- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 17369 OF 2025 [(438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)] C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 17093 OF 2025 CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 17099 OF 2025 & CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 17336 OF 2025 IN CRL.P No. 17369/2025 BETWEEN: 1. MR.MARUTHI PRASAD M.N. S/O NAGARAJ, AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, R/AT NO.500, JAYANAGAR, I CROSS, KOLAR, PRESENTLY AT NO.14, KAMALA MANSION APARTMENT, QUEENS ROAD, BANGALORE, WORKING AS MANAGER KIADB, NRUPATHUNGA ROAD, BANGALORE - 01. 2. MR DINAKARAN S/O D. JAYAPAL, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, NO.403/18, 17TH 'A' MAIN, VENKATESHWARA LAYOUT, MADIWALA, BANGALORE, Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER WORKING AS MANAGER, KIADB, SLAO OFFICE-1, PALACE ROAD, BANGALORE-01 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. PARAMESHWAR N. HEGDE, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH ANEKAL P.S., BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE - 01. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. WAHEEDA M.M., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT ANEKAL POLICE TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST IN CRIME NO.379/2025 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT ANEKAL POLICE FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 192(A) OF KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT AND SECTIONS 316(4), 336(3), 318(4), 336(2) AND 340(2) READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF BNS, 2023 AND PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE (Jr.Dn.) AND JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS, ANEKAL, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT. IN CRL.P NO. 17093/2025 BETWEEN: SRI MUNIRAJU Y. S/O. LATE. YALLAPPA, AGED 49 YEARS, R/AT: KAMMASANDRA AGRAHARA VILLAGE, SIDIHOSAKOTE, KASABA HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER BENGALURU DISTRICT - 562 106. WORKING AS VILLAGE ASSISTANT, BYAGADADENAHALLI CIRCLE, KASABA HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK, BENGALURU DISTRICT - 562 106. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. TEJAS N., ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA ANEKAL POLICE STATION, BENGALURU - 562 106. (REP. BY THE LEARNED STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE - 01) ...RESPONDENT (BY SMT. WAHEEDA M.M., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CRIME NO.379/2025 OF ANEKAL POLICE STATION, BENGALURU RURAL FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 316(4), 336(3), 318(4), 336(2) AND 340(2) READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF BNS, 2023 AND UNDER SECTION 192(A) OF KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT, 1964 WHICH IS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE (Jr.Dn.) AND JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS COURT ANEKAL, BENGLAURU RURAL DISTRICT WITH A DIRECTION TO RELEASE HIM ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF ARREST. IN CRL.P NO. 17099/2025 BETWEEN: 1. SMT. MANJULA C. W/O. LATE. VENKATESH, - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER AGED 41 YEARS, R/AT: S. MEDAHALLI VILLAGE, SARJAPURA HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK, BENGALURU DISTRICT - 562 106 WORKING AS VILLAGE ASSISTANT, S. MEDAHALLI CIRCLE, SARJAPURA HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK, BENGALURU DISTRICT - 562 106. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. TEJAS N., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ANEKAL POLICE STATION, BENGALURU - 562 106. (REP. BY THE LEARNED STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KANATAKA, BANGALORE - 01) ...RESPONDENT (BY SMT. WAHEEDA M.M., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CRIME NO.379/2025 OF ANEKAL POLICE STATION, BENGALURU RURAL FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 316(4), 336(3), 318(4), 336(2) AND 340(2) READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF BNS, 2023 AND SECTION 192(A) OF KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT, 1964 WHICH IS PENDING ON THE FILE OF PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN.) AND JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS COURT ANEKAL, BENGLUARU RURAL DISTRICT WITH A DIRECTION TO RELEASE HER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF ARREST. IN CRL.P NO. IN CRL.P NO. 17336/2025 BETWEEN: - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER 1. SRI MAHESH M. S/O. LATE MAHADEVAIAH, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, WORKING AS FIRST DIVISION ASSISTANT, OFFICE OF THE TAHSILDAR, ANEKAL TALUK - 562 106. R/AT NO.183, 2ND CROSS, 2ND MAIN ROAD, MARUTHI NAGAR, BAPUJI NAGAR, BENGALURU - 560 026. 2. SMT. SHOBHA N., W/O. LOKESH, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, WORKING AS VILLAGE ASSISTANT/GRAMA SAHAYAK, OFFICE OF THE TAHSILDAR, ANEKAL TALUK - 562 106. R/AT BALLUR VILLAGE, ATTIBELE HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK, BENGALURU DISTRICT - 562 107. ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. VARDHAN SHENOY K., ADVOCATE FOR SRI. PRITHVEESH M.K., ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE BY ANEKAL POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY ITS INSPECTOR OF POLICE, ANEKAL TALUK - 562 106. REPRESENTED BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU - 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SMT. WAHEEDA M.M. HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) DIRECT THE RESPONDENT - POLICE i.e., ANEKAL POLICE STATION TO - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER ENLARGE THE PETITIONERS - ACCUSED NO.1 AND ACCUSED NO.13 ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE FIR IN CRIME NO.0379/2025 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT - POLICE FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 192(A) OF KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT, 1964 AS WELL AS SECTION 316(4), 336(3), 318(4), 336(2) AND 340(2) READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF BNS, 2023, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN.) AND JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS COURT, ANEKAL, BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT. THESE PETITIONS COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL ORDER Crl. P No.17369/2025 is filed by accused Nos.4 and 7. Crl. P No.17093/2025 is filed by accused No.15. Crl. P No.17099/2025 is filed by accused No.2 and Crl. P No.17336/2025 is filed by accused Nos.1 and 13. 