Karnataka HC Bails Two Men Accused Of Demanding ₹15,000 From Friend, Citing Unexplained Four-Day FIR Delay

The petitions concerned accused Nos. 2 and 3 in Crime No. 154/2026, registered for offences under Sections 310(2) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The informant alleged that on 16 August 2026 the accused intercepted him, assaulted him, obtained a transfer of ₹15,000 to accused No. 2 by PhonePe, and criminally intimidated him.

The first information was submitted on 20 August 2026, four days after the alleged incident; the Court noted that it contained no proper explanation for the delay.

The petitioners were arrested on 22 August 2026, and their bail application before the Sessions Court was rejected.

The petitioners sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

The petitions were considered under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which provides for the High Court’s and Court of Session’s power to grant bail.

The alleged offences were under Sections 310(2) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The order does not cite or discuss any precedent or set out a broader bail test.

The Court considered that the informant and accused were acquainted, that the first information was filed four days after the alleged incident without a proper explanation for the delay, and that accused No. 2 had repaid ₹13,000 of the ₹15,000 transferred before the FIR was registered.

It also noted that accused Nos. 1, 4 and 5 had already obtained regular bail.

Although the State pointed to the petitioners’ criminal antecedents, the Court allowed the petitions and imposed conditions intended to secure their attendance, prevent interference with witnesses, restrict further similar offending, and require reporting to the police during the investigation.

Each petitioner was required to execute a personal bond of ₹1,00,000 with two sureties for the like sum; attend court unless exempted; refrain from threatening or tampering with prosecution witnesses and from involvement in similar offences; not leave the trial court’s jurisdiction without permission; and report to the Station House Officer on the first and third Sundays of each month, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., until investigation was completed and the charge sheet filed.