[Cites 5, Cited by 0]
Karnataka High Court
Srinivasalu vs State Of Karnataka on 22 January, 2026
-1-
NC: 2026:KHC:3668
CRL.A No. 2563 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF JANUARY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.2563 OF 2025 (U/S 14(A) (2))
BETWEEN:
SRINIVASALU
S/O VENKARAMANAPPA,
AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS,
R/O CHIKKEVARIPALLI VILLAGE,
SRINIVASAPURA TALUK,
KOLAR-563135. ...APPELLANT
(BY SRI PAVAN KUMAR G., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. STATE OF KARNATAKA
BY RAYALPAD P.S.
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE,
CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT
DIRECTORATE POLICE STATION,
KOLAR-563 135,
Digitally signed
by PANKAJA S REP. BY SPP
Location: HIGH HIGH COURT BUILDING,
COURT OF BANGALORE-560 001.
KARNATAKA
2. XXXXXX ...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI M. DIWAKAR MADDUR, HCGP FOR R-1;
SMT. PARINEETA S. CHANAL, ADVOCATE FOR R-2)
THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 14(A)(2)
OF SC/ST (POA) ACT, 1989 PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER
DATED 04.12.2025 PASSED BY THE ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS
JUDGE, FTSC-I (POCSO) AT KOLAR IN SPECIAL SESSIONS CASE IPC
AND SC/ST NO.14/2025 AND ETC.
-2-
NC: 2026:KHC:3668
CRL.A No. 2563 of 2025
HC-KAR
THIS APPEAL COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY,
JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
ORAL JUDGMENT
The appellant has preferred this appeal against the
order dated 04.12.2025 passed in Special Session Case
IPC and SC/ST No.14/2025 by the Additional District and
Sessions Judge, FTSC - I, (POCSO) at Kolar.
2. The brief facts leading to this appeal is that on the
basis of the complaint filed by the complainant, the
Rayalpad Police have registered the case in Crime
No.69/2025 against the accused for the commission of
offences punishable under Section 6 of Protection of
Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for brevity,
'POCSO Act') and Sections 64(2)(m), 89 and 351(2) of the
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (for brevity, 'BNS') and Sections
3(1)(r)(s), 3(1)(w)(1)(2), 3(2)(v) of SC/ST (POA) Act.
NC: 2026:KHC:3668
HC-KAR
3. The investigation officer has arrested the accused
and then accused has filed application under Section 483
of BNSS and the same came to be rejected by the Trial
Court.
4. Being aggrieved by this order, the appellant has
preferred this appeal.
5. The learned counsel for the appellant would submit
that the Trial Court has grossly erred in rejecting the
application for bail. There is no material placed by the
prosecution to demonstrate that the victim is a minor in
age. There is no allegation in the entire charge sheet that
the accused has committed an offence since the victim
belongs to SC/ST. Hence, the provision of SC/ST Act is not
applicable.
6. He would further submit that the victim girl and
accused were in love with each other and when the
relationship between them was strained, a false case has
been foisted against the appellant. The investigation is
NC: 2026:KHC:3668
HC-KAR
completed and the charge sheet is also filed. As such,
appellant is not required for custodial interrogation and is
ready to abide by the conditions that may be imposed by
this Court and on these grounds, he sought for allowing of
this appeal.
7. I have examined the materials placed before this
Court.
8. On the basis of the complaint filed by the
complainant, Rayalpad police have registered the case in
Crime No.69/2025 against the accused for commission of
offences punishable under Section 6 of POCSO Act and
Sections 64(2)(m), 89 and 351(2) of the BNS and Sections
3(1)(r)(s), 3(1)(w)(1)(2), 3(2)(v) of SC/ST (POA) Act and
after investigation, the investigation officer has submitted
the charge sheet against the accused for the offences
punishable under Section 64(2)(m), 89, 351(2) BNS and
under Section 6 of POCSO Act and Section 3(1)(r)(s), 3(1)
(w)(1)(2) of SC/ST (POA) Act.
