Mr.Adityan Manik Murugan, v. State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC20 Feb 2026CRL.A/293/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

CRL.A No.293 of 2026, Karnataka HC, G Basavaraja J, decided 20.02.2026; bail allowed under S.483 BNSS 2023 against rejection by Special Judge; Crime No.244/2025 Kempapura Agrahara PS; S.69 BNS 2023 and Ss.3(1)(r)(s), 3(2)(v) SC/ST Act 1989; complainant/victim no objection memo, assurance of marriage; offence not punishable with death or life imprisonment; charge sheet filed; custody from 18.12.2025; self-bond Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety.

What did the court decide?

Appeal allowed; impugned order dated 07.02.2026 set aside; Section 483 BNSS application allowed; appellant/accused to be released on bail on executing a self-bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for likesum, on conditions that he shall not tamper with or threaten prosecution witnesses and shall appear before the trial Court on all hearing dates. ¶¶50

Mr.Adityan Manik Murugan, Vs State of Karnataka — Bail and Remand | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the appellant/accused should be enlarged on regular bail in Crime No.0244/2025 of Kempapura Agrahara Police Station for the offences under Section 69 of BNS and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act. +1 more

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Court's answer

Considering the nature and gravity of the offence and the memo filed by respondent No.2, it is just and proper to allow the appeal.

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Ratio / Principle

Perusal of the order sheet dated 09.01.2026 shows respondent No.2 was present before the trial Court and submitted 'No objection' to granting bail to the accused/appellant.

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Key takeaways

The trial Court gave no opinion on the no-objection submission, and the commission of the alleged offence is not punishable with death or imprisonment for life — factors weighing in favour of grant of bail.ratio¶¶40

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Karnataka (G Basavaraja, J.) allowed Criminal Appeal No.293 of 2026 filed under Section 14(A)(2) of the SC/ST (POA) Act, 2015 against the order dated 07.02.2026 of the LXX Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge/Special Judge, Bengaluru, rejecting bail under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 in Crl.Misc.No.11502/2025. The accused, in judicial custody since 18.12.2025 in Crime No.244/2025 of Kempapura Agrahara Police Station for offences under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3(1)(r)(s) and 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act, 1989, was granted bail because the complainant (respondent No.2) had submitted 'No objection' before the trial Court and filed a memo stating the accused had assured to marry her; the trial Court had given no opinion on the no-objection; the offence is not punishable with death or life imprisonment; and the charge sheet had already been filed. Bail ordered on a self-bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for likesum, with conditions against tampering with or threatening prosecution witnesses and requiring appearance on all hearing dates.

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NC: 2026:KHC:10662 CRL.A No. 293 of 2026

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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 FEBRUARY, 2026

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 293 OF 2026 (U/S 14(A) (2))

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BETWEEN:

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MR.ADITYAN MANIK MURUGAN, S/O MURUGAN, AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, RESIDENT OF NO.23, BHARATHI DHASAN STREET, BALASUBBIRAMANIYAN NAGAR, THIRUPARANKUNDRAM, MADURAI, TAMIL NADU-625005.

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(NOW IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY, CENTRAL PRISON, BENGALURU)

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…APPELLANT

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(BY SRI. RAMESHA M S.,ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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STATE OF KARNATAKA

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Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYAN N Location: High Court of Karnataka

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BY KEMPAPURA AGRAHARA POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,

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HIGH COURT BUIDLING, BENGALURU-560001.

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RAMYA, D/O RAJU, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, AROODI VILLAGE AND POST, DODDABALLAPURA TALUK, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. M DIWAKAR MADDUR, HCGP FOR R1 R2 SERVED AND PRESENT BEFORE COURT)

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NC: 2026:KHC:10662 CRL.A No. 293 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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THIS CRL.A. IS FILED U/S 14(A)(2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT, 2015 BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE APPELLANT/S PRAYING THAT THIS HONBLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO A. SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 07.02.2026 PASSED IN CRL.MISC NO.11502/2025 BY THE LXX ADDL.CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND SPECIAL JUDGE (CCH-71), BENGALURU.B. ENLARGE THE APPELLANT ON REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME NO.0244/2025 OF KEMPAPURA AGRAHARA POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCES U/S 69 OF BNS AND SECTIONS 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) AND 3(2)(v) OF SC/ST ACT SUBJECT TO SUCH CONDITIONS AS THIS HONBLE COURT.COPY SERVED ON SPP.APPEAL IS IN TIME.POST CRL.A BEFORE COURT FOR ADMISSION.VIDE R(J) MEMO NO.138/2025, DATED 29.01.2026 (SOP)RS 16.02.2026.

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THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA

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ORAL JUDGMENT

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The appellant has preferred this appeal against the order dated 07.02.2026 passed in Crl.Misc.No.11502/2025 by the C/c LXX Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge, Bengaluru (for short 'the trial Court').

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For the sake of convenience, the parties herein are referred to as per their rank before the trial Court.

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Brief facts leading to this appeal are that, on the basis of complaint filed by the victim, Agrahara Police

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HC-KAR

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registered the case in Crime No.244/2025 against the accused for the offence punishable under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3(1)(r)(s) and 3(2)(v) of SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

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During the course of investigation, the Investigating Officer has arrested the accused and produced before the trial Court. Accused was remanded to judicial custody, and now, the accused is in judicial custody.

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Application was filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of bail. Same came to be rejected by the trial Court. Being aggrieved by rejection of bail application, the appellant has preferred this appeal.

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Heard the arguments on both sides. The respondent No.2 present before the Court and files a written memo, in which it is stated as under:

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HC-KAR

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" MEMO

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"I am the 2^nd respondent in the above case. I met the appellant in judicial custody. He assured to marry me. Therefore, I have no objection to release the appellant on bail."

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The Learned counsel for the appellant would submit that, the complainant appeared before the trial Court and stated that she has no objection for granting bail to the accused.

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A perusal of the order sheet dated 09.01.2026 reveals that, the respondent No.2 was present before the trial Court and submitted 'No objection' to grant bail to the accused/appellant herein. The trial Court has also observed the same in para No.4 of the impugned order. The trial Court has not given any opinion in this regard. The commission of alleged offence is not punishable with of death or imprisonment for life.

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It is submitted by the learned High Court Government Pleader that charge sheet is already filed.

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NC: 2026:KHC:10662 CRL.A No. 293 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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Hence, accused is not required for any further investigation. Accused is in judicial custody from 18.12.2025.

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Considering the nature and gravity of offence and the memo filed by respondent No.2, I am of the opinion that, it is just and proper to allow the appeal. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following:

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O R D E R

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(i) Appeal is allowed ;

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(ii) The order dated 07.02.2026 passed in

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Crl.Misc.No.11502/2025 by the C/c LXX Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge, Bengaluru, is set aside. Consequently, the application filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 is allowed;

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(iii) The appellant/accused shall be released on bail on executing a self-bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for likesum to the satisfaction of the trial Court.

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(iv) The appellant/accused shall not tamper or threaten the prosecution witness in any manner.

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NC: 2026:KHC:10662 CRL.A No. 293 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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(v) The appellant/accused shall appear before the

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trial Court on all the dates of the hearing.

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