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Karnataka High Court
Veerabhadrappa vs The State By on 21 February, 2026
Author: Shivashankar Amarannavar
Bench: Shivashankar Amarannavar
-1-
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
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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
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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."
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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
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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
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Court and cooperate for speedy disposal of the
case.
Sd/-
(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR)
JUDGE
LRS
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 66
