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Karnataka High Court
Smt. P Kalpana vs The State Of Karnataka on 16 February, 2026
Author: Shivashankar Amarannavar
Bench: Shivashankar Amarannavar
-1-
NC: 2026:KHC:9303
CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025
C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025
CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025
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. 17239 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) /
482(BNSS))
C/W
CRIMINAL PETITION No. 17103 OF 2025
CRIMINAL PETITION No. 17283 OF 2025
IN CRL.P No. 17239/2025
BETWEEN:
1. SRI. MANJUNATH
S/O LATE MUNIYAPPA
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS
R/AT HENNAGARA GATE
HENNAGARA VILLAGE AND POST
ANEKAL TALUK, BENGALURU - 562 106.
Digitally signed by 2. SRI.MANJUNATH M.V
LAKSHMINARAYANA S/O VENKATASWAMY
MURTHY RAJASHRI
Location: HIGH AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS
COURT OF R/AT No.87, MARUTHI LAYOUT
KARNATAKA
NEAR BUS STAND, ANEKAL TOWN
BENGALURU - 562 106.
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI LOKESH B, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
THROUGH ANEKAL POLICE STATION
-2-
NC: 2026:KHC:9303
CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025
C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025
CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025
HC-KAR
REP. BY THE SPECIAL PUBLIC PLEADER
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
BENGALURU - 560 001.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 Cr.PC (FILED
UNDER SECTION 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT
ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN CRIME
No.379/2025 OF ANEKAL POLICE STATION (REGISTERED
BEFORE THE III ADDL.DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE,
BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, SITTING AT ANEKAL) FOR THE
OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 192(A) OF THE
KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT, 1964, AND SECTION 316(4),
336(3), 318(4), 336(2), 340(2) R/W SECTION 3(5) OF BNS
2023.
IN CRL.P No. 17103/2025
BETWEEN:
1. SRI. NARAYANA
S/O LATE VENKATESH
AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS R/AT
No.124, 3RD CROSS, VENKATESHWARA LAYOUT
ANEKAL TOWN, BENGALURU-562 106.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI P B UMESH, ADVOCATE FOR
SRI R. B.DESHPANDE, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
THROUGH S.H.O., ANEKAL POLICE STATION
REP. BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
BENGALURU - 560 001.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP)
-3-
NC: 2026:KHC:9303
CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025
C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025
CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025
HC-KAR
THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 (FILED UNDER
SECTION 482 BNSS) Cr.P.C PRAYING TO GRANT
ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN CRIME
No.379/2025 REGISTERED BY ANEKAL POLICE STATION,
REGISTERED BEFORE THE III ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS
JUDGE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, SIT AT ANEKAL FOR
THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 192(A) OF
KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT, 1964 AND SECTIONS 316(4),
336(2), 340(2) R/W SECTION 3(5) OF BNS, 2023.
N CRL.P No. 17283/2025
BETWEEN:
1. SMT. P KALPANA
W/O THUKARAM.B.M
AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS
R/AT BASAVANNA LAYOUT
NEAR KARAGADAMMA TEMPLE
ATTIBELE HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK
BANGALORE - 562 107.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. LOKESH B, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
THROUGH S.H.O, ANEKAL POLICE STATION
REPD. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
BENGALURU - 560 001.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 Cr.P.C (UNDER
SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL
TO THE PETITIONER IN CR.No.379/2025 OF ANEKAL P.S.,
PENDING BEFORE THE III ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS
-4-
NC: 2026:KHC:9303
CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025
C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025
CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025
HC-KAR
JUDGE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, SITTING AT ANEKAL,
FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 192(A) OF
THE KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT, 1964, U/S
316(4),336(3),318(4),336(2),340(2) R/W 3(5) OF BNS, 2023.
THESE PETITIONS COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
ORAL ORDER
Criminal Petition No.17239/2025 is filed by accused
Nos.12 and 16, Criminal Petition No.17283/2025 is filed by
accused No.11 and Criminal Petition No.17103/2025 is
filed by accused No.9. All the three petitions are filed
under Section 482 of BNSS seeking grant of anticipatory
bail in Crime No.379/2025 of Anekal Police Station
registered for offences punishable under Section 192A of
Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 and Sections 316(4),
336(3), 318(4), 336(2), 340(2) read with Section 3(5) of
BNS.
2. Heard learned counsels for petitioners and
learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent
-State.
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HC-KAR
3. Learned counsel for petitioners would contend
that there is no role of petitioners in missing of the
documents and creation of the documents. The petitioners
are not custodians of the documents. Accused Nos.1,2, 4,
7, 13 and 15 have been granted anticipatory bail by this
Court. Therefore, the petitioners are also entitled for grant
of anticipatory bail on the ground of parity. The petitioners
are ready to co-operate with the Investigating Officer in
the investigation and abide by any conditions to be
imposed by this Court. With these, they prayed to allow
the petitions.
4. Per contra, learned High Court Government
Pleader for the respondent -State would contend that
investigation is in progress. The offence alleged against
the petitioners are provided with sentence of
imprisonment which may extend upto 07 years. The
allegation against the accused persons is helping the land
grabbers by creating and forging the documents and
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missing of the records from the office. With these, he
prayed for dismissal of the petitions.
5. Having heard learned counsels appearing for
parties, the Court has perused FIR, complaint and other
materials placed on record.
6. This court while granting anticipatory bail to
accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 in the order dated
19.01.2026 passed in Criminal Petition No.17369/2025
and other connected matters as observed as under:
"10. The FIR was registered on 28.11.2025
alleging commission of offence between 14.10.2025
and 28.11.2025. The allegation in the complaint
pertains to the missing of certain documents and
the creation of documents. The question as to who
was the custodian of the said documents at the
relevant point of time is a matter of record. The
offences alleged against the petitioners are not
punishable either with death or imprisonment for
life. The petitioners have undertaken to cooperate
with the Investigating Officer in investigation and
abide by any conditions to be imposed by this
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HC-KAR
Court. There are no criminal antecedents of the
petitioners."
The petitioners who are working as F.D.A, S.D.A and
Group D employees in Anekal Taluk Office are similarly
placed to that of other accused persons who have already
been granted anticipatory bail by this Court. Petitioners
have undertaken to co-operate with Investigating Officer
in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be
imposed by this Court. Offences alleged against petitioners
are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for
life. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners.
Considering the above aspects, petitioners have made out
case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions.
7. In the result, the following
ORDER
i) All the three criminal petitions are allowed.
ii) Petitioners -accused Nos.9, 11, 12 and 16 are
ordered to be released on bail in the event of
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HC-KAR
their arrest in Crime No.379/2025 of Anekal
Police Station subject to following conditions:
a) Petitioners -accused Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16
shall voluntarily appear before the
Investigating Officer within fifteen days from
this day and execute bail bond for a sum of
Rs.1,00,000/- each with one surety for the
like sum to the satisfaction of the
Investigating Officer.
b) Petitioners -accused Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16
shall appear before the Investigating Officer
whenever called for and cooperate for
investigation.
c) Petitioners -accused Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16
shall appear before the Investigating Officer
on first and third Sunday of every month for
a period of two months or till filing of final
report whichever is earlier.
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d) Petitioners -accused Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16
shall not directly or indirectly make any
inducement, threat or promise to any person
acquainted with the facts of the case so as to
dissuade them from disclosing such facts to
the Court or to any police officer or tamper
with the evidence.
Sd/-
(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR)
JUDGE
DSP
List No.: 2 Sl No.: 10
Ct.sm
