- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2489 CRL.A No. 100003 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 100003 OF 2026 (U/S 14 A(2) OF SC AND ST ACT) BETWEEN: 1. VIVEK S/O VILAS AVALAKKI, AGE: 29 YEARS, OCC. STUDENT, R/O. DURGA NAGAR, KHANAPUR DIST., BELAGAVI PIN CODE 590001. 2. AJAY S/O ANANT POTE, AGE. 32 YEARS, OCC. STUDENT, R/O. NINGAPUR GALLI, KHANAPUR, DIST. BELAGAVI-590003. …APPELLANTS (BY SRI. MAHANTESH S. HIREMATH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, THROUGH KHANAPUR POLICE STATION, BELAGAVI, R/BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH, DHARWAD. 2. GANESH S/O SHIVALING NANDGADKAR, AGE. 18 YEARS, OCC. STUDENT, R/O. DURGA NAGAR, ASHRAY COLONY, KHANAPUR, DIST: BELAGAVI PIN CODE 590001. 3. SRUJAN S/O RAJESHEKHAR HIREMATH AGE. 18 YEARS, OCC. STUDENT, R/O. DURGA NAGAR, ASHRAY COLONY, KHANAPUR, DIST. BELAGAVI PIN CODE 590001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. JAIRAM SIDDI, HCGP FOR R1; NOTICE SERVED R2 AND R3) CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Digitally signed by CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Date: 2026.02.19 11:00:20 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2489 CRL.A No. 100003 of 2026 THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 14(A)(2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT, 1989 SEEKING TO ENLARGED PETITIONER/ ACCUSED NO. 1 AND 2 IN BAIL CONNECTION KHANAPUR P.S. CRIME NO.248/2025 FOR THE OFFENCE U/SEC. 137(2), 126(2), 118(1), 352, 351(3), 3(5) OF BNS ACT, AND 3(1)(R), 3(1)(S), 3(2)(VA) OF SC/ST ACT, BY SETTING ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 12.12.2025 IN CRL.MISC NO. 1554/2025 ON THE FILE OF III ADDL. DIST AND SESSION JUDGE BELAGAVI, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA) Heard Sri Mahantesh S.Hiremath, learned counsel for appellants and Sri Jairam Siddi, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1. 2. Appeal under Section 14A(2) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (‘SC and ST (POA) Act’, for short) with the following prayer: “To enlarged petitioner/accused no. 1 and 2 in bail connection Khanapur P.S. Crime No.248/2025 for the offence u/sec. 137(2), 126(2), 118(1), 352, 351(3), 3(5) of bns act, and 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) of SC/ST Act, by setting aside the order dated 12.12.2025 in Crl.Misc No. 1554/2025 on the file of III Addl. Dist and Session Judge Belagavi, in the interest of justice.” - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2489 CRL.A No. 100003 of 2026 3. Appellants are the accused who have been charge sheeted for the offences under Section 137(2), 126(2), 118(1), 352, 351(3), 3(5) of BNS and 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) of SC and ST (POA) Act. 4. Gist of the charge sheet material would reveal that there was an altercation on 24.11.2025 between 07.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. in Ningapura Galli in Kamble’s house at Khanapur and in the incident, appellants herein said to have abused the complainant/injured in filthy language taking out caste name and also assaulted with hands, sticks and stones. The complainant and his friend was asked to remove the clothes and they have shown the sickle and complainant and his friend has been given a life threat by showing the sickle. 5. Thereafter, the motive for the incident is that complainant and his friend said to have sent a message to the appellants’ girlfriend. 6. Next date at about 11.36 a.m., complainant and another injured went to Taluka General Hospital and got treated - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2489 CRL.A No. 100003 of 2026 there and approached the Khanapura Police Station at about 04.00 p.m. and lodged the written complaint. 7. In the wound certificate of injured by name Srujan, it has been mentioned that there is a burnt mark on the leg may be with the cigarette burn noted. Doctor has not noted the colour of the injury or the age of the said injury. In the complaint itself, no such mention is made. 8. After resisting the case, police apprehended the present appellants and sent them to judicial custody and now completed the investigation filed charge sheet. 9. Attempt made by the appellants to obtain order of grant of bail is turned down by the learned Special Judge. Thereafter, appellants are before this Court. 10. Sri Mahantesh S.Hiremath, learned counsel for the appellants reiterating the bail grounds contended that since the charge sheet is filed and the injured having discharged from the hospital as outpatient with history of simple injury, continuation of the appellants in judicial custody no longer warranted and sought for allowing the appeal. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2489 CRL.A No. 100003 of 2026 11. Per contra, Sri Jairam Siddi, learned High Court Government Pleader would contend that there are direct allegations against the appellants which would attract the offence punishable under the Provisions of SC and ST (POA) Act and sought for dismissal of the appeal. 12. Having heard the arguments of both side, this Court perused the material on record meticulously. 13. On such perusal of the material on record, it is noticed that the altercation said have taken place on 24.11.2025 between 07.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. in Ningapura Galli in Kamble’s house at Khanapur. 14. Further, next day morning 11.36 a.m., the injured has visited the Taluka Hospital and later on they have approached the police at 04.00 p.m. with a written complaint. In the complaint itself, they have stated that after enquiring with the family members, a belated complaint came to the filed. 15. The age of the injury is not mentioned in the wound certificate which is part of the charge sheet papers. This Court at this stage need not express any opinion on the merits of the - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2489 CRL.A No. 100003 of 2026 matter as it may prejudice the case of the parties during the trial one way or the other. 16. Suffice to say that the material on record at this stage would not disentitle the appellants obtaining an order of grant of bail by resorting to the special powers vested in this Court. Other apprehensions of the prosecution can be met with by imposing suitable and stringent conditions. 17. Accordingly, following: ORDER i. Appeal is allowed. ii. Appellants are directed to be enlarged on bail on executing a bond in a sum of ₹50,000/- each with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the learned Special Judge. iii. Appellants shall attend the Court regularly. iv. Appellants shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses in any manner. v. Appellants shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Belagavi District without their permission. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2489 CRL.A No. 100003 of 2026 Violation of any one of the conditions would entitle the prosecution to seek for cancellation of bail. Sd/- (V.SRISHANANDA) JUDGE CLK CT:CMU LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 27