- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13968 CRL.P No. 1173 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 06TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 1173 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC)/483(BNSS)) BETWEEN: MANJUNATH REDDY S/O NAGARAJA REDDY T K AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS R/AT NO. 32/A, BOMMASANDRA POST THIRUPALLYA BOMMASANDRA INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, ANEKAL, BENGALURU - 560 099. … PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAJATH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THE POLICE OF HEBBAL P S BENGALURU REP BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. Digitally signed by SREEDHARAN BANGALORE SUSHMA LAKSHMI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13968 CRL.P No. 1173 of 2026 2. ALAKSHYA GOSWAMI, D/O KANGKAN GOSWAMI, AGED BOUT 21 YEARS. R/AT: VILLA 104, LAVILLE TOWNSHIP, SY NO.30, 32. ADIGARAKAHALLI, BYALAHALLI, SARJAPUR ROAD, ANEKAL HOBLI, BEMGALURU. … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) --- THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PLEASED TO PASS AN ORDER, ENALRGING THE PETITIONER WHO HAS BEEN ARRAIGNED AS ACCUSED, ON BAIL IN CR.NO.223/2025 OF HEBBAL P.S, BENGALURU, REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 127(2), 351(2), 64 AND 75(2) OF THE BNS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE LD. VIII ADDL. CMM COURT, BENGALURU. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDER, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13968 CRL.P No. 1173 of 2026 ORAL ORDER This petition is filed by the petitioner who is arraigned as accused No.1 in Crime No.223/2025 filed by the respondent-Police for the offence under Sections 127(2), 351(2), 64 and 75(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Brief facts of the case: 2. The case of the prosecution is that on 22.12.2025, the de-facto complainant went to Namma Mart along with his friend in Gundappa Reddy Layout, Hebbal. They had purchased groceries and paid for them. Thereafter, the complainant and her friend stated to have picked up chocolates, but did not pay for them. At that juncture, the Store Manager, who is the petitioner herein had noticed the said incident, threatened them and took them to office at first floor and kept them in illegal detention. Taking advantage of their fear, he also further threatened them that they should not go out from the said - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13968 CRL.P No. 1173 of 2026 place. It is stated that he sexually assaulted the complainant and her friend and further, it is alleged that, the petitioner herein had committed sexual intercourse with the complainant. Therefore, a case came to be registered against the petitioner herein. 3. Based on the said complaint, the respondent/Police have registered a case against the petitioner and apprehended him on 23.12.2025 and remanded him to judicial custody and the investigation is under progress. 4. Heard Sri. Rajath, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri.Rangaswamy R., learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent-State and Sri.Naman Vankdari M., learned counsel for the de-facto complainant. 5. It is the submission of learned counsel for the petitioner that petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and he has been falsely implicated in this case. In fact, it is admitted that the de-facto complainant and her friend - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13968 CRL.P No. 1173 of 2026 had stolen the chocolate, however, they did not pay the amount. The same has been noticed by the Store Manager and enquired about the said theft. Being annoyed by the said issue, they filed a false case against the petitioner in order to harass and also to implicate him in the false case. The petitioner is an earning member of the family and he is aged about 27 years and a permanent resident of Anekal. He will abide the conditions imposed by this Court in the event of his release on bail. Making such submissions, learned counsel for the petitioner prays to allow the petition. 6. Per Contra, the learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent - State vehemently submitted that the petitioner herein had committed heinous offence. The petitioner is making certain allegations that they had committed theft of chocolate, as a result of which, they had been enquired, however, the de-facto complainant and her friend have been sexually assaulted knowingly that they belonged to different State and threatened them - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13968 CRL.P No. 1173 of 2026 with dire consequences. Hence, it is not appropriate to grant him bail. Making such submissions, learned High Court Government Pleader prays to dismiss the petition. 7. Similarly, learned counsel for the de-facto complainant vehemently submitted and adopted arguments made by the learned High Court Government Pleader and further submitted that the averments of the complaint and the statements of the complainant have to be considered seriously in the interest of victims. The victims had been subjected to sexual assault and also one of the victims had been subjected to rape. This is a serious issue, which is required to be dealt with in accordance with law. Therefore, it is not appropriate to grant him bail. Making such submissions, learned counsel for the de-facto complainant prays to dismiss the petition. 8. Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and perusing the averments of the charge sheet, which would indicate that the victims are the students of Rajiv Gandhi Dental College and they were - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13968 CRL.P No. 1173 of 2026 staying in a girls hostel. It is stated that they had been to Namma Mart to purchase groceries. It is admitted that they had committed theft of chocolate and did not pay for the same. The petitioner herein taking advantage of the said fact, it is alleged that, he had committed rape and sexual assault on the victims. 9. Having considered the nature and facts of the case, it appears that it is appropriate to grant bail not only in the interest of victims, but also to secure the quietus between the parties. 10. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i. This Criminal Petition is allowed. ii. The petitioner is ordered to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.223/2025 of respondent-Police for the offence punishable under Sections 127(2), 351(2), 64 and 75(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 on executing a personal bond for - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13968 CRL.P No. 1173 of 2026 a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh Only) with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the Trial Court. 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. v. The petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses. In case, if 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