Sri Kuppaswamy Vs State of Karnataka

S/O PONNUSWAMY, AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS, RESIDING R/AT.NO.51, 2^ND A CROSS, 3^RD MAIN, NEAR AYYAPPA TEMPLE, SINGAYANA PALYA, BANGALURU NORTH, BENGALURU – 560 048

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Digitally signed by PAVITHRA N

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Location: High Court of Karnataka

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PREMAVATHI .K W/O PONNUSWAMY, AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, RESIDING R/AT.NO.51, 2^ND A CROSS, 3^RD MAIN, NEAR AYYAPPA TEMPLE, SINGAYANA PALYA, BANGALURU NORTH, BENGALURU – 560 048

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(BY SRI. PRAKASH T., ADVOCATE)

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…PETITIONERS

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AND:

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STATE OF KARNATAKA BY MAHADEVAPURA P S REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,

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NC: 2026:KHC:16647 CRL.P No. 3101 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE – 560 001.

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PRAJWAL C S/O LAKSHMI NARAYANA REDDY AGE 29 YEARS R/AT: 163, 5^TH CROSS, GURRAPPA REDDY LAYOUT, VIGNANA NARAR MAIN ROAD, BENGALURU - 560 075

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(AMENDED VIDE COURT ORDER DATED 23.03.2026)

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SMT. ANITHA GIRISH N., HCGP FOR R1 AND BY SRI. UDAY N., ADVOCATE FOR R2-DEFACTO COMPLAINANT)

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THIS CRL.P FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THESE PETITIONERS (ACCUSED NO.2 AND 3) IN CR.NO.69/2026 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 108 BNS ACT, 2023 (SECTION 306 OF IPC), PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE 29^TH ACJM AT MAYO HALL BENGALURU, BY DIRECTING THE 1^ST RESPONDENT MAHADEVAPURA POLICE TO RELEASE THE PETITIONERS ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR ARREST BY THE RESPONDENT POLICE IN CR.NO.69/2026 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 108 BNS ACT, 2023 (SECTION 306 OF IPC).

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THIS CRL.P, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH

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NC: 2026:KHC:16647 CRL.P No. 3101 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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ORAL ORDER

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The petitioners, who are arraigned as accused Nos.2 and 3, are before this Court seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.69/2026 of the respondent-Police for the offence under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

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Brief facts of the case:

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The case of the prosecution is that a complaint

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came to be registered by the brother of the deceased Anusha, stating that, on 02.02.2026 at 03.20 p.m., he had received a message from accused No.1 stating that his sister Anusha had bolted the door and did not open despite repeated knocking on the same. Further, the complainant was informed that his sister had committed suicide. On receiving the said information, the complainant and others went to the hospital and saw that his sister had died.

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It is further alleged that the petitioners herein were harassing the sister of the complainant, saying that she was not good-looking, and she had not brought sufficient dowry to maintain their family, and they used to quarrel with her even for petty reasons. On the other hand, accused No.1, being the

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husband, used to chat with other women, and he had kept some obscene photographs in his mobile, which were seen by the deceased, as a result of which, there were frequent quarrels between the husband and wife. Consequently, she committed suicide. Based on the said complaint, the respondent-Police have registered a case, and they are conducting the investigation, which is in progress.

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Heard Sri.Prakash T., learned counsel for the

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petitioners, Smt.Anitha Girish N., learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent No.1 – State and Sri.Uday N., learned counsel for respondent No.2 - defacto complainant.

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The submission of the learned counsel for the petitioners is that the averments of the complaint would indicate that there are several omnibus and bald allegations made against the petitioners. In fact, the allegations made in the complaint are on the basis of the hear-say witnesses. The petitioners are the parents of accused No.1; they are aged about 68 years and 58 years respectively, and they have their old age ailments. They will abide by the conditions imposed by

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HC-KAR

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this Court in the event of their release on bail. Hence, they may be granted anticipatory bail. Making such submissions, learned counsel for the petitioners prays to allow the petition.

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Per contra , learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent No.1 – State vehemently submitted that the petitioners are the instrumental in harassing the deceased on one or the other pretext. The allegations levelled against the petitioners are that they insulted the deceased, stating that she had not brought sufficient dowry and that she was not looking good, etc. The constant and continuous humiliation and degradation led the deceased to take an extreme step to commit suicide. Therefore, it is not appropriate to grant them anticipatory bail, as prayed for. Making such submissions, the learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1 prays to reject the petition.

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The learned counsel for the respondent No.2 -

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defacto complainant adopted the arguments of the learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1 and prays to reject the petition.

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HC-KAR

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Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and on perusal of the averments of the complaint, it appears that the brother of the deceased had lodged a complaint stating that accused No.1, being his brother-in-law, was quarrelling with his sister and the petitioners and others were insulting his sister on one or the other pretext that she did not bring additional dowry and she is not good-looking etc., The complainant makes further allegations that his brother-inlaw had affairs with many women and also had obscene photographs of them on his mobile. This was told to him by the deceased, and therefore, his sister, being frustrated, committed suicide, etc.

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Be that as it may, on going through the averments of the complaint, it would indicate that the alleged suicide had not taken place soon before the said alleged harassment. Having considered the facts and circumstances of the case, it is appropriate to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners, by imposing suitable conditions.

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Hence, I proceed to pass the following:

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HC-KAR

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ORDER

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(i) The Criminal Petition is allowed.

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(ii) The petitioners are ordered to be

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enlarged on bail, in the event of their arrest, in Crime No.69/2026 of respondent-police for the offences stated supra , on executing their personal bonds in a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/(Rupees One Lakh only) each with one surety each for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer.

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(iii) The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer within a period of one month from today, to execute the personal bonds and also to furnish sureties.

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(iv) The petitioners shall co-operate with

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the investigation as and when required, till filing of the final report.

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(v) The petitioners shall appear before the

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Trial Court on all hearing dates without fail.

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