Karnataka High Court
CRL.A/1129/2022 of STATE OF KARNATAKA Vs MAAZ MUNEER AHMED @ MAAZ @ MUNEER on 2 June 2026
NC: 2026:KHC:25670-DB CRL.A No. 1129 of 2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF JUNE, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1129 OF 2022 (21(NIA)) BETWEEN: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF JUNE, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ
AND
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1129 OF 2022 (21(NIA))
BETWEEN:
STATE OF KARNATAKA
BY MANGALURU EAST POLICE STATION,
REPRESENTED BY
STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
HIGH COURT BUILDING,
BENGALURU-560 001.
…APPELLANT
(BY SRI. RAHUL RAI K., HCGP (PH))
AND:
MAAZ MUNEER AHMED
@ MAAZ @ MUNEER
S/O MUNEER AHMED,
AGED ABOUT 21 YEARS,
R/AT 801, 8TH FLOOR,
PRESIDENCY AVENUE APARTMENT,
MANGALURU-575 008.
PERMANENT R/AT NO.23, SOPPU GUDDE,
FISH MARKET ROAD, THIRTHAHALLI,
SHIVAMOGGA-577 432,
KASABA BENGALURU,
MANGALURU.
…RESPONDENT
(BY SRI. MUZAFFAR AHMED, ADVOCATE (PH))
Digitally
signed by
LAKSHMI T
Location:
High Court
of Karnataka
HC-KAR
THIS CRL.A IS FILED U/S 21(4) OF NIA ACT, PRAYING
TO: (A) SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 06.02.2021 PASSED IN
CRL.MISC.NO.110/2021 ON THE FILE OF THE COURT OF IV
ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, D.K., MANGALURU, GRANTING
BAIL
TO
THE
ACCUSED-RESPONDENT
IN
CR.NO.104/2020 OF MANGALURU EAST POLICE STATION, REGISTERED
FOR
THE
OFFENCES
PUNISHABLE
UNDER
SECTIONS 3 AND 5 OF KARNATAKA OPEN PLACE (PREVENTION
OF DISFIGUREMENT) ACT AND SECTION 153(A) OF INDIAN
PENAL CODE; (B) DIRECT THE COMPLAINANT POLICE TO
ARREST THE ACCUSED - RESPONDENT AND COMMITTED TO
CUSTODY.
THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ
and
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
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ORAL JUDGMENT
(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ)
The State has preferred this appeal under Section 21(4) of NIA Act, praying to set aside the order dated 06.02.2021 passed by the Court of the IV Additional District and Sessions Judge, D.K., Mangaluru in Criminal Misc No.110/2021, whereby the application filed by the respondent/accused under Section 439 of Cr.P.C was
HC-KAR
allowed and he was enlarged on bail in a case registered in Crime No 104/2020 of Mangaluru East Police Station.
2. It is alleged by the prosecution that on 26.11.2020 between 10.00 p.m. to 06.45 a.m., some unknown persons made a writing on the compound wall of one Ventura Apartment, Mangaluru as ‘Do Not Force us to invite Lashkar-e-Taiba and Taliban to deal with Sanghis and Manvedis/Lashkar Zindabad’. It is alleged that the said writing on the wall was with an intention to provoke the community feeling.
3. Case was registered against unknown persons for the offence punishable under Section 153(A) of IPC and Sections 3 and 5 of the Karnataka Open Place (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981.
4. The learned High Court Govt. Pleader would contend that the allegations are serious in nature and therefore, the learned Sessions Judge was not justified in enlarging the accused on bail. He further contented that during the
HC-KAR
course of investigation, Section 13 and 39 of the UA (P) Act were invoked and further that the accused, after his release on bail, indulged in committing one more offence and therefore, he has violated the bail conditions. He has therefore contented that this is a fit case wherein the bail granted to the accused has to be set aside.
5. Admittedly, the case was registered for the offence punishable under Section 153A of IPC and Section 3 and 5 of the Karnataka open place (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981 and that time provisions under the UA (P) Act was not invoked. The learned Sessions Judge while deciding the bail application has taken into consideration the punishment prescribed for the above offences. It is observed that the alleged offences are not punishable with death or imprisonment for life, and following the verdicts of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and this Court, enlarged the accused on bail.
6. It is submitted by the learned High Court Government Pleader that now, in view of invocation of
HC-KAR
provisions under the UA (P) Act, the case has been transferred to the Special Court dealing with NIA cases. It is not in dispute that the accused was enlarged on bail by the learned Sessions Judge on 06.02.2021. At the time of filing this appeal, it was not alleged that the appellant has violated the bail conditions, by indulging in similar offences etc. It is open for the State to file necessary application before the Special Court seeking cancellation of bail, in case the accused has violated the bail conditions, subsequent to his release on bail. With the above observation, appeal is dismissed.
IA No.1/2026 is dismissed.
Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE
Sd/- (G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE
HB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 2