Karnataka High Court
Sri Kiran R vs The State Of Karnataka on 13 November, 2025
-1-
CRL.A No. 2046 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.2046 OF 2025
BETWEEN:
SRI KIRAN R
S/O RAMAIAH.
AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS,
RESIDING AT
KANASAWADI VILLAGE,
MADURE HOBLI,
DODDABALLAPUR TALUK-561203
BANGALORE RURAL DIST.
NOW IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY)
...APPELLANT
(BY SRI. SUBRAMANYA H.V., ADV.)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
BY BANGALORE DISTRICT
WOMEN POLICE STATION,
REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
HIGH COURT COMPLEX,
BANGALORE-01.
2. MISS. RADHIKA. M
D/O. LATE. M. MUNIRAJU
AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS,
RESIDING AT ISTURE VILLAGE,
MADURE HOBLI,
DODDABALLAPUR TALUK-561203
BANGALORE RURAL DIST.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP FOR R1,
SRI. S. LAKSHMISHAIAH, ADV. FOR R2.)
-2-
CRL.A No. 2046 of 2025
THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED U/S 14(A)(2) OF SC/ST
(POA) ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER
DTD 03.10.2025 PASSED IN CRL.MISC.NO.1764/2025 ON THE
FILE OF II ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE,
BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT, BANGALORE AND THEREBY
ALLOWED THE PETITION AND RELEASE THE APPELLANT ON
BAIL IN CR.NO.199/2025 OF BANGALORE DISTRICT WOMEN
P.S., FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 64,69,71,351(2),352 OF BNS,
2023, U/S 67(A) OF I.T ACT, 2008, U/S
3(1)(r)(s),3(1)(w),3(2)(v) OF SC/ST (POA) AMENDMENT ACT,
2015, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE II ADDL. DISTRICT AND
SESSIONS JUDGE, BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT, BANGALORE.
THIS APPEAL HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR
JUDGMENT ON 06.11.2025 AND COMING ON FOR
"PRONOUNCEMENT OF ORDERS" THIS DAY, THE COURT,
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
CAV JUDGMENT
Appellant has preferred this appeal against the order dated 03rd October 2025, posted in Criminal Misc. No.1764 of 2025 by the II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru Rural District, Bangalore (for short "the trial Court").
2. Brief facts leading to this appeal are that on the basis of complaint filed by one Radhika M, women Police Station, Doddaballapura Sub-Division have registered Case against the appellant in Crime No.199 of 2025 for the offence punishable under Sections 64, 69, 71, 351(2) and 352 of BNSS, 2023, Section 67(A) of Information Technology Act, 2008 and sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(1)(w) and Section 3(2)(v) of the -3- CRL.A No. 2046 of 2025 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015. After arrest of the accused, he has filed application and section 483 of BNSS, 2023 seeking bail. The same came to be rejected. Being aggrieved by the rejection of bail application, the appellant has preferred this appeal.
3. The learned Counsel for the appellant would submit that appellant is innocent of alleged allegations made against him, and he has nothing to do with the alleged crime. There is no sexual assault against the complainant as alleged. Admittedly, the applicant and complainant are working at RNS Car showroom at Nelamangala for the past two years and they are good friends. Except the affairs in respect of car showroom, there is no physical relationship between them as alleged. Recently during August 2025, there was a rift between the complainant and the accused in respect of personal issues. In this regard, the complainant, her sister and her brother-in- law made an attempt to blackmail the accused with an intention to extract money. When the appellant has not yielded to their attempt, a false complaint came to be filed by the complainant, that too as an afterthought, only to implicate this appellant in a false case. After lapse of two years from the date of incident, the complainant has lodged complaint on 04th -4- CRL.A No. 2046 of 2025 September 2025. There is no explanation offered by the complainant for the delay in filing the complaint. The police have arrested the complaint on 04th September, 2025 and produced him before the court on 05th September, 2025 and he was remanded to judicial custody stating that the appellant may not be required for further investigation. However, the police have seized car bearing number KA-04/M-0340 and have also seized the mobile phone of the accused. There are no incriminating materials collected by the investigating officer after the apprehension of the appellant to corroborate the theory of the complainant. Absolutely, there are no materials to attract the offences under the provisions of SC/ST (PoA) Act. On all these grounds it is sought to allow the appeal. To substantiate his arguments, the learned Counsel for the Appellant has relied on the following judgments of this court:
1. In the Case of Mr. SAMPRAS, ANTHONY v. STATE OF KARNATAKA rendered in Writ Petition No.31144 of 2024, decided on 25th October 2025;
2. In the case of NITIN v. STATE OF KARNATAKA AND ANOTHER rendered in Criminal Petition No.9734 of 2024, decided on 16th October 2024.
4. Respondent No.2 has filed written objection. -5- CRL.A No. 2046 of 2025
5. I have examined the materials placed before this court. On the basis of the complaint filed by Radhika M, Women Police Station, Doddaballapura Sub-Division registered case against the appellant in Crime No.199 of 2025 for offence punishable under Sections 64, 69, 71, 351(2) and 352 of BNSS, 2023, Section 67(A) of Information Technology Act, 2008 and sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(1)(w) and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015.
6. In the complaint, it is alleged as under:
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7. A perusal of the complaint makes it clear that the accused has committed sexual intercourse upon the victim in the second week of June 2023. Against the accused on 18th November 2025 to the victim to OYO lodge and committed sexual intercourse upon the victim. Subsequently, the -8- CRL.A No. 2046 of 2025 appellant continuously harassed the victim through messages. Thereafter approximately for about 3 to 4 times the appellant took the victim to the isolated place near LG Mahal at Kannamangala; and also near the isolated place at Fertiliser factory located beside Nayara Petrol Bunk of Madure Road and committed sexual intercourse. There is an abnormal delay of two years in filing this complaint. The investigating officer has already arrested the accused and he is in custody. Accused is not required for any further investigation. Even after lapse of 60 days, the investigating officer has not submitted charge- sheet against the accused as required under Sub-rule (2) of Rule 7 of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Rules, 1995. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the opinion that it is just proper to allow this appeal with conditions. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following:
ORDER i. Appeal is allowed;
ii. Order dated 03rd October, 2025 passed in
Criminal Misc.No.1764 of 2025 by the II
Additional District and Sessions Judge,
Bengaluru Rural District, Bangalore, is set aside.-9- CRL.A No. 2046 of 2025
Consequently, the application filed under section 483 of BNSS,2023 is allowed.
iii. Appellant/accused shall be released on bail upon executing a self-bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for likesum to the satisfaction of the trial court.
iv. Appellant/accused shall not tamper/threaten the witnesses in any manner;
v. Appellant/accused shall not indulge in similar offences.
Sd/-
(G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE lnn