CRL.A/1245/2026 of SRI SIDDASHETTY Vs STATE OF KARNATAKA on 15 September 2026

ORAL JUDGMENT

The appellant/accused has preferred this appeal against the order passed by the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chamarajanagar, in Spl. Case No.28/2026 dated 12.05.2026.

2. On the basis of the complaint lodged by Smt. Bhagya alias Bhagyamma, Chamarajanagar Police have registered a case in Crime No.2/2025 against the accused for the offences punishable under Sections 76, 115(2),

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352, 351(2) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, (for short ‘BNS’) and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(v-a) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (for short ‘SC/ST (POA) Act’).

3. The accused was arrested on 01.12.2025 and was remanded to judicial custody. After completion of the investigation, the Investigating Officer submitted the charge-sheet against the accused for the offences punishable under Sections 76, 115(2), 352, 351(2) and 126(2) of the BNS, 2023, and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(1)(zb) and 3(2)(v-a) of the SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989.

4. In Column No.17, it is alleged against the accused as under; “ಈ ೂೕಾೂೕಪ ಾ ಪತ

ದ ಾಲಂ ನಂ 14 ರ ಕಂಡ ಾ 1 ಮತು 2 ರವರು ಪಷ ಪಂಗಡದ "ಾಯಕ ಜ"ಾಂಗಕೂ% &ಾಗೂ ಾಲಂ ನಂ 12 ರ ಕಂಡ ಅೂೕ(ತ ಉ*ಾ+ರ ಜ"ಾಂಗ (ಪ

ವಗ--

1) .% /ೕದು0. ಒಂೕ 3ಾ

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ಾ-1 ಮತು 2 ರವರು <"ಾಂಕ 01.12.2025 ರಂದು =;8> 10.00 ಗಂ?ಯ ಕೂ .ಲಸ.%ಂದು Aೂೕಗು:Bಾ0ಗ ಆೂೕ(ತನು ಅವರನುC ಮುಂ AೂೕಗದಂD ಅಡEಗF ತGದು 7H :ೕ? ಜಗಳ D8ದು 7ೕವ9 ಇಬLರೂ /ೕ ನನC MೕN Oಾಟ ಮಂತ

OಾQH ನನ8 ಹುಾರು ತಪ9+ವಂD OಾQ<0ೕ, 7ಮSನುC ಇವತು Tೕವ ಸUತ ಉ;ಸುವ9<ಲVಂದು ಾ-1 ರವರ ತN ಜುಟ ನುC UQದು .ಳ.% .ಡW.ೂಂಡು Hೕ ಮತು ರW.ಯನುC UQದು ಎYBಾQ, ಅವOಾನ Oಾಡುವ ಉ0ೕಶ<ಂದ ಹದು &ಾ[, ತನC .ೖಗ;ಂದ Mೖ.ೖ8 AೂGದು ಾ7ಂದ Aೂ? 8 ಒ<0ದು0, ]Qಸಲು Aೂೕದ ಾ-2, ರವರನುC ಸಹ .ಳ8 .ಡW.ೂಂಡು ತನC .ೖ^ಂದ Mೖ .ೖ8 AೂGದು ಎYBಾQದು0 ಅವರು ಧHದ0 ಬ7ಯ` ಅನುC ಸಹ ಹದು &ಾ[ದು0, ಆೂೕ(ತ78 ಾ-1 ಮತು 2 ರವರು ಪಷ ಪಂಗಡದ "ಾಯಕ ಜ"ಾಂಗ.% /ೕರುaಾಂದು 8ೂ:ದ0ರೂ ಸಹ "ಾಯಕ ಜ"ಾಂಗದ =ೂೕ;ಮಕ%Y 7ಮ8 .ೂಬುL bಾHcಾ5 ಎಂದು Uೕನ Oಾನdಾ5 =ೖಯುe:Bಾ0ಗ, ಕೃತeವನುC ಕ ಾg hೂೕQದ ಾ- 3 ಮತು 4 ರವರು Tಗಳ ]QH ಸOಾiಾನ ಪQHದ Mೕಲೂ. ನಮS ]ೕ<ಯ ಯಜOಾನ8 :;ಸುDೕVಂದು Aೕ; ಕ(Nೕಶjರ ೕವಾkನದ ಕG8 Aೂೕಗು:ದ0ವರನುC UಂlಾH 7ೕವ9 cಾವ ಯಜOಾನ8 Aೕ;ದರೂ ಸಹ ನನCನುC ಏನು OಾGೂೕ. ಆಗಲVಂದು ಅಯೂ ಸಹ =ೖ<ದು0 &ಾಗೂ ಾ-10 ರವರು ಾ-1 ರವ8 ಮತು ಾ-11 ರವರು ಾ-2 ರವ8 n[Do 7ೕQ ಸದಯವ8 ಆ5ರುವ 3ಾಯವ9 "ಾOಾನe ಸjರೂಪದ 3ಾಯVಂದು" ವರ< 7ೕQದು0, ಇದುವ5ನ ತ7q &ಾಗೂ ಾrಾiಾರಗ;ಂದ ಆೂೕ(ಯ Wರುದs ಆೂೕಪವ9 ದೃಢಪಟ Mೕ8 Mೕಲ%ಂಡ ಕಲಂಗಳ ೕaಾe ಆೂೕ(ಯ Wರುದs ೂೕಾೂೕಪu Oಾಡvಾ5.”

5. It is submitted that the Trial Court has already recorded the evidence of PW.1-Smt. Bhagyamma. The evidence of PW.2 has also been partly recorded and the said witness has supported the case of the prosecution to

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some extent. Hence, the question of tampering or threatening the prosecution witnesses does not arise.

6. The accused has been in judicial custody for the last nine months and fourteen days. Considering the nature and gravity of the offence and the period of detention undergone by the accused, I am of the opinion that, at this stage, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, it is just and proper to release the appellant/accused on bail with conditions. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following;

ORDER

The Criminal Appeal is allowed. The order passed by the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chamarajanagar, in Spl. Case No.28/2026 dated 12.05.2026 is set aside. Consequently, the application is filed under Section 483 of BNS, 2023, is allowed on the following conditions;

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(i) The appellant/accused shall be released on bail on executing a self-bond of Rs.50,000/- with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Trial Court.

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

(iii) The appellant/accused shall appear before the Trial Court on all the dates of hearing without fail.

Registry is directed to communicate this order to the Trial Court.

Sd/- (G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE

SMC List No.: 1 Sl No.: 6