Karnataka revenue officials get anticipatory bail in probe into 414 alleged fraudulent land grants to ineligible persons

Hassan City Police registered Crime No. 157/2019 against unknown persons, on a complaint dated 24 October 2019 by the Special Land Acquisition Officer, alleging fraudulent grants of land reserved for Hemavathi River Project land-losers to undeserving persons, in collusion with revenue officials.

The complaint referred to 414 suspected cases relating to the period 2015–2018; in 2026, the Deputy Commissioner directed an inquiry concerning 141 persons who had worked in the Revenue Department during 2015–2019.

The petitioners, including present and former revenue officials, sought anticipatory bail after the Sessions Court dismissed their applications.

The High Court considered their petitions together.

1. Whether the petitioners were entitled to anticipatory bail in Crime No. 157/2019, having regard to the allegations and the circumstances of the investigation.

2. Whether anticipatory bail should be subject to conditions securing the petitioners’ cooperation with the investigation and attendance before the Trial Court.

The petitions were considered under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the provision invoked for anticipatory bail.

The alleged offences were under Sections 465, 468 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Section 192(a)(1)–(3) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1963, and Sections 4(1)–(3) and (5) of the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2007.

The Court identified the maximum punishment for the alleged offences as imprisonment up to seven years and considered the nature of the allegations and the circumstances relevant to the bail applications.

No precedent was cited.

The Court noted that the allegations arose from documentary material and that similarly placed accused had been granted anticipatory bail by the Sessions Court.

It also considered that the petitioners had no similar criminal antecedents and had undertaken to cooperate with the police.

In light of those factors, the nature of the allegations and the stated maximum punishment, the Court found anticipatory bail warranted, subject to conditions requiring appearance before the Investigating Officer, execution of bonds, attendance before the Trial Court, cooperation with the investigation, and non-interference with prosecution witnesses.

It directed that the petitioners be released on bail in the event of arrest in Crime No. 157/2019, subject to the conditions set out in the order, including appearance before the Investigating Officer within 15 days and execution of a personal bond of ₹1,00,000 with two sureties for the like sum.

The order records that petitioner No. 21 in Crl.P. No. 13857/2026 had withdrawn that petition.