- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:67 CRL.P No. 104609 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 104609 OF 2025 (438(CR.PC)/482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SHRI MOHAN L. HARAMALAKAR S/O. LAXMAN HARAMALAKAR AGE 74 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE R/O. KUPAWAD, TQ. MIRAJ, DIST. SANGLI MAHARASTRA 416 406. 2. SHRI LAXMAN M. HARAMALAKAR S/O MOHAN HARAMALAKAR AGE 45 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE R/O. KUPAWAD TQ MIRAJ DIST. SANGLI MAHARASTRA-416 406. 3. SHRI BALACHANDRA M. HARAMALAKAR S/O. MOHAN HARAMALAKAR AGE 43 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE R/O. KUPAWAD, TQ. MIRAJ, DIST. SANGLI MAHARASTRA 416 406. 4. SHRI MAHESH M. HARAMALAKAR S/O. MOHAN HARAMALAKAR AGE 40 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE R/O. KUPAWAD, TQ. MIRAJ DIST. SANGLI MAHARASTRA 416 406. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. VINAYKUMAR M. SHETTY, ADVOCATE SRI. AVINASH M. ANGADI, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by SAMREEN AYUB DESHNUR Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:67 CRL.P No. 104609 of 2025 AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH ATHANI POLICE STATION REP BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD 580001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. P.N. HATTI, HCGP) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/S. 482 OF BNSS, 2023, PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS PETITION AND ENLARGE THE PETITIONERS/ACCUSED NO.01 TO 04 ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL ARISING OUT OF FIR IN CRIME NO.0340/2024 IS REGISTERED BY ATHANI POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2) OF BNS-2023 PENDING BEFORE FILE IN THE COURT OF PRL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR. DN) AND JMFC COURT, ATHANI, BELAGAVI DISTRICT IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA) 1. Heard Sri.Vinaykumar M.Shetty for Sri.Avinash M. Angadi, learned counsel for petitioners and Sri.P.N.Hatti, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent-State. 2. The petition is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, “the BNSS”), with the following prayer: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:67 CRL.P No. 104609 of 2025 WHEREFORE, the Petitioners/Accused No.01 to 04 humbly prays that this Hon'ble Court be pleased to allow this petition and enlarge the Petitioners/Accused No.01 to 04 on Anticipatory bail arising out of FIR in Crime No.0340/2024 is registered by Athani Police station for the offences punishable under section 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2) of BNS-2023 Pending before file in The Court Of Prl. Civil Judge (Jr. Dn) & JMFC Court, Athani, Belagavi District in the interest of justice. 3. The facts of the case are as under: A complaint came to be lodged with the Athani Police Station by Babasaheb Balu Bhojane, which was registered in Crime No.340 of 2024 by Athani Police for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2) 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, “the BNS”). 4. Gist of the complaint averments would reveal that there is a falsification of material documents and impersonation of the real owner and getting the document registered in the Sub-Registrar Office at Athani. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:67 CRL.P No. 104609 of 2025 5. The petitioners approached the District Court seeking grant of anticipatory bail, which came to be dismissed by Order dated 03.02.2025 in Criminal Miscellaneous No.10011 of 2025. Thereafter, the petitioners are before this Court. 6. Sri.Vinaykumar M. Shetty for Sri.Avinash M. Angadi, reiterating the grounds urged in the petition, vehemently contended that the petitioners are innocent of the offences alleged against them and they are law-abiding citizens and therefore sought grant of anticipatory bail. 7. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader opposes the bail grounds. 8. Having heard the arguments of both sides and taking note of the gravity of the offences alleged against the petitioners and taking note of the fact that the police have been unable to apprehend the petitioners for more than a year, if the petitioners are directed to join the investigation and cooperate with the investigating agency, the ends of justice would be met. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:67 CRL.P No. 104609 of 2025 9. Accordingly, without expressing further opinion on the merits of the matter the following order: ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. (ii) Petitioners are directed to join the investigation by appearing before the investigation officer positively on 13.01.2026 at 10.00 a.m. (iii) Investigation officer is at liberty to take them into custody and complete the custodial interrogation on the same day before 06.00 p.m. (iv) Petitioners shall cooperate with the Investigation Agency in all respects including furnishing the specimen handwriting, specimen signatures, photographs etc. Thereafter, the petitioners be enlarged on bail, by taking a bond in a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh only) each with two sureties for the likesum. (v) Petitioners shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses in any manner. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:67 CRL.P No. 104609 of 2025 (vi) Petitioners shall mark their attendance before the investigation officer every third Sunday between 10.00 a.m. to 02.00 p.m. till the final report is filed. (vii) Petitioners shall attend the court regularly. (viii) Petitioners shall not leave the jurisdiction of Belagavi District without prior permission. (ix) Violation of any one of these conditions would entitle the prosecution to seek for cancellation of bail. Sd/- (V.SRISHANANDA) JUDGE RHR/-CT-CMU LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 24