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Karnataka High Court
Basavaraju D vs The State Of Karnataka on 20 February, 2026
Author: Shivashankar Amarannavar
Bench: Shivashankar Amarannavar
-1-
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CRL.P No. 17651 of 2025
C/W CRL.P No. 16671 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
CRIMINAL PETITION No. 17651 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) /
482(BNSS)-)
C/W
CRIMINAL PETITION No. 16671 OF 2025
IN CRL.P No. 17651/2025
BETWEEN:
1. MALLIKARJUNA. R
S/O LATE RANGASWAMY
AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS
R/A MITTEMARI, CHIKKABALLAPUR
MITTEMARI, KARNATAKA - 561 207.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI ZULFI SULTANA, ADVOCATE)
Digitally signed by
LAKSHMINARAYANA AND:
MURTHY RAJASHRI
Location: HIGH
COURT OF 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA
BY HALASURU GATE SHO
REPRESENTED BY SPP
HIGH COURT BUILDING
BANGALORE-560 001.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SRI M R PATIL, HCGP)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 OF CR.P.C
(FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE
THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN COGNIZANCE AND
-2-
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CRL.P No. 17651 of 2025
C/W CRL.P No. 16671 of 2025
HC-KAR
NON BAILABLE OFFENCE IN CRIME No.134/2025 OF HALASURU
GATE POLICE STATION.
IN CRL.P No. 16671/2025
BETWEEN:
1. BASAVARAJU D
S/O LATE DEVENDRA S
AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS
R/A NEELAGONDAHALLI MAJARE
IRAKASANDRA COLONY
KORATAGERE TALUK
KOLAKA HOBLI, IRAKASANDRA
TUMAKURU - 572 129.
2. MUNISHAMAPPA
S/O LATE OBALLAPPA
AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS
R/A D. B PURA T
SHIVANAPURA POST
SONNAPPANAHALLI
BANGALORE RURAL - 561 203.
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI ZULFI SULTANA, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
BY HALASURU GATE P S
REPRESENTED BY S P P
HIGH COURT BUILDING
BENGALURU - 560 001.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SRI M R PATIL, HCGP)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 Cr.PC (FILED
UNDER SECTION 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE
PETITIONER No.1 AND 2 ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN
-3-
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CRL.P No. 17651 of 2025
C/W CRL.P No. 16671 of 2025
HC-KAR
COGNIZABLE AND NON-BAILABLE OFFENCE IN
CR.No.134/2025.
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.17651/2025 is filed by accused
No.6 and Criminal Petition No.16671/2025 is filed by
accused Nos.4 and 5. Both petitions are filed under
Section 482 of BNS praying grant of anticipatory bail in
Crime No.134/2025 of Halasurgate Police Station
registered for offences under Sections 178, 179 and 180 of
BNS.
2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and
learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent
-State.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would
contend that the allegation against petitioners is that they
have been given Rs.2,000/- denomination currency notes
to accused Nos.1 to 3 of the same series by altering the
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HC-KAR
series number of the currency notes. Petitioners -accused
Nos.4 and 5 have been arrested for similar offence in
Crime No.214/2025 and they have been granted bail by
the Sessions Court in Criminal Misc. No.9454/2025 by
order dated 06.11.2025. The petitioners now apprehended
their arrest in the present case and therefore they are
seeking anticipatory bail. The offences alleged against the
petitioners are not punishable either with death or
imprisonment for life. The petitioners are not having any
criminal antecedents. The petitioners undertakes to appear
before the Investigating Officer and abide by any
conditions to be imposed by this Court. With this, she
prayed to allow the petition.
4. Per contra, learned High Court Government
Pleader for the respondent -State would contend that
petitioners are getting Rs.2000/- denomination currency
notes of altered series number from accused Nos.1 to 3
and they are getting it exchanged with the RBI through
accused No.7. The petitioners have committed similar
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offence and there are other cases registered against each
of them. The petitioners are required for custodial
interrogation. With this, he prayed to reject the petition.
5. Having heard learned counsels, the Court has
perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on
record.
6. On perusal of the remand application dated
25.06.2025 of accused Nos.2 and 3, the allegation against
petitioners -accused Nos.4 to 6 is that accused No.4 is
Swamiji and accused Nos.5 and 6 are his assistants and
they are getting the money from accused Nos.1 to 3 and
making the rain of currency notes. Considering the said
allegation, the petitioners were found possessing the said
currency notes of Rs.2,000/- denomination in which the
series numbers have been altered. The offences alleged
against petitioners are not punishable either with death or
imprisonment for life. Earlier petitioners were arrested in
Crime No.214/2025 and they have been granted bail by
Magistrate Court. The petitioners have undertaken to co-
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operate with the police in the investigation and abide by
any conditions to be imposed by this Court. Considering
the above aspects, petitioners have made out case for
grant of anticipatory bail with conditions.
7. In the result, the following
ORDER
i) Petitions are allowed.
ii) Petitioners -accused Nos.4 to 6 are ordered to
be released on bail in the event of their arrest
in Crime No.134/2025 of Halasurgate Police
Station subject to following conditions:
a) Petitioners -accused Nos.4 to 6 shall
voluntarily appear before the Investigating
Officer within 15 days from this day and
execute bail bond for sum of Rs.1,00,000/-
each with one surety for the like sum to the
satisfaction of Investigating Officer.
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HC-KAR
b) Petitioners -accused Nos.4 to 6 shall appear
before the Investigating Officer whenever
called for and cooperate for investigation.
c) Petitioners -accused Nos.4 to 6 shall appear
before Investigating Officer on every Sunday
between 10 a.m., to 2.p.m., for a period of 2
months or till filing of the final report
whichever is earlier.
d) Petitioners -accused Nos.4 to 6 shall not
directly or indirectly make an inducement,
threat or promise to any person acquainted
with the facts of the case so as to dissuade
him from disclosing such a facts to the court
or police officer or tamper with the evidence.
e) In case of filing the charge sheet, Petitioners
-accused Nos.4 to 6 shall appear before the
trial Court and cooperate for speedy disposal
of the case.
Sd/-
(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR)
JUDGE
DSP
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 39
