Allowed

Sri Reefas @ Rifas K v. the State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC20 Jan 2026CRL.P/16379/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Criminal Petition filed by sole accused seeking anticipatory bail for offence under Section 108 BNS 2023 regarding alleged abuse and assault. Court considered allegations of suicide and lack of proximate act, allowing bail subject to cooperation and breach conditions.

What did the court decide?

Petitioner granted anticipatory bail in Crime No.248/2025 of Bagalur Police Station, to be released on bail if arrested, subject to conditions including execution of bail bond with surety, cooperation

Sri Reefas @ Rifas K Vs the State of Karnataka — Anticipatory Bail | Karnataka HC (2026)

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NC: 2026:KHC:3161 CRL.P No. 16379 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 20^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR

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CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 16379 OF 2025 [(438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)]

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BETWEEN:

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SRI REEFAS @ RIFAS K. S/O. RAFEEK, AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS, RESIDING AT KUNNAMCHERI, EDAKKAZHIYOOR POST, TRICHUR DISTRICT, KERLA - 680 515.

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI. USMAN P., ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY NAGALUR P.S. BENGALURU, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001.

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…RESPONDENT

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(BY SRI. HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP; SRI. RAVISAN M., ADVOCATE FOR DEFACTO COMPLAINANT)

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THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THE PETITION AND PASS AN ORDER TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON AN ANTICIPATORY BAIL AND TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT

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2 - NC: 2026:KHC:3161 CRL.P No. 16379 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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POLICE TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE CRIME NO.248/2025 OF BAGALUR POLICE STATION, BENGALURU REGISTERED FOR OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 108 OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA (BNS) 2023, PENDING ON THE FILE OF CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, DEVANAHALLI, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT.

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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 SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR

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ORAL ORDER

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This petition is filed by sole accused under Section

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482 of Bharatiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.248/2025 of Bagalur Police Station, Bengaluru, registered for offence punishable under Section 108 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

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Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent -

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NC: 2026:KHC:3161 CRL.P No. 16379 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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State who is assisted by learned counsel for defacto complainant.

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Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that, the only allegation against the petitioner is that he used to send message to the deceased and used to abuse and assault her. The date of the said sending message, abusing and assaulting has not been stated in the complaint. There is no proximity act of the petitioner which drove the deceased to commit suicide. The deceased has not left any death note. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with the Police in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. The petitioner is not having any criminal antecedents. With these, he prayed to allow the petition.

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Per contra, learned High Court Government

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Pleader for respondent would contend that, the investigation is in progress. There is allegation of torture by this petitioner. The mobiles have been seized and sent

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NC: 2026:KHC:3161 CRL.P No. 16379 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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for examination. The petitioner is required for custodial interrogation. With these, he prayed for dismissal of the petition.

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Having heard the learned counsels appearing

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for parties, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record.

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The deceased was residing in a house along with her three (3) friends and attending BBA II year in Koshy's College. It is alleged that the petitioner who was the student of Koshy's College used to send messages, abuse and assaulting the deceased. The deceased has not left any death note. What was the date of the said abuse and assault by the petitioner and sending message is not stated in the complaint. Whether the act of the petitioner amounts to abetment to commit suicide of the deceased is a matter of investigation. The petitioner has undertaken to cooperate with the Police in investigation and abide by any

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NC: 2026:KHC:3161 CRL.P No. 16379 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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conditions to be imposed by this Court. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner.

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Considering all the above aspects, the petitioner

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has made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. In the result, the following;

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ORDER

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The Criminal Petition is allowed . The petitioner is granted anticipatory bail in Crime No.248/2025 of Bagalur Police Station and is ordered to be released on bail in the event his arrest, subject to following conditions:

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i) The petitioner shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from this day and execute bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the like-sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer.

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ii) The petitioner shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer in investigation.

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6 - NC: 2026:KHC:3161 CRL.P No. 16379 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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iii) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for.

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iv) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case, so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any Police Officer or tamper with the evidence.

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SD/(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE

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KLV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 2

Sri Reefas @ Rifas K v. the State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Sri Reefas @ Rifas K v. the State of Karnataka

Case brief

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What did the court decide?

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