- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15252 CRL.P No. 109 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 109 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: PRATHEEK @ T VIDYA SAGAR REDDY S/O. SRINIVAS MURTHY, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, RESIDING AT 25-24 KOTURU, KOTURU, TANAKAL SUB DISTRICT, ANANTHAPUR DISTRICT, ANDRAPRADESH – 515 571. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. VENKATACHALAPATHI K P.,ADVOCATE) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HSR LAYOUT P. S. REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE – 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. ANITHA GIRISH N., HCGP) Digitally signed by SREEDHARAN BANGALORE SUSHMA LAKSHMI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15252 CRL.P No. 109 of 2026 THIS CRL.P FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO ISSUE A DIRECTION UNDER SECTION 482 OF THE BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA 2023, THAT IN THE EVENT OF ARREST OF THE PETITIONER IN CONNECTION WITH CR.NO.392/2025 DATED 15.10.2025 REGISTERED FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE UNDER SECTION 316(2), 318(4), 61(2) OF B.N.S.S ACT 2023, BY THE RESPONDENT (HSR LAYOUT POLICE STATION) POLICE, IN III ACMM, BANGALORE, THE PETITIONERS SHALL BE RELEASED ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL ON SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THIS HON’BLE COURT MAY THINK FIT TO IMPOSE 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 ORAL ORDER This petition is filed by petitioner/accused No.1 seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.392/2025 registered by HSR Layout police station, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 318(4), 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15252 CRL.P No. 109 of 2026 Brief facts of the case: 2. It is the case of prosecution that the petitioner is arraigned as accused No.1, and a complaint came to be registered by the complainant, who is a resident of Chikkaballapura District. It is stated that in the month of August, 2025, he had applied for employment through the LinkedIn application. On the same day, he received information from Zivety Global Solutions Private Limited and was asked to appear for an interview. He was directed to give Rs.2.5 lakhs for the job process. Agreeing to the terms and conditions, he transferred Rs. 2.35 lakhs from his SBI account (No. 20314684021) via PhonePe to the Company’s SBI account (No. 20531667618). It is stated that he has received a joining letter. The address has also been mentioned in the said joining letter, and he was asked to work from home for two months. However, he did not get any salary. Thereafter, the complainant went to the address stated in the joining letter and enquired about the Company. However, he was informed that the said Company had vacated. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15252 CRL.P No. 109 of 2026 3. It is alleged in the said complaint that the petitioner might have committed cheating against some other aspirants also. Therefore, he filed a complaint before the respondent police seeking action to be initiated against the petitioner. The investigation is in progress. 3. Heard Sri. K.P.Venkatachalapathi, learned counsel for the petitioner and Smt. Anitha Girish N, learned HCGP for the respondent - State. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was working as HR of the Company. In fact, he has also been cheated by the Company. As per the instructions of the Company, he had been advised to deposit the amount. An amount has been deposited into the account of the Company. He has not directly taken the amount from the Complainant. It is further submitted that the petitioner is innocent of the offences and he has been falsely implicated in this case. Hence, the petitioner may be enlarged on bail by imposing suitable conditions, and he will abide by the conditions imposed by this Court in the event of release on bail. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15252 CRL.P No. 109 of 2026 5. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent - State vehemently submits that the petitioner herein and others have cheated many aspirants by opening the Company. As per the investigation, they had cheated many people and crores of rupees has been deposited into the Company’s account. Such being the fact, it is necessary, at this stage, to conduct a detailed enquiry or investigation. Hence, it is not appropriate to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. Making such submissions, the Learned High Court Government pleader prays to reject the petition. 6. Having heard learned counsel for the respective parties and on perusal of the documents available on record, it appears that the investigation is in progress. A fair investigation is necessary, and information has to be secured by the Investigating Officer to file a proper report. It appears from the record that the petitioner and the HR manager had instructed the complainant to deposit Rs.2.5 lakhs to secure a job. However, the joining letter issued to the complainant appears to be fake, and the Company address provided in the letter indicates that the Company was not in existence. Therefore, it - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15252 CRL.P No. 109 of 2026 is appropriate to reject the bail petition. Accordingly, the petition stands rejected. Sd/- (S RACHAIAH) JUDGE JS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 15