ABHILASH vs STATE BY BELUR POLICE
- Court
- Karnataka High Court
- 1 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61115
CRL.P No. 15852 of 2026
C/W CRL.P No. 15403 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010707142026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
RD
DATED THIS THE 3 DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 15852 OF 2026
C/W
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 15403 OF 2026
IN CRL.P No. 15852/2026
BETWEEN:
1. SRIDHARA
S/O RAJABHOVI
AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS
R/AT ANDALE VILLAGE
MADIHALLI HOBLI, BELUR TALUK
HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 216.
2.
SHOBHA
W/O SRIDHARA
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS
R/AT ANDALE VILLAGE
MADIHALLI HOBLI, BELUR TALUK
HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 216.
…PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. GIRISH KUMAR B.M, ADVOCATE)
Digitally
signed by
NANDINI D
Location:
HIGH
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
AND:
1. STATE BY BELUR POLICE
HASSAN DISTRICT,
REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
HIGH COURT BUILDING,
- 2 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61115
CRL.P No. 15852 of 2026
C/W CRL.P No. 15403 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010707142026
BANGALORE - 560 001.
2. XXX
D/O MANJU
AGED ABOUT 18 YEARS,
R/AT HOSANAGARA
BELUR TOWN, BELUR,
HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 216
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. RAHUL RAI K, HCGP FOR R1;
SRI. MANOJ ARADHYA, ADVOCATE FOR R2)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 482
BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONERS ON
ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST IN
CRIME NO. 191/2026 REGISTERED BY BELUR POLICE, HASSAN
DISTRICT, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS
137(2), 45 AND 64 R/W SEC. 3(5) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA
SANHITA, 2023, AND SECTION 6 OF THE PROTECTION OF
CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012 (POCSO ACT),
IN SPL. C. NO. 314/2026, PENDING BEFORE THE ADDITIONAL
DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT HASSAN, FTSC-I, ON
SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THIS HON'BLE COURT
DEEMS FIT.
IN CRL.P NO. 15403/2026
BETWEEN:
ABHILASH
S/O SREEDHARA
AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS
R/AT ANDALE VILLAGE,
MADIHALLI HOBLI, BELUR TALUK
HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 216.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. GIRISH KUMAR B.M, ADVOCATE)
- 3 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61115
CRL.P No. 15852 of 2026
C/W CRL.P No. 15403 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010707142026
AND:
1.
STATE BY BELUR POLICE
HASSAN DISTRICT,
REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
HIGH COURT BUILDING,
BANGALORE - 560 001.
2. XXX
D/O MANJU
AGED ABOUT 18 YEARS
R/AT HOSANAGARA, BELUR
HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 216.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. RAHUL RAI K, HCGP FOR R1;
SRI. MANOJ ARADHYA, ADVOCATE FOR R2)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S
483 BNNS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THE PETITION AND
ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME
NO.191/2026 REGISTERED BY BELUR POLICE, HASSAN
DISTRICT FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 137(2), 45 AND 65
R/W 3(5) OF THE BNS 2023 AND U/S 6 OF THE POCSO ACT
2012 BEFORE THE ADDL.DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE
AT HASSAN FTSC-I IN SPL.C NO.314/2026.
THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY
- 4 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61115
CRL.P No. 15852 of 2026
C/W CRL.P No. 15403 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010707142026
ORAL ORDER
Accused Nos.1 to 3 in Special Case No.314 of 2026
pending before the Court of Additional District and
Sessions Judge, FTSC-1, Hassan arising out of Crime
No.191 of 2025 registered by Belur Police Station, Hassan
for the offences punishable under Section 137(2), 45 and
64 read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 and Section 6 of
POCSO Act, 2012, are before this Court in these two
petitions filed under Section 483 and 482 of BNSS, 2023
seeking regular bail and anticipatory bail respectively.
2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties.
3. FIR in Crime No.191 of 2025 was registered by
Belur Police Station, Hassan for the offence punishable
under Section 137(2) of BNS, 2023 against Abhilash
(accused No.1), based on the first information dated
21.08.2025 received from respondent No.2, who is the
mother of the victim girl, aged 17 years. In the said case
during the course of investigation, accused No.1 was
- 5 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61115
CRL.P No. 15852 of 2026
C/W CRL.P No. 15403 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010707142026
arrested on 11.06.2026 and remanded to judicial custody.
