- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16270 CRL.P No. 2990 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. 2990 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. RADHAKRISHNA SHIVARAM S/O A T SHIVARAM, AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS R/A NO.195, 1ST FLOOR, KRISHNA KRUPA, 10TH CROSS, 29TH MAIN, NEAR PUNJAB CAFE, BTM LAYOUT, 2ND STAGE, BANGALORE – 560 076. 2. LOKESHA R S/O RAMESH V AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS R/A 58, OPP MARAMMA TEMPLE OLD CHANDAPURU, BANGALORE – 560 099 3. RAJU S N S/O NAGARAJAPPA AGED ABOUT 38 YEA38 R/A #01, NEAR ANGANAVADI ARALIKERE VILLAGE HIRIYUR TALUK, DHARMAPURA, BANGALORE – 577 546 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. VIKRAM HUILGOL., SR.ADV AND SANJAY SUGUMARAN., ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by PAVITHRA N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16270 CRL.P No. 2990 of 2026 AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY PARAPPANA AGRAHARA POLICE STATION, REP. BY THE LEARNED SPP HIGH COURT BENGALURU - 01 2. SMT. LAKSHMI W/O SHASIKANTH AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS R/A NO 30, SRS LAYOUT, HULIMANAGALA, BENGALURU – 560 105 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) THIS CRL.P FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONERS PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO.1 TO 3 IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST IN CRIME NO.265/2025 REGISTERED BY PARAPPANA AGRAHARA POLICE STATION, BENGALURU ANNEXED AS ANNEXURE A FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE P/US/ 108 R/W SEC.3(5) OF BNS 2023 ON THE FILE OF THE IX ACJM, BENGALURU CITY AND ETC., 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:16270 CRL.P No. 2990 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioners/accused Nos.1 to 3 are before this Court seeking grant of anticipatory bail in Crime No.265/2025 filed by the respondent-Police for the offence under Section 108 read with Sec.3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘BNS’). Brief facts of the case: 2. The case of the prosecution is that, the complainant was working as a PPC in a Company named ‘Techno CNC’ Company. It is alleged that the husband of the complainant was allotted additional work apart from his regular duty. Due to heavy work, the husband of the deceased was upset mentally and he has almost undergone depression. The deceased was being subjected to constant humiliation, degradation and also threat. 3. It is further state that on 10.08.2025, he has been terminated from the said company. Thereafter, he was unhappy about the said development. On 23.09.2025, he has committed suicide. Hence, the complainant being wife of the deceased has lodged a complaint before the respondent-Police. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16270 CRL.P No. 2990 of 2026 4. Based on the complaint, the respondent-Police have registered the case and the investigation is in progress. 5. Heard Sri.Vikram Huilgol Senior Advocate for Sri. Sanjay Sugumaran, learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri.Rangaswamy R, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent -State. 6. It is the submission of the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner that, the petitioners are innocents of the alleged offence and they have been falsely implicated in this case. There are baseless and bad allegations leveled against the petitioners. They are the reputed persons of the Company. 7. It is further submitted that the petitioners are not at all responsible for the suicide. There is no nexus between the suicide and abatement to commit suicide. In fact, the deceased was not discharging his duties effectively, several warnings were given to him to set right the things. However, the deceased did not learn to work properly. Consequently, he was terminated. Mere termination of the employees does not ipso- facto constitute an offence of abatement to commit suicide. The - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16270 CRL.P No. 2990 of 2026 petitioners would abide the conditions imposed by this Court, in the event of their release on bail. Making such submissions, learned counsel for the petitioner prays to allow the petition. 8. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent-State vehemently submitted that, it is an admitted fact that the husband of the complainant was working as PPC in the Company of the petitioners. It is alleged that the husband of the complainant was being harassed both mentally and physically in the office. As such, he could not tolerate the said harassment. The deceased used to inform the complainant and his cousin regarding the said issue. It is also an admitted fact that he has been terminated from the Company stating that he was not fit to work in the said Company. As such, he was unhappy and he went into depression. As a result of which, the husband of the deceased has committed suicide. Therefore, the detailed investigation has to be conducted in the case. Hence, their personal interrogation is very much essential. Therefore, the petition has to be rejected. Making such submissions, learned HCGP prays to reject the petition. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16270 CRL.P No. 2990 of 2026 9. Having heard learned counsel for the respective parties and on perusal of the averments of the complaint, it appears that the complainant is none other than the wife of the deceased. She has filed a complaint on 23.09.2025 stating that her husband was working in the Company viz., Techno CNC Company situated at Huskuru Main Road, Bangalore and he was working as a PPC. It is alleged that he was assigned additional duties and responsibilities apart from his regular duties. 10. As the deceased was not discharging his duties effectively, he was terminated on 10.08.2025. However, the deceased has committed suicide on 23.09.2025. Considering the said aspect, it is appropriate to grant bail to the petitioners by imposing suitable conditions that would take care of the apprehension of the prosecution. 11. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16270 CRL.P No. 2990 of 2026 (ii) The petitioners are ordered to be enlarged on bail in the event of their arrest in Crime No.265/2025 of respondent-police for the offence under Sections 108 read with Sections 3(5), of BNS, 2023, on executing personal bond in a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) each with one surety each for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Trial Court. (iii) The petitioners shall appear before the jurisdictional police within a period of one month from the date of receipt of this order to execute personal bond and also to furnish surety. (iv) The petitioners shall co-operate with investigation till filing of the final report. (v) The petitioners shall not threaten or tamper the prosecution witnesses nor hamper the proceedings of the Court. (vi) The petitioners shall appear before the Trial Court on all hearing dates without fail. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16270 CRL.P No. 2990 of 2026 In case, the petitioners violate 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.: 58