Allowed

Sri Krishnamurthy v. State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC19 Sept 2026CRL.P/13912/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court of Karnataka granted regular bail to the petitioner, a purohit with no criminal antecedents, accused under Sections 64, 75, and 351(2) of BNS, 2023 for alleged sexual assault of a deaf and dumb woman. The court noted the unexplained delay of over two months in filing the FIR, the CCTV footage only confirming the petitioner's visit (which was admitted), the absence of medical records supporting the allegations, and the completion of the major part of the investigation. The petitioner was released on a personal bond of Rs. 1,00,000 with two sureties and standard conditions.

What did the court decide?

Petitioner enlarged on bail in Crime No.140/2026 on execution of personal bond of Rs.1,00,000 with two sureties of like amount, subject to standard conditions.

Sri Krishnamurthy Vs State of Karnataka — Bail and Remand | Karnataka HC (2026)

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51558 CRL.P No. 13912 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010628862026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19^TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13912 OF 2026

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BETWEEN:

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SRI KRISHNAMURTHY SON OF ASHWATHACHAR AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.10 6TH A CROSS, VIDYAPEETA ROAD NEAR SAI BABA TEMPLE BALALJI NAGAR, BSK III STAGE BENGALLURU - 560 085.

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI VENKATESH S ARBATTI, ADV.)

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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 REPRESENTED TROUGH PSI CHANAMMANKER, ACHU KATHU POLICE STATION, BENGALURU CITY REPRESENTED BY ITS KARNATAKA STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KANRNATAKA.

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(BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP)

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…RESPONDENT

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THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CR.NO.140/2026 REGISTERED BY THE CHANNAMMANAKERE ACHUKATTU POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 64, 75 AND 351(2) OF THE BNS 2023 BEFORE THE HONBLE 37TH ACMM, BENGALURU.

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THIS PETITION, 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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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51558 CRL.P No. 13912 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010628862026

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ORAL ORDER

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Accused in Crime No.140 of 2026 registered by Channammanakere Achukattu Police Station, Bengaluru City for offences punishable under Sections 64, 75 and 351(2) of BNS, 2023 is before this Court in this petition 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.140 of 2026 was registered by Channammanakere Achukattu Police Station, Bengaluru City for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein, based on the first information dated 27.07.2026 received from Sri R Dilip Kumar, who is the husband of the victim lady, aged 26 years. In the said case, the petitioner was arrested on 28.07.2026 and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court in Crl.Misc.No.7714 of 2026 was rejected on 03.09.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court.

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51558 CRL.P No. 13912 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010628862026

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Learned counsel for the petitioner having reiterated the grounds urged in the petition submits that inordinate delay in approaching the police is not explained in the present case. There are no medical records suggesting the alleged crime. He submits that, major portion of the investigation is already completed. The petitioner is a married man and he is purohit by avocation. Accordingly, he prays to allow the petition.

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Per contra, learned HCGP who has opposed the petition submits that investigation is under progress. Victim lady has made serious allegations against the petitioner even in her statement recorded under Section 183 of BNSS, 2023. Accordingly, he prays to dismiss the petition.

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A reading of the first information dated 27.07.2026

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submitted by the husband of the victim lady would go to show that the petitioner is known to the first informant for the last nearly 20 years and both of them are purohit by avocation. The marriage of the first informant with the victim was performed eight years prior to the registration of the crime. From the said wedlock, they have two children. It is alleged in the first

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4 - NC: 2026:KHC:51558 CRL.P No. 13912 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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CNR: KAHC010628862026

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information that the victim is deaf and dumb by birth and she has studied upto 12th standard. It is stated in the first information that the petitioner, who is known to the first informant and his family members, used to visit his house regularly.

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On 30.04.2026, when the victim lady was alone in the house, the petitioner who came to the house of the victim lady at about 01.53 p.m. allegedly had forcible sexual intercourse with her and thereafter, threatened her with dire consequences, in the event, she reveals the said act to her family members. It appears that subsequently on 12.05.2026 the victim lady had informed her husband about the alleged act committed by the petitioner on 30.04.2026. The first information is belatedly submitted in the present case on 27.07.2026. No proper explanation has been offered by the first informant for the inordinate delay in approaching the police though he was informed by his wife, who is the victim in the present case about the alleged act committed on her by a petitioner on 30.04.2026. There is a delay of more than two

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51558 CRL.P No. 13912 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010628862026

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months from the date of knowledge of the first informant about the alleged act the petitioner had committed on 30.04.2026.

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The investigation officer, during the course of investigation, has collected CCTV footage to show that on 30.04.2026, the petitioner had visited the house of the victim lady as alleged in the first information. Since it is an admitted fact that the petitioner is known to the first informant and he used to visit the house of the first informant, the CCTV footage showing the petitioner entering his house on 30.04.2026 itself is not sufficient to draw an adverse inference against him.

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The records would reveal that the petitioner is a married person having wife and children. He is a purohith by avocation having no other criminal antecedents. He has also produced certain medical records along with this petition to show that he is a heart patient and he had taken treatment for his ailment.

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Major portion of the investigation is already completed. Learned HCGP has submitted that only report from

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51558 CRL.P No. 13912 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010628862026

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Forensic Science Laboratory is awaited. Under the

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circumstances, the following:-

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ORDER

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(i) Criminal petition is allowed.

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(ii) The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.140 of 2026 registered by Channammanakere Achukattu Police Station, Bengaluru City for offences punishable under Sections 64, 75 and 351(2) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions:

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a) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court;

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

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

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:51558 CRL.P No. 13912 of 2026

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CNR: KAHC010628862026

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d) The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future.

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

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In view of disposal of main petition, I.A.No.1 of 2026 and I.A.No.2 of 2026 will not survive for consideration.

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Sd/-

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(S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE

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NMS

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List No.: 1 Sl No.: 55

Sri Krishnamurthy v. State of Karnataka

Case brief

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Sri Krishnamurthy v. State of Karnataka

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