- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1696 CRL.P No. 17478 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17484 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. 17478 OF 2025 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)-) C/W CRIMINAL PETITION No. 17484 OF 2025 IN CRL.P No. 17478/2025 BETWEEN: 1. MUTHEGOWDA S/O VEERANNA AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS OCCUPATION:TEACHER AT G.S.P.S. MUKKENAHALLI R/AT No.76/46, T B NARAYANAPPA BADAVANE, 2ND CROSS, MALLATHALLI POST DODDABALLAPURA TWON-561 205. PERMANENT RESIDENT OF: TAPASIHALLI, TUBAGERE HOBALI DODDABALLAPURA TALUK. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SUNIL KUMAR S, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BENGALURU DIST. WOMEN P.S, Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1696 CRL.P No. 17478 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17484 of 2025 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 Cr.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME No.240/2025 REGISTERED BY THE BENGALURU DISTRICT WOMEN POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 80, 85, 54, 74, 115(2), 352 AND 190 OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023. IN CRL.P No. 17484/2025: BETWEEN: 1. GOVINDAPPA S/O VEERANNA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS OCCUPATION: AGRICULTURIST TAPASIHALLI TUBAGERE HOBLI DODDABALLAPURA BENGALURU DIST., KARNATAKA - 561 205. 2. NARAYANSWAMY S/O GOVINDAPPA AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS TAPASIHALLI, TUBAGERE, HOBLI DODDABALLAPURA, BENGALURU DIST., KARNATAKA - 561 205. ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SUNIL KUMAR S, ADVOCATE) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1696 CRL.P No. 17478 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17484 of 2025 AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BENGALURU DARET. WOMEN P.S, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 Cr.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THEM ON REGULAR BAIL IN CR.No.240/2025 REGISTERED BY THE DODDABALLAPURA WOMEN P.S. FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 80,85,54,74,115(2),352 AND 190 OF BNS 2023. 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.17478/2025 is filed by accused No.4 and Crl.P.No.17484/2025 is filed by accused Nos. 2 and 3. Both the petitions are filed under Section 483 of BNSS praying to grant bail in Crime No.240/2025 of Bengaluru District Woman Police Station registered for offences under Sections 80, 85, 54, 74, 115(2), 352 and 190 of BNS. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1696 CRL.P No. 17478 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17484 of 2025 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioners and learned HCGP for respondent/State. 3. Learned counsel for petitioners would contend that accused No.2 is father-in-law, accused No. 3 is a brother of accused No.1/husband and accused No.4 is uncle of accused No.1/husband. He further submits that accused Nos. 5 and 6, who are mother-in-law and wife of accused No.4, have been granted bail. The trial Court has considered the regular bail application of accused No.4 as anticipatory bail and rejected it on the ground that it is a successive anticipatory bail petition. As the major portion of the investigation is over, petitioners are not required for further custodial interrogation. With this he prayed to allow the petitions. 4. Per contra, learned HCGP would contend that the death note was found on the spot wherein there is a specific allegation against the petitioners/accused Nos. 2 to 4, harassing the deceased demanding dowry. The death of the deceased is within one year of the marriage. The - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1696 CRL.P No. 17478 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17484 of 2025 investigation is in progress. The accused Nos.5 and 6 have been granted bail on the ground that they are women. As the investigation is in progress, the petitioners are not entitled for grant of bail. With this, he prayed to reject the petitions. 5. Having heard the learned counsels, the Court has perused FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 6. The marriage of the deceased with accused No.1 has taken place on 11.11.2024. After marriage, the deceased was residing with the accused persons in their house. The deceased was found missing on 18.10.2025 and her body was found on 20.10.2025 in a check dam. The death note has been found wherein there is an allegation against the petitioners/accused Nos.2 to 4 harassing the deceased demanding dowry. The said death note has been seized under mahazar. The deceased has also video recorded stating the details of the cruelty meted out by the accused persons. The death of the deceased is - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1696 CRL.P No. 17478 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17484 of 2025 within one year of the marriage. The investigation is in progress. 7. Considering the above aspect, at this stage, the petitioners have not made out any ground for grant of bail. In the result, the petitions are dismissed. The petitioners are at liberty to file bail petition after filing of charge sheet. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DKB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 24 Ct.sm