- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16249 CRL.P No. 2743 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 2743 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC)/483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: KARTHIK S S/O SELVAM AGED ABOUT 25 YARS 1654, NATANMAIKOTTAI UTHANGARAI KRISHNAGIRI TAMILNADU – 635 207 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KIRAN S.,ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, HAL POLICE STATION REPT BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, Digitally signed by PAVITHRA N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16249 CRL.P No. 2743 of 2026 HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU – 560 003 …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. ANITHA GIRISH N., HCGP) THIS CRL.P FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO ALLOW THE PETITION AND BE PLEASED TO GRANT BAIL BY DIRECTING TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER FORTHWITH ON BAIL IN S.C.NO.1615/2025 ON THE FILE OF XXVIII ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 109, 118(2), 351(2), 351(3) OF BNS 2023, ON SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THIS HON’BLE COURT DEEMS FIT TO GRANT ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16249 CRL.P No. 2743 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner/accused is before this Court seeking regular bail in S.C.No.1615/2025 arising out of Crime No.348/2025 pending on the file of XXVIII Addl.City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru for the offences punishable under Sections 109, 118(2), 351(2), 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘BNS’). Brief facts of the case: 2. The case of the prosecution is that, one Shekhar V. was working as a mason and his daughter married one Shiva, who is a resident of Tamil Nadu. His daughter and son-in-law were residing at Kaggadasapura, Bengaluru in the year 2025, his daughter-Kavya came to the house of the complainant and stayed for two days. When the complainant and his family members were in the house, the accused came to the house of the complainant and informed them that he wanted to talk with Kavya who is the daughter of the complainant and also he had shouted as to why she was not picking up his call. Then the complainant warned him that she is already married and he should not give trouble to her. On 17.07.2025 around about - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16249 CRL.P No. 2743 of 2026 07.00 a.m., the petitioner called the complainant and informed that he wanted to talk with him in respect of his daughter and asked the complainant to come near Malleshpalya at BBMP bus stop. The complainant and his relative come to the bus stop in the scooter. The petitioner asked the complainant and Prashanth to go to Vibhuthipura. The complainant was riding scooter, accused and Prashanth were pillion riders. At that time, the accused with an intention to commit murder of the complainant and Prashanth assaulted on the neck of the Prashanth with a knife. When the complainant stopped scooter, the accused with an intention to commit murder of the complainant tried to kill him by using knife. However, the public gathered in the scene of occurrence, on seeing them, the petitioner fled away from the spot. 3. On the basis of the complaint, the respondent- police registered a case in Cr.No.348/2025 against the petitioner and conducted investigation. After completion of the investigation, submitted the charge sheet. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16249 CRL.P No. 2743 of 2026 4. Heard Sri. Kiran S, learned counsel for the petitioner and Smt. Anitha Girish N, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent - State. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent of alleged offences and he has been falsely implicated in this case. The allegations made in the complaint are baseless and bald. The injured is out of danger and he has been discharged from the hospital. The injury sustained by the injured is not so severe. The alleged offences neither punishable with death nor imprisonment for life and he may be enlarged on bail by imposing suitable conditions. Making such submissions, learned counsel for the petitioner prays to allow the petition. 6. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent - State vehemently submitted that the petitioner has committed heinous offence and he got acquainted with the daughter of the complainant through Instagram. Later, he developed intimacy with her. He was not leaving her even after her marriage. When he was giving trouble to her, she has informed the said fact to the complainant who is her father. The - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16249 CRL.P No. 2743 of 2026 petitioner with an intention to commit murder of the complainant called him over phone and prepared to commit murder by keeping the knife in his pocket. While travelling on the scooter, the petitioner assaulted the pillion rider who is the relative of the complainant and caused injuries. Consequently, the pillion rider has to admit to the hospital. The assault made by the petitioner would indicate that the petitioner had intention to commit the murder. Hence, it is not appropriate to grant him bail as there are eyewitnesses to the incident. Making such submissions, learned HCGP for respondent – State prays to reject the petition. 7. Having heard learned counsel for the respective parties and on perusal of the averments of the charge sheet, it appears from the record that the petitioner is alleged to have committed the offence of assault with a knife to one Prashant, who is a relative of the complainant. However, he has been discharged from the hospital. On going through the wound certificate and also other averments of the charge sheet, it appears that the incident had occurred at a spur of the - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16249 CRL.P No. 2743 of 2026 moment. Having considered the said aspect, it is appropriate to grant him bail by imposing suitable conditions. 8. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner is ordered to be enlarged on bail in S.C.No.1615/2025 arising out of Crime No.348/2025 pending on the file of XXVIII Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru for the aforesaid offences on executing personal bond in a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Trial Court. (iii) The petitioner shall not threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses nor hamper the proceedings of the Court. (iv) The petitioner shall appear before the Trial Court on all hearing dates without fail. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16249 CRL.P No. 2743 of 2026 (v) The petitioner shall not indulge in any criminal cases till disposal of the case. In case, the petitioner violates any of the bail conditions as stated above, liberty is reserved to the prosecution to file necessary application for cancellation of bail. Sd/- (S RACHAIAH) JUDGE JS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 49