[Cites 6, Cited by 0]
Karnataka High Court
Dr. Somesh Solomon vs The State Of Karnataka on 26 February, 2026
Author: Shivashankar Amarannavar
Bench: Shivashankar Amarannavar
-1-
NC: 2026:KHC:12088
CRL.P No. 214 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 26TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 214 OF 2026
[(438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)]
BETWEEN:
DR. SOMESH SOLOMON
S/O SOLOMON E.K.,
AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS,
R/AT 13-34/2(1),
T3 SUGANDHI APARTMENT NO. 001,
NEAR PERLIYA NURSING HOME,
B MOODA VILLAGE,
JODUMARGA POST,
BANTWAL D.K - 574 219.
...PETITIONER
(BY SMT. POOJA KATTIMANI, ADVOCATE FOR
SRI. DINESHKUMAR RAO K., ADVOCATE)
AND:
Digitally signed by
LAKSHMINARAYANA THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
MURTHY RAJASHRI
BY MANGALORE WOMEN POLICE STATION,
Location: HIGH
COURT OF MANGALORE - 575 001,
KARNATAKA (REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
HIGH COURT BUILDING,
BENGALURU - 560 0010).
...RESPONDENT
(BY SRI. HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 (FILED
U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE
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CRL.P No. 214 of 2026
HC-KAR
PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HER
ARREST IN CRIME NO.84/2025 OF MANGALORE WOMEN
POLICE STATION, MANGALORE [REGISTERED FOR THE
OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 143(2), 143(4),
61(2) READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF BNS, 2023 AND UNDER
SECTION 81 OF JUVENILE JUSTICE (CARE AND PROTECTION
OF CHILDREN) ACT, 2015] PENDING ON THE FILE OF III
JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS COURT, MANGALORE.
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 Bharatiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying
to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.84/2025 of
Mangalore Women Police Station registered for offences
punishable under Sections 143(2), 143(4), 61(2) read with
Section 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and under
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Section 81 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Act, 2015.
2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and
learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent -
State.
3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend
that, the mobile phone of accused No.2 has been seized
earlier in Crime No.77/2025 and it contained eighty three
(83) audio clips. It is alleged that the said audio clips
contained conversations of this petitioner/accused No.1
with accused No.2 with regard to scanning, details of
persons who are taking the child and money transactions.
Based on the said audio clippings, a case has been
registered against this petitioner and others. The
petitioner is ready to cooperate with the Investigating
Officer in investigation. The petitioner earlier had been
arrested in Crime No.77/2025 and he has been granted
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bail. The petitioner is a doctor and he is having separate
clinic. With these, she prayed to allow the petition.
4. Per contra, learned High Court Government
Pleader for respondent would contend that, the
investigation is in progress and the petitioner is required
for custodial interrogation to ascertain what is his role in
the children trafficking. With these, he prayed for
dismissal of the petition.
5. Having heard the learned counsels appearing
for parties, the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and
other materials placed on record.
6. Earlier, the petitioner has been arrayed as
accused No.6 in Crime No.77/2025 of Uppinangadi Police
Station. In the said crime, accused No.7's mobile phone
has been seized and it contains eighty three (83) audio
clips. In the said audio clips, there are conversations
between this petitioner and accused No.7 with regard to
the scanning and details of persons who are taking the
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child, money transactions etc. The said accused No.7 in
Crime No.77/2025 has been arrayed as accused No.2 in
the present crime. What is the exact role of this petitioner
in this case has to be ascertained in the investigation. The
offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable
either with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioner
underwent custodial interrogation in Crime No.77/2025
and in that case now he has been granted bail. The
petitioner has undertaken to cooperate with the
Investigating Officer in investigation and abide by any
conditions to be imposed by this Court.
7. Considering all the above aspects, the petitioner
has made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with
conditions. In the result, the following;
ORDER
The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is
granted anticipatory bail in Crime No.84/2025 of
Mangalore Women Police Station and is ordered to be
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released on bail in the event of his arrest, subject to
following conditions:
i) The petitioner shall voluntarily appear
before the Investigating Officer within 15
days from this day and execute bail bond
for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One
Lakh only) with one surety for the
like-sum to the satisfaction of the
Investigating Officer.
ii) The petitioner shall cooperate with the
Investigating officer in investigation.
iii) The petitioner shall appear before the
Investigating Officer whenever called for.
iv) The petitioner 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 him from disclosing
such facts to the Court or to any Police
Officer or tamper with the evidence.
v) The petitioner shall appear before the
Investigating Officer on every Sunday
between 10:00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. for a
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period of one month or till the filing of the
final report, whichever is earlier.
Sd/-
(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR)
JUDGE
KLV
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 40