His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions
Court was rejected and therefore, he is before this Court in
Criminal Petition No.15403 of 2026. Accused Nos.2 and 3
are the parents of accused No.1. Apprehending arrest,
they had approached the jurisdictional Sessions Court in
Crl.Misc.No.972 of 2026, which was rejected on
28.09.2026. Therefore, they are before this Court in
Criminal Petition No.15852 of 2026.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has
reiterated the grounds urged in the petition and prayed for
allowing the petition.
5. Learned counsel for respondent No.2 submits
that he has no objection for allowing the petitions.
6. The first information is submitted by the mother
of the victim girl, alleging that her daughter aged 17 years
was found missing from their house on 20.08.2025. Efforts
made to trace her had failed. Since she suspected the
- 6 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61115
CRL.P No. 15852 of 2026
C/W CRL.P No. 15403 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010707142026
hand of accused No.1, she had approached the police on
21.08.2025 and FIR was registered against accused No.1
for an offence punishable under Section 137(2) of BNS,
2023. During the course of investigation, the petitioner
and the victim girl were traced together. Petitioner was
arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The statement
of the victim girl under Section 183 of BNS, 2023 was
recorded by the jurisdictional Magistrate on 17.06.2026.
She has not made any allegations against the accused
No.1, which would attract the alleged offence punishable
under the POCSO Act. She has also not made any
allegations against accused Nos.2 and 3, who are the
parents of accused No.1. Investigation of the case is
completed and charge sheet is filed.
7. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion
that the prayer made by the petitioners for grant of
regular bail and anticipatory bail needs to be answered
affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions.
Accordingly, the following:
- 7 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61115
CRL.P No. 15852 of 2026
C/W CRL.P No. 15403 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010707142026
IN CRL.P.No.15403/2026
O R D E R
(i) The Criminal Petition is allowed.
(ii) The petitioner/ accused No.1 is directed to be
enlarged on bail in Special Case No.314 of 2026 pending
before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge,
FTSC-1, Hassan arising out of Crime No.191 of 2025
registered by Belur Police Station, Hassan for the offences
punishable under Section 137(2), 45 and 64 read with
Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 and Section 6 of POCSO Act,
2012, subject to the following conditions:
a) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall
execute personal bond for a sum of
Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the
likesum, to the satisfaction of the
jurisdictional Court;
b) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall
appear regularly on all the dates of hearing
- 8 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61115
CRL.P No. 15852 of 2026
C/W CRL.P No. 15403 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010707142026
before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court
exempts his appearance for valid reasons;
c) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall not
directly or indirectly threaten or tamper
with the prosecution witnesses;
d) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall not
involve in similar offences in future;
e) The petitioner/accused No.1 shall not
leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court
without permission of the said Court until
the case registered against him is disposed
off.
IN CRL.P.No.15852/2026
O R D E R
(i) The criminal petition is allowed.
(ii) The respondent - Police or any other police in
the State of Karnataka are directed to release the
petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 3 in the event of their
arrest in Special Case No.314 of 2026 pending before the
- 9 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61115
CRL.P No. 15852 of 2026
C/W CRL.P No. 15403 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010707142026
Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-1,
Hassan arising out of Crime No.191 of 2025 registered by
Belur Police Station, Hassan for the offences punishable
under Section 137(2), 45 and 64 read with Section 3(5) of
BNS, 2023 and Section 6 of POCSO Act, 2012 , subject to
the following conditions:
a) Petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 3 shall
appear before the Investigating Officer
within 15 days from the date of receipt of
the copy of this order and shall execute a
personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/-
each with two sureties for the likesum to
the satisfaction of the investigating officer.
b) Petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 3 shall
regularly appear before the Trial Court
without fail unless exempted by the Trial
Court for valid reasons.
c) Petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 3 shall not
tamper with the prosecution witness and
they shall co-operate with the police for
- 10 -
HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61115
CRL.P No. 15852 of 2026
C/W CRL.P No. 15403 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010707142026
investigation and appear before them
whenever called upon.
d) Petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 3 shall not
involve in similar offences in future.
Sd/-
(S VISHWAJITH SHETTY)
JUDGE
AMM
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 99