Karnataka High Court
Gururaj H vs State By Holehonnur Ps on 16 February, 2026
Author: Shivashankar Amarannavar
Bench: Shivashankar Amarannavar
-1-
NC: 2026:KHC:9424
CRL.P No. 1648 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
CRIMINAL PETITION No. 1648 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) /
483(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
1. GURURAJ H
S/O HANUMANTHAPPA
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER
R/O KPTCL,
BHADRAVATHI - 577 301.
(NOW IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY)
(AS PER CRIMINAL MISC)
RESIDENT OF DINDADAHALLI VILLAGE
SHIKARIPURA TQ, SHIVAMOGGA
KARNATAKA - 577 427.
(AS PER FIR)
...PETITIONER
Digitally signed by (BY SRI SADAPPA V NAIKAR, ADVOCATE)
LAKSHMINARAYANA
MURTHY RAJASHRI
Location: HIGH AND:
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
1. STATE BY HOLEHONNUR PS
BHADRAVATHI SUB DIVISION
SHIVAMOGGA - 577 301.
REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
HIGH COURT BUILDING
Dr. BR AMBEDKAR VEEDHI
BENGALURU - 560 001.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SMT. WAHEEDA M M, HCGP)
-2-
NC: 2026:KHC:9424
CRL.P No. 1648 of 2026
HC-KAR
THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 Cr.P.C
(UNDER SECTION 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE
PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CR.No.336/2025
REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT IN HOLEHONNUR P.S., FOR
THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS
190,351(2),80(2),85 OF BNS, 2023, UNDER SECTION 3 AND 4
OF D.P ACT, 1961.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
ORAL ORDER
This petition is filed by accused No.1 under Section 483 of BNSS praying to grant bail in Cr.No.336/2025 of Holehonnur Police Station registered for the offence punishable under Sections 190, 351(2), 85 and 80(2) of BNS and under Sections 3 and 4 of D.P.Act.
2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent/State.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the marriage of the deceased with petitioner/accused No.1 has taken place on 14.04.2025. The deceased stayed in the house of her husband till she left the house during September 2025 i.e. 2½ months prior to the incident. He -3- NC: 2026:KHC:9424 CRL.P No. 1648 of 2026 HC-KAR further contended that thereafter the deceased has resided in the house of her parents. Even though there is allegation of harassment and dowry demand by the petitioner and other accused, that may be 2 ½ months prior to the deceased committing suicide. There is no proximity of the harassment/ill-treatment by the petitioner and other accused demanding dowry and the deceased committing suicide. The alleged harassment/cruelty is said to have been meted out by the petitioner and others not soon before the death of the deceased. The petitioner has been arrested on 27.12.2025 and he has been taken to police custody for 6 days. Thereafter at the time of remand, in the remand application it is mentioned that petitioner is not required for further investigation. The major portion of the investigation is over and therefore, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. With this he prayed to allow the petition.
4. Per contra, learned HCGP for respondent/State would contend that the deceased has left the death note -4- NC: 2026:KHC:9424 CRL.P No. 1648 of 2026 HC-KAR which she has typed in her mobile WhatsApp. On perusal of the death note, there is a serious allegation against petitioner and other accused harassing the deceased. The deceased due to the harassment given by the petitioner and other accused has committed suicide by jumping into a river. The matter is under investigation. The petitioner has committed heinous offence. With this, she prayed for dismissal of the petition.
5. Having heard the learned counsels, the Court has perused FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record.
6. The marriage of deceased with the petitioner had taken place on 14.04.2025. After the marriage, the deceased started residing with the petitioner in his house. The allegation in the complaint is that even though petitioner and his family members have promised to make a house in BRP, they did not make that house. The averments in the complaint itself indicate that 2½ months prior to the complaint, the deceased came to her parents' -5- NC: 2026:KHC:9424 CRL.P No. 1648 of 2026 HC-KAR house and resided there. The allegation against petitioner is that deceased used to make call to him, but he did not receive the said phone call. The averments of the complaint does not contain any allegation of the deceased residing thereafter in the house of her husband. The alleged harassment demanding dowry is 2 ½ months prior to the date of complaint. The deceased has committed suicide on 24.11.2025. On perusal of the death note, there is no any allegation of demand of dowry by the accused persons. Accused Nos.2 to 6 have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in Crl.P.No.17171/2025 by order dated 19.01.2026, The petitioner came to be arrested on 27.12.2025 and he has been taken to police custody for 6 days. The petitioner has been remanded to judicial custody on 05.01.2026. In the remand application, it is mentioned that the petitioner is no further required for further investigation. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner.
-6-
NC: 2026:KHC:9424 CRL.P No. 1648 of 2026 HC-KAR
7. Considering all the above aspects, the petitioner has made out case for grant of bail with conditions. In the result, the following:
ORDER Petition is allowed. Petitioner is granted bail in Crime No.336/2025 of Holehonnur Police Station, subject to following conditions:
(i) Petitioner shall execute bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the like-sum to the satisfaction of jurisdictional Court.
(ii) Petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly.
(iii) Petitioner shall co-operate with the IO in further investigation if any.
(iv) Petitioner shall attend the trial Court on all dates of hearing unless exempted and co-
operate for speedy disposal of the case.
Sd/-
(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DKB List No.: 2 Sl No.: 15 Ct.sm