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Karnataka High Court
Sri. Malatesha R Eligar vs State Of Karnataka on 6 February, 2026
Author: Shivashankar Amarannavar
Bench: Shivashankar Amarannavar
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NC: 2026:KHC:7003
CRL.P No. 13199 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13199 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) /
482(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
1. SRI. MALATESHA R ELIGAR
S/O R.T. ELIGAR
AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS
OCC:DRIVER
R/AT NO.781/33, SARASWATHI NAGARA
DAVANAGERE-577 004
2. SRI. RAVI @ RAVIKUMAR N
S/O NAGARAJ M.H
AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS
OCC:DRIVER
R/AT DOOR NO.514/14
RAVIKIRAN, MOUNESHWARA BADAVANE
NITTUVALLI, OPP. SHAKTHI GAS GODOWN
Digitally signed by
LAKSHMINARAYANA
DAVANAGERE-577 008
MURTHY RAJASHRI
Location: HIGH
COURT OF 3. SMT. MANJULA @ MANJULA N
KARNATAKA
W/O NAGARAJ M.H
AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS
R/AT DOOR NO.514/14
RAVIKIRAN, MOUNESHWARA BADAVANE
NITTUVALLI, OPP. SHAKTHI GAS GODOWN
DAVANAGERE-577 008
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. SIDDARAMAIAH V.B, ADVOCATE)
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NC: 2026:KHC:7003
CRL.P No. 13199 of 2025
HC-KAR
AND:
1. STATE OF KARNATAKA
THROUGH PSI
EXTENSION DAVANAGERE POLICE
DAVANAGERE, PJ EXTENSION
OLD COURT ROAD
NEAR GOVT. HIGH SCHOOL GROUND
DAVANAGERE-577 002
REPRESENTED BY
STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BUILDING
BENGALURU-560 001
2. SMT. SUNANDA S
W/O SHANMUKHAPPA
AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS
R/AT SHREE KANAKA
3RD MAIN, KTJ NAGARA
DAVANAGERE-577 002
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. MOHD. AYUB ALI, ADDL. SPP FOR R1;
SRI. B.K. MANJUNATH, ADVOCATE FOR R2)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 OF CR.P.C
(FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT
ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONERS HEREIN BY
DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT - DAVANAGERE EXTENSION P.S.
DAVANAGERE IN CR.NO.151/2025 FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE
PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 406, 465, 471, 468, 420 R/W
34 OF I.P.C PENDING ON THE FILE OF 2ND ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE
AND J.M.F.C COURT, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
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NC: 2026:KHC:7003
CRL.P No. 13199 of 2025
HC-KAR
ORAL ORDER
This petition is filed by accused Nos.1, 3 and 4 under
Section 482 of BNSS praying to grant anticipatory bail in
Crime No.151/2025 of Davanagere Extension Police
Station, registered for offences punishable under Section
406, 465, 471, 468, 420 read with 34 IPC.
2. Heard learned the counsel for the petitioners,
learned counsel for respondent No.2 and learned Addl.SPP
for respondent No.1/State.
3. Learned counsel for petitioners would contend that
the allegation against the petitioners of issuing fake
licenses pertains to the year 2016-2017. The complaint
has been filed in the year 2025. There is a delay in filing
the complaint. The offences alleged against the petitioners
are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for
life. The petitioners are ready to co-operate with the IO in
the investigation and abide by the conditions to be
imposed by this Court. There are no criminal antecedents
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HC-KAR
of the petitioners. With this he prayed to allow the
petition.
4. Learned Addl.SPP for respondent No.1/State would
contend that the petitioners have been assigned with work
of giving driving training and issuing certificate. But
without giving training, issued fake certificates and got
driving licence issued in collusion with the contract
employees of RTO and cheating the State and getting
benefit out of that. The petitioners are required for
custodial interrogation. With this he prayed to reject the
petition.
5. Learned counsel for respondent No.2 reiterated
the contentions raised by learned Additional SPP.
6. Having heard the learned counsel, the Court has
perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on
record.
7. On perusal of the averments of the complaint, the
work assigned to the driving school run by the petitioners
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of giving driving training and issuing certificate pertains to
the year 2016 -17. The allegations against the petitioners
is that they, without giving a driving training, have issued
fake certificates and got issued driving licences in collusion
with the contract employees of RTO. The case of the
prosecution is based on documents. The offences alleged
against the petitioners are not punishable either with
death or imprisonment for life. The petitioners have
undertaken to co-operate with the IO in the investigation
and abide by any conditions to be imposed by the Court.
There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners.
8. Considering the above aspects, the petitioners
have made out case for grant of anticipatory bail with
conditions. In the result, the following:
ORDER
Petition is allowed. Petitioners are ordered to be
released on bail, in the event of their arrest, in Crime
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No.151/2025 of Davanagere Extension Police Station,
subject to following conditions:
(i) Petitioners shall voluntarily appear
before the IO within 15 days from this
day and execute bail bond for a sum of
Rs.1,00,000/- each with like-sum surety
to the satisfaction of the IO.
(ii) Petitioners shall appear before the IO on
every Sunday for a period of two months
between 10.00 a.m. and 02.00 p.m. or
till filing of the final report whichever is
earlier.
(iii) Petitioners shall co-operate with the IO
in the investigation and appear before
the IO whenever called for.
(iv) Petitioners 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) In case of filing of the charge sheet, the
petitioners shall appear before the trial
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Court on all dates of hearing unless
exempted and co-operate for speedy
disposal of the case.
Sd/-
(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR)
JUDGE
DKB
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 10
