[Cites 6, Cited by 0]
Karnataka High Court
Praveen Singh vs The State Of Karnataka on 18 February, 2026
Author: Shivashankar Amarannavar
Bench: Shivashankar Amarannavar
-1-
NC: 2026:KHC:10024
CRL.P No. 167 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
CRIMINAL PETITION No. 167 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) /
482(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
1. PRAVEEN SINGH
S/O, SATYA NARAYANA SINGH
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS
R/AT, No. 305, SVS PARADISE
6TH CROSS, ALPHA GARDEN
KODIGEHALLI MAIN ROAD
AIYAPPA NAGARA, DEVASANDRA
BENGALURU-36
AS PER FIR
PRAVEEN SINGH
SVS PARADISE APARTMENT
K.R. PURAM, BENGALURU CITY.
...PETITIONER
Digitally signed by (BY SRI. PRATHEEP K.C, ADVOCATE)
LAKSHMINARAYANA
MURTHY RAJASHRI
Location: HIGH AND:
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
REP. BY HAL POLICE STATION
BENGALURU DISTRICT
REP. BY ITS
STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
BENGALURU - 560 001.
2. PADMAVATHI
AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS
-2-
NC: 2026:KHC:10024
CRL.P No. 167 of 2026
HC-KAR
W/O SATHISH SINGH
RESIDING AT 002, CSR
MARVEL MLA LAYOUT
KALENA AGRAHARA
BANNERAGATTA ROAD
BENGALURU - 76.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP FOR R1
SMT. SAHLA NECHIYIL, ADVOCATE FOR R2)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 Cr.P.C
(UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS
PETITION AND ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY
BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CR.No.402/2025
REGISTERED BY HAL POLICE, PENDING ON THE FILE OF
HONBLE 29th ACJM, AT MAYO HALL, FOR THE OFFENCES
PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 103(1),238 OF BNS.
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
482 of BNSS praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime
No.402/2025 of HAL Police Station registered for offences
under Section 103(1) and 238 of BNS.
2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner,
learned counsel for respondent No.2 and learned HCGP for
respondent No.1/State.
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HC-KAR
3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that
on the death of deceased, a complaint came to be filed by
her mother registered in Crime No.14/2025 for offences
under Section 108 and Section 3(5) of BNS. In the said
crime, the petitioner has been arrested and taken into
police custody for 7 days, interrogated and remanded to
judicial custody. In the said crime, the petitioner has been
granted interim bail by this Court and subsequently, has
been granted regular bail. The said complaint came to be
withdrawn by respondent No.2 by making submission
before this Court in the petition filed by this petitioner
seeking quashing of the FIR and liberty has been given to
the mother of the deceased to file complaint. Now the
mother has filed the complaint, based on which the
present crime is registered for the offence under Sections
103(1) and 238 of BNS. As the petitioner has been taken
into police custody and interrogated, his mobile has been
seized, now there is no necessity of custodial interrogation
of the petitioner. Accused Nos.2 to 4 have been granted
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bail by the Sessions Court. With this, he prayed to allow
the petition.
4. Per contra, learned counsel for respondent No. 2
and learned HCGP for respondent No.1/State would
contend that respondent No.2 was under shock after the
incident and she stated whatever is stated to her in her
earlier complaint. Thereafter liberty has been given to her
in the petition filed by the petitioner seeking quashing of
FIR in Crime No.14/2025. Therefore, the present
complaint is filed. The offence alleged against the
petitioner is a heinous offence punishable under Section
103(1) of BNS. The bank account statement of the
deceased indicates that several amounts have been
transferred to the account of the petitioner and that itself
indicate that the petitioner was harassing the deceased
and extracted money from her by threatening that he will
disclose her nude photos, videos etc. The deceased had
got an offer letter in a Company at Hyderabad and she
intended to shift there and intended to join on 14.01.2025.
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Therefore, the deceased committing suicide does not arise.
There is no death note left by the deceased. The petitioner
also has sustained burn injuries. The incident has taken
place in a hotel room and it has been booked by this
petitioner. The CCTV footage indicates the presence of this
petitioner in the said hotel on the day of incident. Even
though the crime is registered in August 2025, the
petitioner has not yet been arrested and that itself indicate
that he is powerful and there are chances of him
hampering the investigation. The petitioner has committed
heinous offence and he is required for custodial
interrogation. On these grounds, both prayed for rejection
of the petition.
5. In reply, the learned counsel for the petitioner
would contend that the deceased went with a petrol can to
the said hotel and that itself indicate that she has
committed suicide.
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6. Having heard the learned counsel, the Court has
perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on
record.
7. The deceased, who is the daughter of the
complainant, died of burn injuries on 12.01.2025. On the
death of the deceased her mother filed a complaint and on
that basis case has been registered against this petitioner
and his wife in Crime No.14/2025 for offence under
Section 108 and 3(5) of BNS. In the said complaint, it is
alleged that the petitioner and his wife abated the
deceased to commit suicide. The petitioner has sought
quashing of the said FIR in Crime No.14/2025 by filing a
petition before this Court. In the said petition, respondent
No.2 who appeared through counsel submitted that she
will withdraw the complaint with liberty to file fresh
complaint. The said submission has been recorded and
respondent No.2 was given liberty to file fresh complaint.
With that, the Crime No.14/2025 has been quashed.
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8. The petitioner has been arrested in Crime
No.14/2025 on 13.01.2025 and he was taken to police
custody for 7 days and he has been interrogated. The
petitioner has been granted interim bail on 21.01.2025
and he has been released on bail. The mother of the
deceased now has filed complaint on 23.08.2025 and it is
registered in Crime No.402/2025 for offences under
Section 103(1) and 238 of BNS. The petitioner
apprehending his arrest is seeking anticipatory bail in the
said crime. Petitioner who has been arrested in Crime
No.14/2025 has been interrogated by taking him into
police custody for 7 days with regard to offence under
Section 108 of BNS. The present case is registered for
offence under Section 103(1) of BNS. The earlier
investigation does not pertain to the offence under Section
103(1) of BNS. The death of the deceased has taken place
in a lodge and it is stated to have been booked by the
petitioner. The CCTV footage indicates the presence and
movement of the petitioner in the said hotel, and more so,
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the petitioner has also sustained burn injuries. The
statement of bank account of the deceased indicates that
there are several transfers of thousands of rupees to the
account of petitioner. Considering the said aspect, the
petitioner is required for custodial interrogation for offence
under Section 103(1) of BNS.
9. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has
not made out any grounds for grant of anticipatory bail. In
the result, the petition is dismissed.
Sd/-
(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR)
JUDGE
DKB
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 36
Ct.sm