NC: 2026:KHC:3668
HC-KAR
9. In column No.17 of the charge sheet, it is stated as
under:
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F ªÀiÁvÉæUÀ¼À£ÀÄß £ÀÄAUÀÄ UÀ¨Às ð¥ÁvÀªÁUÀÄvÀÛzÉAzÀÄ DgÉÆæ ¸ÀzÀj
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«ZÁgÀUÀ¼É®èªÀ£ÀÄß vÀ£Àß vÁ¬Ä ¸ÁQë-2 gÀªÀjUÉ w½¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ, ºÁUÀÆ
NC: 2026:KHC:3668
HC-KAR
¢£ÁAPÀB 08.07.2025 gÀAzÀÄ gÁAiÀįÁàqÀÄ ¥Éưøï oÁuÉAiÀÄ°è
zÀÆgÀÄ zÁR°¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ¸ÁQë-4 gÀªÀgÀÄ £ÉÆAzÀ ¨Á®QAiÀÄ
CfÓAiÀiÁVzÀÄÝ, DgÉÆæ £ÉÆAzÀ ¨Á®QAiÀÄ vÀAzÉ vÁ¬Ä E®èzÀ
¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄzÀ°è ªÀÄ£É §½ §AzÀÄ £ÉÆAzÀ ¨Á®Q eÉÆvÉ ¸À®ÄUɬÄAzÀ
EzÀÄÝ. PÀÈvÀå £ÀqÉzÀ ¸ÀܼÀPÉÌ PÀgÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ ºÉÆÃVgÀĪÀÅzÀ£ÀÄß
£ÉÆÃrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ¸ÁQë-6 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 7 gÀªÀgÀÄ DgÉÆæ £ÉÆAzÀ
¨Á®QAiÀÄ£ÀÄß PÀÈvÀå £ÀqÉzÀ ¸ÀܼÀPÉÌ PÀgÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ ºÉÆÃUÀÄwÛzÀÝ£ÀÄß
ºÁUÀÆ £ÉÆAzÀ ¨Á®Q ±Á¯ÉUÉ ºÉÆÃV §gÀĪÀ ¸ÀAzsÀ¨Às ðzÀ°è £ÉÆAzÀ
¨Á®Q eÉÆvÉ DgÉÆæ EzÀÝ §UÉÎ UÁæªÀÄzÀ vÉÆÃlUÀ¼À §½ DgÉÆæ
ªÀÄvÀÄÛ £ÉÆAzÀ ¨Á®Q PÀÆ° PÉ®¸ÀPÉÌ ºÉÆÃzÀ ¸ÀAzÀ¨Às ðzÀ°è DgÉÆæ
£ÉÆAzÀ ¨Á®Q eÉÆvÉ ¸À®ÄUɬÄAzÀ EzÀÝ §UÉÎ £ÉÆÃrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ.
CAPÀt-14 gÀ°è PÀAqÀ ¸ÁQë-1 gÀªÀgÀ d£Àä ¢£ÁAPÀB
08.08.2009 DVzÀÄÝ, 17 ªÀµÀð C¥Áæ¥ÀÛ ¨Á®QAiÀiÁVgÀÄvÁÛ¼É.
ºÁUÀÆ ¥Àj²µÀÖ eÁwAiÀÄ ¨sÉÆë G¥À eÁwUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀªÀgÁVgÀÄvÁÛgÉ.
DgÉÆæ UÉÆ®è eÁwUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀªÀgÁVgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. DzÀÝjAzÀ DgÉÆæ
²æäªÁ¸À®Ä ªÉÄîÌAqÀ PÀ®AUÀ¼À jÃvÁå ²PÁëºÀð
C¥ÀgÁzsÀªÉ¸ÀVgÀÄvÁÛ£É."
10. On perusal of the materials placed before the Trial
Court, the Trial Court has observed in para Nos.11 to 14,
which is as under:
"11. THIS court perused the materials placed
on record along with First Information lodged. The
first information lodged by the victim herself would
indicate that, the accused developed intimacy with
the victim-minor girl under the pretext that he is
loving her. The accused enticed her in the month of
August 2024 and committed penetrative sexual
assault with her forcibly and thereafter, did so on
multiple occasions by intimidating her. She became
NC: 2026:KHC:3668
HC-KAR
pregnant by 5 months, thereafter, the accused
administered some tablets in order to abort her, on
account of which she suffered profuse bleeding.
Having informed the same, the accused hurled
abusive words against her knowing that she is
Scheduled Caste.
