- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11668 CRL.P No. 948 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION No. 948 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. MANJUNATH L.S., @ MAGADI MANJU. S/O. SRIDHAR AGEDA ABOUT 38 YEARS R/AT: 67, 3RD CROSS DAKSHINA MURTHY LAYOUT CHANNENAHALLI, MAGADI MAIN ROAD BANGALORE - 562 130. …PETITIONER (BY SRI PRAVEEN KUMAR N K, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BYADARAHALLI POLICE STATION REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT STATE BUILDING BANGALORE - 560 010. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 Cr.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGED THE ACCUSED PERSON No.1/PETITIONER HEREIN ON REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME No.575/2025 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 115(2), 118(2), 308(5), 352, 351(2), 126(2), 140(2), 61(2) R/W 3(5) OF BNS 2023. Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11668 CRL.P No. 948 of 2026 THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL ORDER 1. This petition is filed by accused No. 1 under Section 483 of BNSS praying to grant bail in Crime No. 575/2025 of Byadarahalli Police Station registered for offence under Sections 115(2), 118(2), 308(5), 352, 351(2), 126(2), 140(2), 61(2) read with Section 3(5) of BNS. 2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent - State. 3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that petitioner is a press reporter of Sthree news channel and he conducted a sting operation with regard to transportation of Gutka carried by the complainant and another and therefore a false complaint has been filed. In the remand application it is mentioned that petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. There is no recovery of cash. There is recovery of vehicle of petitioner. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11668 CRL.P No. 948 of 2026 Wife of petitioner has filed a complaint on 16.12.2025 and it is registered in Crime No. 576/2025 against the first informant and another. Wife of petitioner is also a press reporter. Arrest formalities were not followed by the arresting authority. Petitioner voluntarily went to the Police Station on 16.12.2025 to lodge a complaint and at that time he has been arrested. As major portion of the investigation is over, petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. He further submitted that petitioner is involved in two cases in which he has already been granted bail. On these grounds, he prayed to allow the petition. 4. Per contra learned HCGP would contend that petitioner is having criminal antecedents and he is involved in the following cases: a) Cr. No. 734/2025 – 308(2), 308(3) of BNS, Peenya Police Station b) Cr. No. 728/2025, 308(2), 329(4), 351(2) of BNS, Hebbagodi Police Station - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11668 CRL.P No. 948 of 2026 c) Cr. Nos. 66/2014, 297/2017, 36/2018 of Kamakshipalya Police Station – Rowdy Sheeter. d) Cr. No. 855/2013, Sections 399, 402 of IPC, Kamakshipalya Police Station. 5. Petitioner, projecting himself as a media person, was threatening and extorting money from the public. In the case on hand there is robbery of Rs.2,00,000/- by this petitioner and his associates and it is yet to be recovered. Investigation is in progress. If the petitioner is granted bail at any stage, there are chances of him hampering the investigation and tampering the prosecution witnesses. The alleged incident has been recorded in CCTV and footage has been collected. With this, he prayed to reject the petition. 6. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 7. As per averments of the complaint, the incident has taken place at 12.00 midnight on 15.12.2025, wherein - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11668 CRL.P No. 948 of 2026 it is alleged that petitioner and his associates have stopped the car of first informant who was with another and robbed Rs.2,00,000/-. Petitioner came to be arrested on 16.12.2025 and his car has been seized. Voluntary statement of the petitioner has been recorded. Wife of this petitioner has filed a complaint and it came to be registered in Crime No. 576/2025 of Byadarahalli Police Station against first informant and another. The alleged robbed amount of Rs.2,00,000/- has not yet been recovered. Investigating Officer has to ascertain who are the other persons who were with the petitioner and has to recover the said amount of Rs.2,00,000/- robbed from first informant and others. 8. Petitioner is having criminal antecedents and he is involved in the aforesaid cases. As the petitioner is having criminal antecedents, if he is granted bail, there are chances of him committing similar offence and hampering the investigation. The offence alleged against - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:11668 CRL.P No. 948 of 2026 the petitioner is provided with punishment of imprisonment which may extend to 10 years. 9. Considering the above aspects and that investigation is in progress, petitioner, at this stage, is not entitled for grant of bail. In the result, petition is dismissed. Petitioner is at liberty to make an application before the Sessions Court after filing of chargesheet. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE LRS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 29 Ct.sm