2. All the petitions are filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.379/2025 of Anekal Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Section 192A of Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER Sections 316(4), 336(3), 318(4), 336(2), 340(2) read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023. 3. Heard the learned counsel for petitioners in all petitions and the learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent/State. 4. The learned counsel for accused Nos.4 and 7 would contend that, what is the exact role of the petitioners has not been stated in the complaint. The alleged incident has taken place between 14.10.2025 and 28.11.2025 and the same has been mentioned in the FIR. Accused No.4 was transferred and relieved on 06.01.2022, and accused No.7 was transferred and relieved on 03.02.2024, and they are working in KIADB. The petitioners were not working at the relevant point of time in the office of Anekal. The petitioners are ready to co- operate with the Investigating Officer in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER 5. The learned counsel for accused No.15 would contend that the accused No.15 was working as a Village Assistant. The main allegation regarding the missing of records is against accused No.10. There is no role of this petitioner. The petitioner is ready to co-operate with the Investigating Officer in investigation and abide by any terms and conditions to be imposed by this Court. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. 6. The learned counsel for accused No.2 would contend that accused No.2 is working as Village Assistant in S Medahalli. The accused No.6, who is also working as Village Assistant, has been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in Crl. P No.17416/2025. Therefore, the petitioner is also entitled for grant of anticipatory bail on the ground of parity. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with Investigating officer in investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER 7. The learned counsel for accused Nos.1 and 13 would contend that accused No.1 is working as a FDA in Anekal and accused No.13 is working as a Village Assistant in Balluru Circle. Accused Nos.1 and 13 were not entrusted with the work relating to the Bhoo Suraksha Yojana or the surveillance of the Record Room. Accused No.13, whose name is mentioned in the complaint, is stated to have said during the enquiry that two registers were taken by Lokesh/accused No.10 and that she had helped the concerned. The petitioners are ready to cooperate with the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. With this, he prayed to allow the petition. 8. Per contra, the learned High Court Government Pleader would contend that the investigation is in progress and the offences alleged against the petitioners are punishable with imprisonment which may extend to seven years. The allegation against the petitioners is a serious allegation, and they helped the land grabbers by creating and forging the documents. The petitioners have - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER committed criminal breach of trust, and therefore, they are required for custodial interrogation. With this, she prayed to reject the petitions. 9. Having heard the learned counsel, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 10. The FIR was registered on 28.11.2025 alleging commission of offence between 14.10.2025 and 28.11.2025. The allegation in the complaint pertains to the missing of certain documents and the creation of documents. The question as to who was the custodian of the said documents at the relevant point of time is a matter of record. The offences alleged against the petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioners have undertaken to cooperate with the Investigating Officer in investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER 11. Considering the above aspects, the petitioners/accused No.1, 2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 have made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following: ORDER i) All the petitions are allowed. ii) The petitioners/accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 are ordered to be released on bail in the event of their arrest in Crime No.379/2025 of Anekal Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Section 192A of Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, Sections 316(4), 336(3), 318(4), 336(2), 340(2) read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 subject to following conditions: a) The petitioners/accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within fifteen days from this day and execute bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with one surety for the like - 12 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2543 CRL.P No. 17369 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17093 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17099 of 2025 AND 1 OTHER sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. b) The petitioners/accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for and cooperate for investigation. c) The petitioners/accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 shall appear before the Investigating Officer on first and third Sunday of every month for a period of two months or till filing of final report whichever is earlier. d) The petitioners/accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 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 them 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.: 16