- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12769 CRL.P No. 968 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 968 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI ANANDA N H SON OF LATE HANUMATHAPPA AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, RESIDING AT NALLAGUTTAHALLI VILLAGE CHINTAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLPURA DISTRICT PIN 563 125. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SRINATHA B V, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA Digitally signed by SREEDHARAN BANGALORE SUSHMA LAKSHMI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12769 CRL.P No. 968 of 2026 BY CHINTAMANI RURAL POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON REGULAR BAIL IN CR.NO.397/2025 FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 115(2), 118(1), 75, 76, 78, 119(1), 126(2), 352, 351(2), 190 BNS REGISTER BY CHINTAMANI RURAL POLICE STATION WHICH IS PENDING ON FILE OF THE ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC COURT, CHINTAMANI 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:12769 CRL.P No. 968 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner/accused No.1 is before this Court seeking for regular bail in Crime No.397/2025 filed by the respondent – Police for the offences punishable under Section 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 115(2), 118(1), 75, 76 78, 119(1), 126(2), 352, 351(2), 190 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short BNS, 2023). Factual matrix of the case: 2. The case of the prosecution is that one Smt. Shravani is a married woman and she was residing at Katamachanahalli Village, Chintamani Taluk. It is stated that the petitioner herein was insisting her that he was loving her and requested her to marry him. In fact, the petitioner was also married man and he was having two children. When she refused to marry him, he insulted, humiliated her and degraded her in the public. It is further alleged that on 10.10.2025, the petitioner threatened her by saying that he would conduct press meet and publicize her photographs and other documents which are stated to be taken along with him in an obscene manner. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12769 CRL.P No. 968 of 2026 3. It is stated that on 11.10.2025, the petitioner had published the photographs of Shravani in the social media. On seeing the said photographs her family members had asked her about the authenticity of the said photographs. Being insulted with the said photographs, she had made attempt to commit suicide. Later, on 24.10.2025, again, the petitioner publicized her photographs and insulted her on one or the other pretext. Therefore, on 25.10.2025, she lodged a complaint against the petitioner. 4. On 06.11.2025, the petitioner publicized more than 100 photographs and affixed them on the wall of bus stand and tea shops etc. Consequently, on 07.11.2025, the complainant and her family members went to the house of the petitioner to seek justice. However, the petitioner had not only insulted the complainant and others, but also, tried to outrage the modesty of the woman. Hence, this complaint. 5. Heard Sri. Srinath B.V., learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri. Rangaswamy R., learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12769 CRL.P No. 968 of 2026 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner vehemently submitted that a false complaint has been registered against the petitioner as a counter blast for the complaint lodged by him before the Chintamani Rural Police Station on 09.11.2025. The said complaint has been registered in Crime No.396/2025, whereas, the complainant herein had lodged a complaint and F.I.R came to be registered in Crime No.397/2025. 7. It is further stated that the averments of the complaint filed by the petitioner against respondent No.2 would indicate that she had extorted money from the petitioner on different occasions and also she had indulged in sexual affair with him. Later, as the petitioner was not in a position to pay the amount as demanded by the respondent No.2, a false complaint has been registered against him in order to implicate him in such a case. Therefore, the petitioner may be enlarged on bail by imposing suitable conditions. He will abide the conditions imposed by this Court in the event of he is released on bail. Making such submissions, learned counsel for the petitioner prays to allow the petition. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12769 CRL.P No. 968 of 2026 8. Per Contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent vehemently submitted that the averments of the complaint would indicate that there are serious threats not only to the complainant but also her family members. Merely because the petitioner herein had lodged a complaint prior to the complaint of the complainant herein is not a ground to grant bail. 9. It is further stated that the manner in which the complainant had been subjected to harassment would indicate the gravity of the offence. Therefore, it is not appropriate to grant bail as prayed for. Making such submissions, learned High Court Government Pleader prays to reject the petition. 10. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties and perused the averments of the complaint. It appears that the petitioner had threatened the complainant that he would marry her and also insisted her to marry him. Further, it is noted that the petitioner in order to outrage modesty of the complainant, edited her photographs as if she had an affair with the petitioner and affixed the photographs in the bus stand and public places in order to defame her in the society at large. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12769 CRL.P No. 968 of 2026 11. Be that as it may, the petitioner had also lodged a complaint against the complainant stating that she had made him to spend lakhs of rupees on promising him that she would marry him and it is also alleged that she had sexual affair with him. It is admitted fact that F.I.R came to be registered against the complainant herein in Crime No.396/2025 on the basis of the complaint of the petitioner. Therefore, I am of the considered opinion that the petitioner has made out a case to grant him bail. 12. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i. This Criminal Petition is allowed. ii. The petitioner is enlarged on bail on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety to the like sum of the satisfaction of the Trial Court. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:12769 CRL.P No. 968 of 2026 iii. The petitioner shall not commit any similar offence till disposal of the present case. iv. The petitioner shall appear before the trial Court on all hearing dates, without fail. v. The petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses. In case, if, any of the conditions mentioned above is violated by the petitioner, liberty is reserved to the prosecution to take appropriate steps for cancellation of the bail. Sd/- (S RACHAIAH) JUDGE NM