G. v. Narasimhappa Vs State by Karnataka Lokayukta — Corruption | Karnataka HC (2026)

G. v. Narasimhappa Vs State by Karnataka Lokayukta — Corruption | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Regular bail in Crime No.56/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta, Bengaluru City Division, on execution of a personal bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety, subject to conditions that the petitioner shall not tamper with prosecution witnesses and shall attend the trial Court on all dates of hearing unless exempted.

Issue for consideration

Whether the sole accused, arrested in Crime No.56/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta registered for an offence under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, should be enlarged on regular bail under Section 483 BNSS.

Court's answer

In trap cases, the major portion of the investigation will generally be over on the day of the trap itself.

Ratio / Principle

The offence alleged against the petitioner is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life.

Key takeaways

The petitioner can be secured easily for further investigation and trial, so his continued custody is not required.ratio¶41
On the above considerations, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of bail with conditions.ratio¶43

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Prevention of Corruption Act, S.7(a) — Regular bail — S.483 BNSS petition by sole accused, a BWSSB meter reader, in Crime No.56/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta — Allegation of demanding Rs.2,000/- per month to reduce the complainant-restaurateur's water bill and acceptance over several months; on a subsequent demand a trap was laid and the petitioner was found receiving Rs.10,000/- bait amount, trap mahazar drawn — Petitioner arrested on trap date 20.11.2025 and in judicial custody since — Held: in trap cases the major portion of investigation is generally over on the day of the trap; offence not punishable with death or imprisonment for life; petitioner easily securable for investigation and trial — Bail granted on personal bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety, with conditions not to tamper with prosecution witnesses and to attend all hearings. (High Court of Karnataka, Shivashankar Amarannavar J., 08.01.2026)

NC: 2026:KHC:1063 CRL.P No. 16459 of 2025

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HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 8^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION No. 16459 OF 2025 (439(Cr.PC) / 483(BNSS))

BETWEEN:

G. V. NARASIMHAPPA S/O VENKATAPPA AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS WORKING AS METER READER, BWSSB MARUTHI NAGARA, BTM 2^ND STAGE MADIVALA, BANGALORE KARNATAKA-560 041.

R/AT No.B2/1, BWSSB QUARTERS 7^TH A MAIN, JAYANAGARA 5^TH BLOCK BANGALORE - 560 041.

…PETITIONER

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

(BY SRI VIVEK REDDY, SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR SRI PRAVEEN C P, ADVOCATE)

AND:

STATE BY KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA BENGALURU CITY DIVISION REP BY ITS SPECIAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT COMPLEX BANGALORE-560 001.

…RESPONDENT

(BY SRI MANISH R, ADVOCATE FOR SRI B B PATIL, ADVOCATE)

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THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE ACCUSED ON REGULAR BAIL, IN CRIME No.56/2025 REGISTERED BY KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA BANGALORE CITY DIVISION P.S. BANGALORE FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 7(A) OF THE PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION AMENDMENT ACT, 2018, ON ANY REASONABLE CONDITION/S THAT THIS HONBLE COURT DEEMS FIT, JUST AND EXPEDIENT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR

ORAL ORDER

This petition is filed by the sole accused under Section 483 of BNSS praying to grant bail in Crime No.56/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta, Bangalore, registered for offence punishable under Section 7(a) of Prevention of Corruption Act.

Heard learned Senior Counsel for petitioner and learned counsel for respondent.

Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that the petitioner alleged to have demanded bribe from the complainant and has received monthly Rs.2,000/- from him and again when he demanded the amount, complaint

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has been made against him and a trap has been laid and at the time of trap he found having received Rs.10,000/as bait amount from the complainant. Trap mahazar has been drawn. The case of the prosecution is based on documents. The petitioner is in custody since 20.11.2025 and as major portion of the investigation is over, he is not required for further custodial interrogation. The petitioner is working as a Meter reader and he can be secured easily for further investigation. The offence alleged against the petitioner is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. With this, he prays to allow the petition.

Per contra , learned counsel for respondent would contend that petitioner is working as a Meter reader in BWSSB. The complainant is running a restaurant. The petitioner had made an agreement with the complainant to reduce the water bill amount in monthly bill for consideration of Rs.2,000/- per month and he has received accordingly. When he further demanded the complaint has

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been made, trap has been laid. The conversation of the petitioner and the complainant has been recorded which clearly indicate demand and acceptance of the bribe. There is a dereliction of duty on the part of the petitioner in reducing the bill amount of the complainant. There is a prima-facie case against the petitioner. With this, he prayed to reject the petition.

Having heard the learned counsel, the Court has

perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record.

The petitioner is working as a Meter reader in

BWSSB. The complainant is running a restaurant. The petitioner demanded Rs.2,000/- as bribe per month for reducing the bill amount and accordingly, the complainant paid him Rs.2,000/- for several months. When petitioner again demanded money, a complaint has been made to the Lokayukta Police. Trap has been laid and during trap the petitioner was found having received Rs.10,000/- bait amount from the complainant. The trap mahazar has been

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drawn. The petitioner has been arrested on the date of

trap i.e. 20.11.2025 and he is in judicial custody since then. In cases of trap generally major portion of the investigation will be over on the day of trap. The offence alleged against the petitioner is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioner can be secured easily for further investigation and trial.

Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has

made out case for grant of bail with conditions. In the result, the following

ORDER

The petition is allowed. The petitioner is granted bail in Crime No.56/2025 of Karnataka Lokayukta, Bengaluru City Division, subject to following conditions:

(i) Petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety to the satisfaction of trial Court.

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(ii) Petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly.

(iii) Petitioner shall attend the trial Court on all dates of hearing unless exempted and co-operate for speedy disposal of the case.

Sd/-

(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE

DKB

List No.: 1 Sl No.: 12 Ct.sm