Madhu Kumar @ Madhu Vs the State of Karnataka — Bail and Remand | Karnataka HC (2026)

Madhu Kumar @ Madhu Vs the State of Karnataka — Bail and Remand | Karnataka HC (2026)

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HC-KAR

NC: 2026:KHC:51700 CRL.P No. 11691 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 11127 of 2026

CNR: KAHC010533412026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 17^TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11691 OF 2026

C/W

CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11127 OF 2026

IN CRL.P No. 11691/2026

BETWEEN:

Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

MADHU KUMAR @ MADHU, S/O BYRE GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, R/AT NO.109, 1ST CROSS, KANMINIKE COLONY, JALAGERAMMA TEMPLE ROAD, KUMBLUGODU POST, KENGERI HOBLI, BENGALURU CITY - 560 074.

(BY SRI. CHANDRAPPA K N., ADVOCATE)

AND:

…PETITIONER

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY SUBRAMANYAPURA POLICE STATION, BANGALORE. REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE - 560 001.

…RESPONDENT

(BY SRI.RAHUL RAI K., HCGP)

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HC-KAR

NC: 2026:KHC:51700 CRL.P No. 11691 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 11127 of 2026

CNR: KAHC010533412026

THIS CRL.P. IS FILED U/S.439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE ACCUSED ON REGULAR BAIL UNDER SEC.483 OF THE CODE OF BNSS IN THE ABOVE CASE, IN CR.NO.84/2026 S.C.NO.866/2026 OF SUBRAMANYAPURA POLICE STATION, P/U/S 109(1) R/W SEC.3(5) OF BNS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE LXVI ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT BENGALURU (CCH-64).

IN CRL.P NO. 11127/2026

BETWEEN:

PRAJWAL @ PRAJJU, S/O. LATE CHANDRASHEKAR, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, R/AT NO.124, 1ST MAIN ROAD, 1ST CROSS, NEAR GANESHA TEMPLE, DWARAKA NAGAR, CHANNASANDRA, R.R. NAGARA, BENGALURU - 560 098.

...PETITIONER

(BY SRI. PREMA KUMAR G A., ADVOCATE)

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY SUBRAMANYA PURA POLICE, REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT COMPLEX, BANGALORE - 560 001.

...RESPONDENT

(BY SRI.RAHUL RAI K., HCGP)

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HC-KAR

NC: 2026:KHC:51700 CRL.P No. 11691 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 11127 of 2026

CNR: KAHC010533412026

THIS CRL.P. IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE HIM ON BAIL IN THE CR.NO.84/2026 OF SUBRAMANYA PURA P.S. BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 109(1) R/W 3(5) OF BNS ACT PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE COURT OF LXIII ADDL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE BENGALURU CITY.

THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY

ORAL ORDER

Accused Nos.1 and 3 in SC No.866 of 2026 pending before the Court of LXVI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, arising out of Crime No.84 of 2026 registered by Subramanyapura Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offences punishable under Section 109(1) read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023, are before this Court in these two petitions filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 seeking regular bail.

Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

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HC-KAR

NC: 2026:KHC:51700 CRL.P No. 11691 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 11127 of 2026

CNR: KAHC010533412026

FIR in Crime No.84 of 2026 registered by

Subramanyapura Police Station, Bengaluru City for the aforesaid offences against Prajwal and two others, based on the first information dated 30.03.2026 received from Sushmitha, wife of injured victim/Mahesh. During the course of investigation of the case, accused No.1 was arrested on 01.04.2026 and accused No.3 was arrested on 11.04.2026. After completing investigation, charge sheet is filed against three persons and petitioners herein arraigned as accused Nos.1 and 3. Their bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court was rejected and therefore, they are before this Court.

FIR in the present case was registered against Prajwal and two of his friends, based on the first information submitted by the wife of the injured victim, who is a hearsay witness. During the course of investigation, accused No.1/Prajwal and 2 others were arrested and remanded to judicial custody. After

5 - NC: 2026:KHC:51700 CRL.P No. 11691 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 11127 of 2026

HC-KAR

CNR: KAHC010533412026

completing investigation, charge sheet is now filed for the

aforesaid offences.

As per the charge sheet allegations, injured victim/Mahesh (CW2) was working as a driver in a school bus. Accused No.1 and his relative CW7 were also working as bus drivers in the very same school. Accused No.1 appears to be a rowdy sheeter of Subramanyapura Police Station. After the school management came know about the same, they allegedly had terminated his service. CW7 allegedly was having relationship with the mother of CW5, who was the friend of CW2. Therefore, there was a quarrel

between CW7, CW2 and CW5. In this regard, even accused No.1 had quarreled with CW2 and it appears that CW2 had assaulted accused No.1 and therefore he had ill will against CW2. It is in this background, he had conspired with accused Nos.2 and 3 to eliminate CW2/Mahesh.

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NC: 2026:KHC:51700 CRL.P No. 11691 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 11127 of 2026

CNR: KAHC010533412026

In furtherance of such conspiracy on

30.03.2026, accused Nos.2 and 3 had arrived near the spot where CW2 had parked his auto-rickshaw.

Subsequently, CW2 came to the said spot. Accused Nos.2 and 3 had informed him that they had came for seizing his auto-rickshaw and had quarreled with him. Immediately thereafter, accused No.1 came to the said spot and assaulted CW2 on his face and also tried to assault him with a dragger. However, CW2 had escaped the said blow. Thereafter accused No.2 took the dragger from the hand

of accused No.1 and stabbed with the same on the stomach of CW2. After seeing CW3 and CW4 coming near

the spot of crime, accused Nos.1 to 3 had escaped from the said spot. From the aforesaid, it appears that it was accused No.2, who had stabbed CW2/Mahesh on his stomach with the dragger knife and the grievous injury sustained by CW2 is as a result of assault made by accused No.2. So far as accused Nos.1 and 3 are concerned, except the fact that they were present at the

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HC-KAR

NC: 2026:KHC:51700 CRL.P No. 11691 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 11127 of 2026

CNR: KAHC010533412026

spot of crime, they had not caused any injury to CW2 in the incident in question. Investigation of the case is already completed and charge sheet is filed.

Accused No.2 is arrested in the present case

and is in judicial custody. Considering the aforesaid aspects of matter, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioners for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, the following :

O R D E R

The Criminal Petitions are allowed. The petitioners are directed to be enlarged on bail in SC No.866 of 2026 pending before the Court of LXVI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, arising out of Crime No.84 of 2026 registered by Subramanyapura Police Station, Bengaluru City for the offences punishable under Section 109(1) read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions:

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NC: 2026:KHC:51700 CRL.P No. 11691 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 11127 of 2026

CNR: KAHC010533412026

a) The petitioners shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with two sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court;

b) The petitioners shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court exempts their appearance for valid reasons;

c) The petitioners shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses;

d) The petitioners shall not involve in similar offences in future;

e) The petitioners shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without permission of the said Court until the case registered against them is disposed off.

Sd/(S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE

AMM

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