12. THE victim in her statement recorded under
Section 183 of BNSS testified as excerpted. It
reads thus "£À£Àß vÀAzÉ- vÁ¬Ä ªÀÄ£ÉAiÀÄ°è E®è¢zÀÝ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄzÀ°è
£ÀªÀÄä ªÀÄ£ÉAiÀÄ »A¨sÁUÀzÀ eÁUÀzÀ°è £À£ÀߣÀÄß PÀgÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ ºÉÆÃV
£À£ÉÆßA¢UÉ ¯ÉÊAVPÀ ¸ÀA¨sÉÆÃUÀ ªÀiÁrzÀÝ. F jÃw ¨ÉÃgÉ ¨ÉÃgÉ
¢£ÀUÀ¼ÀAzÀÄ ºÉZÀÄÑ ¸À® ªÀiÁrzÁÝ£É. £À£ÀUÉ ªÀiÁ¹PÀ ªÉÄ£ÀĸÉÖçõÀ£ï
DUÀzÉà EzÀÝ PÁgÀt £Á£ÀÄ F MAzÀÄ ªÁgÀ »AzÉ ²æäªÁ¸À¤UÉ
UÀ©üðt DVgÀ§ºÀÄzÀÄ JAzÀÄ w½¹zÉÝ. CzÀPÉÌ DvÀ£ÀÄ £À£ÀUÉ
UÀ¨sÀð¥ÁvÀªÁUÀĪÀ ªÀiÁvÉæUÀ¼À£ÀÄß vÀAzÀÄ ¤Ãr EzÀ£ÀÄß ¸Éë¸ÀÄ
JAzÀÄ MvÁ۬ĹzÀÝ, £Á£ÀÄ ¨ÉÃqÀ JAzÀÄ ºÉýzÀÝgÀÆ ¸ÀºÁ
ªÀiÁvÉæAiÀÄ£ÀÄß £À£Àß ¨Á¬ÄUÉ ºÁQzÀÝ. £À£ÀUÉ D ªÀiÁvÉæ¬ÄAzÀ
ºÉaÑ£À gÀPÀÛ¸ÁæªÀªÁVzÀÝ PÁgÀt £À£Àß vÁ¬Ä £À£ÀߣÀÄß «ZÁj¹zÀÄÝ,
£Á£ÀÄ £À£Àß vÁ¬ÄUÉ J¯Áè «ZÁgÀªÀ£ÀÄß w½¹zÉÝ. ²æäªÁ¸À
FvÀ£ÀÄ £À£ÉÆßA¢UÉ MAzÀÄ ªÀµÀð¢AzÀ ¯ÉÊAVPÀ ¸ÀA¨sÉÆÃUÀ
ªÀiÁrPÉÆAqÀÄ £À£ÀUÉ MvÁÛAiÀÄ¢AzÀ UÀ¨sÀð¥ÁvÀ ªÀiÁqÀĪÀ
OµÀzÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¸Éë¸ÀĪÀAvÉ ªÀiÁrzÀÝ."
13. IT is the apprehension of the
prosecution that, there is likelihood that the accused
NC: 2026:KHC:3668
HC-KAR
may tamper with prosecution witnesses and
evidence in the event he is enlarged on bail as the
offences alleged are heinous in nature. The final
report is filed after investigation.
14. UNDER the circumstances, this Court
rely upon the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in
a case State of Bihar V/s Rajballav Prasad @
Rajballav Prasad Yadav (2017 2 SCC 178) in
which it is held that, the presumption under Section
29 of POCSO Act can also be invoked at the stage of
bail. Furthermore, this court is duty bound to ensure
that there must be scope for a fair trial enabling all
the witnesses to depose without any fear.
Undoubtedly, the final report is filed by the
Investigation Officer which would indicate prima-
facie materials secured during the course of
investigation, which would attract the presumption
under Section 29 of POCSO Act. The witnesses yet
to be examined. Thus, considering the fact that the
offences alleged against the accused are heinous in
nature, punishable with imprisonment for life or
death, the likelihood that the victim or the material
witnesses be tampered with cannot be ruled out.
Therefore, without expressing any opinion regarding
the merits of the case, this court of the considered
view that the applicant has not made out any
grounds, at this stage to admit him into the bail on
NC: 2026:KHC:3668
HC-KAR
the grounds as sought for, accordingly, the point
under consideration is answered in Negative."
11. On re-examination/re-appreciation of the materials
on record, I am of the considered opinion that the Trial
Court has properly appreciated the materials on record in
accordance with law and facts. I do not find any factual or
legal error in the impugned order. Accordingly, I proceed
to pass the following:
ORDER
The appeal is dismissed.
SD/-
(G BASAVARAJA)
JUDGE
PKS
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 29
