Allowed

Smt.Bhagyasree Pujari v. State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC18 Sept 2026CRL.P/12227/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court of Karnataka granted regular bail to two accused persons in a murder case based on circumstantial evidence. The petitioners had been in custody since March 2023, the charge sheet was filed in April 2023, and only 9 of 49 prosecution witnesses had been examined. The trial court had rejected their bail application in July 2026. Considering the prolonged incarceration, absence of criminal antecedents, and slow progress of trial, the court allowed the bail petitions with standard conditions.

What did the court decide?

Petitioners enlarged on bail in SC No. 5037/2023 subject to personal bond of Rs. 1,00,000 each with two sureties, regular appearance, no witness tampering, no similar offences, and restriction on leaving trial court jurisdiction.

Smt.Bhagyasree Pujari Vs State of Karnataka — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Karnataka HC (2026)

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HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:51259 CRL.P No. 12611 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12227 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010569162026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18^TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY

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CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12611 OF 2026

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C/W

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CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12227 OF 2026 (439) IN CRL.P No. 12611/2026

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BETWEEN:

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SRI. SUPUTHRA SHANKARAPPA TALWAR @ SHIVU S/O SHANKARAPPA TALWAR, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, SASBALU VILLAGE, SINDGI TALUK, VIJAPURA DISTRICT – 586 128.

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI. KRISHNE GOWDA M, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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

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STATE OF KARNATAKA STATE BY JIGANI P.S., REPRESENTED BY STATE PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE – 560 001

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…RESPONDENT

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(BY SRI.CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP)

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THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C BY THE ADVCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO PASS AN ORDER OF BAIL ENLARGING THE PETITIONER IN CRIME NO.119/2015 OF JIGANI POLICE, ON PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE 3rd ADDL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU RURAL SITTING AT ANEKAL IN S.C.NO.5037/2023

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51259 CRL.P No. 12611 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12227 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010569162026

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FOR THE OFFENCE P/US/ 302,201 R/W 34 OF IPC.THE III ADDL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, SIT AT ANEKAL HAS REJECTED THE BAIL PETITION ON 31.07.2026 IN CRL.MISC.NO.5389/2026.

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IN CRL.P NO. 12227/2026

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BETWEEN:

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SMT.BHAGYASREE PUJARI W/O SUPUTRA, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, DEVANAGHAV VILLAGE, SINDGI TALUK, BHIJAPURA DISTRICT- 586 128.

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...PETITIONER

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(BY SRI. KRISHNEGOWDA.M, FOR SMT. SHIVAMMA D, ADVOCATES)

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AND:

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STATE OF KARNATAKA STATE BY JIGANI P.S. RPTD BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE - 560 001.

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...RESPONDENT

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(BY SRI. CHANNAPA ERAPPA, HCGP)

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THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO PASS AN ORDER OF BAIL ENLARGING THE PETITIONERS IN CR.NO.121/2015 OF JIGANI POLICE ON PENDING ON THE FILE OF III ADDL.DIST. AND SESSIONS JUDGE BENGALURU RURAL SITTING AT ANEKAL IN S.C.NO.5037/2023 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 302,201 R/W SEC.34 OF IPCTHE III ADDL.DIST. AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU RURAL DIST., SIT AT ANEKAL HAS REJECTED THE BAIL PETITION ON 31.07.2026 IN CRL.MISC.NO.5389/2026.

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51259 CRL.P No. 12611 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12227 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010569162026

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

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY

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ORAL ORDER

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Accused Nos.1 and 2 in SC No.5037/2023 pending before the Court of III Addl. District and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, sitting at Anekal, arising out of Crime No.119/2015 registered by Jigani Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 201 read with Section 34 of IPC, are before this Court in these two petitions filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, seeking regular bail.

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Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

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FIR in Crime No.119/2015 was registered by Jigani Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 302 and 201 of IPC against unknown persons based on the complaint received from Rajanna, who had found parts of human body within the jurisdiction of Jigani Police Station. Investigation of the case was completed and charge sheet was filed in the present case in the month of April, 2023, in which

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51259 CRL.P No. 12611 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12227 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010569162026

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petitioners herein are arraigned as accused Nos.1 and 2. Their bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.5389/2026 was rejected on 31.07.2026. Therefore, they are before this Court.

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Perusal of the charge sheet would go to show that deceased Ningaraja was the brother of accused No.2. Accused Nos.1 and 2 were staying together in the house of Ningaraja. It is alleged that accused Nos.1 and 2 were loving each other and since Ningaraja had opposed their relationship, accused Nos.1 and 2 had decided to commit his murder. On 15.08.2025, they allegedly had dashed Ningaraja's head against window rod in their house and committed his murder. Subsequently, they had chopped his dead body into pieces and had disposed of the same. Entire case of the prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence. Petitioners are in custody in the present case from 17.03.2023 onwards. Out of 49 charge sheet witnesses cited in the present case, till date only 9 charge sheet witnesses have

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been examined. Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that none of the nine witnesses examined before the Trial Court have supported the case of the prosecution. Be that

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51259 CRL.P No. 12611 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12227 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010569162026

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as it may, the fact remains that petitioners, who have no other criminal antecedents are in custody for the last nearly 3 years and six months. Considering the nature of allegations found against them and also their period of incarceration, the following order:-

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The petitions are allowed. The petitioners are directed to be enlarged on bail in SC No.5037/2023 pending before the Court of III Addl. District and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, sitting at Anekal, arising out of Crime No.119/2015 registered by Jigani Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 201 read with Section 34 of IPC, subject to the following conditions:

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a) Petitioners 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 jurisdictional Court;

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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;

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51259 CRL.P No. 12611 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12227 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010569162026

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

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

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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.

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Sd/-

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(S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE

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List No.: 1 Sl No.: 59

Smt.Bhagyasree Pujari v. State of Karnataka

Case brief

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Smt.Bhagyasree Pujari v. State of Karnataka

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