- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16122 CRL.P No. 1960 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. 1960 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. MR MUNIRAJU M S/O. MUNIYAPPA, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, R/AT NO.125, 10TH MAIN, MUTHYALA NAGAR, BENGALURU – 560 054 2. MR. ARJUN. M, S/O. MUNIRAJU. M, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, R/AT NO.125, 10TH MAIN, BANDAPPA GARDEN, MUTHYALAMMA NAGAR, BENGALURU – 560 054 3. MR. ARUN. M, S/O MUNIRAJU. M, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, R/AT NO.125, 10TH MAIN, BANDAPPA GARDEN, MUTHYALA NAGAR, BENGALURU – 560 054 Digitally signed by PAVITHRA N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16122 CRL.P No. 1960 of 2026 4. MR. VENKATSH. M, S/O MUNIYAPPA, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, R/AT NO.125, 10TH MAIN, BANDAPPA GARDEN, MUTHYALA NAGAR, BENGALURU – 560 054 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. USMAN P., ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY YESHWANTHPURA P.S, BENGALURU. REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU – 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) THIS CRL.P FILED U/S 438 CR.P.C (U/S 482 BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO GRANT AN ANTICIPATORY BAIL AND TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE THE PETITIONERS ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH CR.NO.405/2025 REGISTERED BY YESHWANTHAPURA P.S., BENGALURU, FOR - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16122 CRL.P No. 1960 of 2026 THE OFFENCES P/U/S 103(1), 3(5) OF BNS, 2023, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE XLIX ACJM, BENGALURU CITY. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH ORAL ORDER The petitioners are before this Court seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.405/2025 filed by the respondent/police for the offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 pending on the file of the learned XLIX Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru City. 2. The case of the prosecution is that a complaint was lodged by the complainant, who is the sister of the deceased, Narasimha Rao Raju. Based on the said complaint, the respondent/police registered a case and commenced investigation. During the course of investigation, the names of the present petitioners were - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16122 CRL.P No. 1960 of 2026 disclosed. Hence, the respondent/police are conducting the investigation, which is under progress. 3. The submission of the learned counsel for the petitioners is that the petitioners are innocent of the alleged offences and have been falsely implicated in the present case. It is contended that the entire case is based on surmises and conjectures, allegedly fuelled by a vindictive motive on the part of the sister of the deceased. Therefore, it is prayed that the petitioners be enlarged on bail by imposing suitable conditions. The petitioners undertake to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court in the event of their release on bail. 4. Per contra, the learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent/Police vehemently submitted that a complaint has been lodged against the petitioners and others alleging the commission of murder of the deceased, who is none other than the brother of the complainant. It is submitted that the allegations are - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16122 CRL.P No. 1960 of 2026 punishable with death or imprisonment for life. In such circumstances, it is submitted that granting anticipatory bail would send a wrong message to society. Hence, the petitioners are not entitled to the relief as prayed for. 5. Heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and perused the averments of the complaint. It appears from the records that omnibus allegations have been made against the petitioners to the effect that they have committed the murder of the deceased. However, no specific overt act has been attributed to each of the petitioners individually. Therefore, having regard to the nature of the allegations made against the petitioners it is appropriate to enlarge them on bail by imposing suitable conditions that would take care of apprehension of the prosecution. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16122 CRL.P No. 1960 of 2026 (ii) The petitioners are ordered to be enlarged on bail in the event of their arrest in Crime No.405/2025 of respondent-police for the offence under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 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 *Investigating Officer. (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 charge sheet. (v) The petitioners shall not threaten or tamper the prosecution witnesses nor hamper the proceedings of the Court. * Corrected Vide Court order dated:28.04.2026. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16122 CRL.P No. 1960 of 2026 (vi) The petitioners shall appear before the Trial Court on all hearing dates without fail. (vii) The petitioners shall not commit any criminal cases till disposal of the case. 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 NR/BKM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 23