Karnataka High Court
Veerabhadrappa vs The State By on 21 February, 2026
Author: Shivashankar Amarannavar
Bench: Shivashankar Amarannavar
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NC: 2026:KHC:10889
CRL.P No. 185 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 185 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC) /
483(BNSS)-)
BETWEEN:
VEERABHADRAPPA
S/O.MANJUNATHA,
AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS,
OCC CAR & AUTO DRIVER,
R/AT D. MALLAPURA VILLAGE,
DODDAGATTA POST,
HOSADURGA TALUK,
CHITRADURGA DISTRICT-577 527.
(NOW IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY)
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. S G RAJENDRA REDDY.,ADVOCATE)
AND:
THE STATE BY
HOSADURGA POLICE STATION,
CHITRADURGA,
Digitally signed by
LAKSHMINARAYANA REPRESENTED BY S.P.P.,
MURTHY RAJASHRI
Location: HIGH
HIGH COURT BUILDING,
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
BENGALURU-560 001.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SRI.M.R.PATIL .,HCGP)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483
BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN
CR.NO.339/2025 OF HOSAFURGA POLICE STATION,
CHITRADURGA, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRL. CIVIL
JUDGE AND JMFC, HOSADURGA, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S
140(1), 103(1), 238, 61(2), 54, 249, 3(5), 190 OF BNS 2023.
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NC: 2026:KHC:10889
CRL.P No. 185 of 2026
HC-KAR
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
ORAL ORDER
1. This petition is filed by accused No. 4 under Section 483 of BNSS praying to grant bail in Crime No. 339/2025 of Hosadurga Police Station registered for offence under Sections 140(1), 103(1), 238, 61(2), 54, 249, 3(5) and 190 of BNS.
2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent - State.
3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that accused No. 2 has been granted bail by this Court by order dated 29.01.2026 passed in Crl.P. No. 17366/2025 and petitioner - accused No. 4 who is similarly placed to that of accused No. 2 is entitled for grant of bail on the ground of parity. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. As chargesheet is filed petitioner is not required -3- NC: 2026:KHC:10889 CRL.P No. 185 of 2026 HC-KAR for custodial interrogation. With this he prayed to allow the petition.
4. Per contra learned HCGP would contend that chargesheet material show prima facie case against the petitioner for offence alleged against him. With this he prayed to allow the petition.
5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, this Court has perused the chargesheet and other materials placed on record.
6. This Court while granting bail to accused No. 2 in the order dated 29.01.2026 passed in Crl.P. No. 17366/2025 has observed as under:
"6. This Court while granting bail to accused No. 1 in the order dated 16.12.2025 passed in Crl.P. No. 14618/ 2025, in paragraph No. 6, has observed as under:
"6. The deceased was found missing and a complaint came to be filed in that regard on 17.02.2025 in Crime No.77/2025. The dead body of the deceased was found on 22.02.2025 and -4- NC: 2026:KHC:10889 CRL.P No. 185 of 2026 HC-KAR UDR No.2/2025 had been registered in a Lingadahalli Police Station. Thereafter, the father of the deceased filed a complaint on 20.07.2025 and it came to registered in Crime No.339/2025 and FIR came to be registered against unknown persons. After the investigation, the charge sheet has been filed against five accused persons, wherein the petitioner is arrayed as accused No.1. The case of the prosecution as per charge sheet is that, the petitioner had illicit relation with accused No.2 and on coming to know the same, the deceased had quarreled with her, she left her husband's house and was residing in her parents' house. The deceased used to go to the house of the petitioner and used to quarrel with her. In that regard, three FIRs' are registered in Hosadurga Police Station. As per the charge sheet, the accusation against the petitioner is that, as the deceased was quarreling with her, she instigated accused No.2 to kill the deceased and pursuant to the said instigation, accused Nos.2 to 4 took the deceased and assaulted him and strangulated him with a towel and committed his murder. The only accusation against the petitioner is that, she instigated accused No.2 to kill the deceased. The petitioner was not on the spot at the time of the incident. The petitioner is a woman. As the charge sheet is filed, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. The petitioner is in judicial custody since 22.07.2025. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner."-5-
NC: 2026:KHC:10889 CRL.P No. 185 of 2026 HC-KAR
7. The accusation against this petitioner is that he along with accused Nos. 3 and 4 took the deceased, assaulted him, strangulated him with a towel and committed his murder. There are no eyewitnesses to the incident and case of the prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence. There is no recovery of any incriminating article at the instance of this petitioner. As the case of the prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence, prosecution has to prove each of the circumstances at trial. As charge sheet is filed, petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. Petitioner is in judicial custody since 23.07.2025. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner."
7. Petitioner is accused No. 4 and allegation against accused Nos. 2 to 4 is that they took the deceased, assaulted him, strangulated him with a towel and committed his murder. There are no eyewitnesses to the incident and case of the prosecution is based on circumstantial evidence. Petitioner is similarly placed to that of accused No.2 who has been granted bail. Therefore, petitioner is entitled for grant of bail on the ground of parity. Petitioner is in judicial custody since -6- NC: 2026:KHC:10889 CRL.P No. 185 of 2026 HC-KAR 23.07.2025 and as chargesheet is filed, he is not required for custodial interrogation. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner.
8. Considering the above aspects, petitioner has made out a case for grant of bail with conditions.
In the result, the following;
ORDER Criminal Petition is allowed. Petitioner is granted bail in Crime No. 339/2025 of Hosadurga Police Station, subject to following conditions:
I. Petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the likesum to the satisfaction of the Jurisdictional Court.
II. Petitioner shall not tamper the prosecution witnesses either directly or indirectly.
III. Petitioner shall appear before the trial Court on all dates of hearing unless exempted by the -7- NC: 2026:KHC:10889 CRL.P No. 185 of 2026 HC-KAR Court and cooperate for speedy disposal of the case.
Sd/-
(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE LRS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 66