to following conditions. a) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within fifteen 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. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1819 CRL.P No. 17678 of 2025 b) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for and cooperate for investigation. c) 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 such facts to the court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE BKM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 9