Gangadevi K S Vs State of Karnataka — Cheating and Forgery | Karnataka HC (2026)

Gangadevi K S Vs State of Karnataka — Cheating and Forgery | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail in the event of arrest in Crime No.233/2025 of Magadi Police Station on a personal bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the likesum, subject to conditions including appearance before the Investigating Officer within one month, cooperation with investigation till the final report, non-tampering with witnesses, attendance before the Trial Court, and abstention from fresh criminal cases; liberty reserved to the prosecution to seek cancellation on breach.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner (accused No.1), a woman aged about 30 years, should be enlarged on anticipatory bail in the event of her arrest in Crime No.233/2025 of Magadi Police Station for offences under Sections 318(4), 351(2), 351(3), 352 and 3(5) of BNS 2023. +1 more

Court's answer

The petition is allowed; the petitioner is ordered to be enlarged on bail in the event of arrest in Crime No.233/2025 of respondent-police for the aforesaid offences, on executing a personal bond of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Trial Court.

Ratio / Principle

The Court held that the petitioner is a woman aged about 30 years and that if suitable conditions are imposed and bail is granted, the apprehension of the prosecution would be met.

Key takeaways

Bail is subject to conditions: the petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within one month, co-operate with investigation till filing of the final report, not threaten or tamper with prosecution witnesses nor hamper court proceedings, appear before the Trial Court on all hearing dates, and not indulge in any criminal cases till disposal; on violation, liberty is reserved to the prosecution to apply for cancellation of bail.ratio¶55

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail granted — woman accused aged about 30 — alleged cheating by false promise of MNC employment (Ss.318(4), 351(2), 351(3), 352, 3(5) BNS 2023), Crime No.233/2025, Magadi Police Station, Bengaluru South District. Petitioner, a distant relative of the complainant, allegedly represented herself as having close connections with HR managers and Managing Directors of reputed multinational companies, promised a job carrying Rs.80,000/- to Rs.1,00,000/- salary; the complainant allegedly paid Rs.25,00,000 (the State and the Court refer to Rs.23,00,000/- as token advance) but secured no job, and accused No.3 threatened him against pressing for refund. Held: the petitioner being a woman aged about 30 years, if suitable conditions are imposed and bail granted, the apprehension of the prosecution would be met. Enlarged on bail in the event of arrest on a personal bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the likesum; conditions: appearance before the Investigating Officer within one month, cooperation with investigation till the final report, no threatening or tampering with witnesses, attendance before the Trial Court on all hearing dates, and no indulgence in criminal cases till disposal; on violation, liberty reserved to the prosecution to seek cancellation of bail.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 7^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH

CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 1811 OF 2026

(438(Cr.PC)/482(BNSS))

BETWEEN:

GANGADEVI K S W/O SHIVANNA, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, RESIDING AT KONDAHALLI VILLAGE, MAGADI TALUK, BENGALURU SOUTH DISTRICT – 562 120.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. PRUTHVEEN PRALHAD KATTIMANI., ADVOCATE)

Digitally signed by PAVITHRA N

Location: High Court of Karnataka

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA BY MAGADI POLICE STATION, BENGALURU SOUTH DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU - 560 001

…RESPONDENT

(BY SMT. ANITHA GIRISH N., HCGP)

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THIS CRL.P FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HER ARREST IN CRIME NO.233/2025 OF MAGADI POLICE STATION, BENGALURU SOUTH DISTRICT, FOR OFFENCE P/U/S 318(4), 351(2), 351(3), 352 AND 3(5) OF BNS 2023 AND ETC.,

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner/accused No.1 is before this Court seeking grant of anticipatory bail in Crime No.233/2025 of respondent-police for the offence under Sections 318(4), 351(2), 351(3) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘BNS’).

Brief facts of the case:

The case of the prosecution is that, the petitioner is

a distant relative of the mother of the complainant. On account

of said acquaintance, it is alleged that, the petitioner represented herself as a person having close connection with

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several HR managers and Managing Directors of reputed Multinational Companies and informed the complainant that other persons are also well acquainted with senior officials in MNC Companies and had previously assisted several candidates in securing the employment.

It is further alleged that the petitioner assured the complainant that they would get him a suitable job in a multinational Company and he would get Rs.80,000/- to Rs.1,00,000/- salary. It is further stated that upon persistent demand, the complainant had paid amount of Rs.25,00,000/hoping that he would get the suitable job to build his career. However, he did not get any suitable job despite he paid the said amount.

The complainant being frustrated for not getting good job, he insisted the petitioner to return his money. However, the accused No.3 threatened the complainant that he is a rowdy sheeter and he knew what to do to close the issue. Further, the complainant was warned that he should not insist the petitioner and others to refund the amount.

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Based on the complaint, the respondent-police registered a case in Cr.No.233/2025 against the petitioner and the investigation is under progress.

Heard Sri. Pruthveen Pralhad Kattimani, learned counsel for the petitioner and Smt. Anitha Girish N, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent -State.

It is the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner that, the petitioner is a lady, aged about 30 years and a resident of Kondahalli Village, Magadi Taluk. The averments of the complaint did not disclose the name of the petitioner, though it is alleged in the said complaint that, the complainant has paid amounts on different occasions to the different accounts. The fact remains that, the petitioner would co-operate with the investigation. Hence, she may be enlarged on bail by imposing suitable conditions. Moreover, the alleged offences neither punishable with death nor imprisonment for life. Making such submissions, the learned counsel for the petitioner prays to allow the petition.

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Per contra, the learned HCGP for respondent State vehemently submitted that, the amount of Rs.23,00,000/- has been paid to the petitioner and others on the pretext that they would secure him a good job in a Multinational Company. However, the complainant has been cheated by the complainant and others.

It is further submitted that the manner in which the petitioner and others have cheated the complainant has to be investigated properly. Moreover, whether the petitioner and others have committed any similar offences on the other unemployed youths or not has also to be investigated. Therefore, it is not appropriate to grant any relief, as prayed for in the petition. Making such submissions, he prays to reject the petition.

Having heard learned counsel for the respective parties and on perusal of the averments of the complaint, it appears that the petitioner is the distant relative of the complainant. The complainant was assured that he would get a good job in Multinational Companies and received amount of Rs.23,00,000/- as a token of advance. The manner in which the

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petitioner has been cheated has not properly been stated in the complaint. However, I am of the considered opinion that the petitioner is a woman aged about 30 years, if suitable conditions are imposed and granted bail, the apprehension of the prosecution would be met. Hence, I proceed to pass the following:

ORDER

(i) The petition is allowed.

(ii) The petitioner is ordered to be

enlarged on bail in the event of his arrest in Crime No.233/2025 of respondent-police for the aforesaid offences on executing personal bond in a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Trial Court.

(iii) The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within a period of one month from today

(iv) The petitioner shall co-operate with investigation till filing of the final report.

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(v) The petitioner shall not threaten or

tamper the prosecution witnesses nor hamper

the proceedings of the Court.

(vi) The petitioner shall appear before the

Trial Court on all hearing dates without fail.

(vii) The petitioner shall not indulge in any

criminal cases, till disposal of the case.

In case, if the petitioner violates any of the bail conditions

as stated above, liberty is reserved to the prosecution to file necessary application for cancellation of bail.

Sd/(S RACHAIAH) JUDGE

JS, List No.: 2 Sl No.: 3