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Karnataka High Court
Sri Bharath G N vs The State Of Karnataka on 31 January, 2026
Author: Shivashankar Amarannavar
Bench: Shivashankar Amarannavar
-1-
NC: 2026:KHC:5579
CRL.P No. 16520 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 31ST DAY OF JANUARY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 16520 OF 2025
(438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
1. SRI BHARATH G N
S/O NAGARAJAGOWDA,
AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS,
R/AT GUBBIGA VILLAGE,
N.R. PURA TALUK
CHIKMAGALUR DISTRICT.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI NATARAJ DONKENNANAVAR, ADVOCATE FOR SRI.
PRUTHVI WODEYAR.,ADVOCATE)
AND:
Digitally signed by
LAKSHMINARAYANA
MURTHY RAJASHRI
Location: HIGH 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
COURT OF
KARNATAKA DEPUTY RANGE FOREST OFFICER
CHAKKA AGRAHARA BRANCH AND RANGE,
CHIKMAGALUR
HIGH COURT BUILDING
BANGALORE-01.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SMT.WAHEEDA M.M., HCGP)
-2-
NC: 2026:KHC:5579
CRL.P No. 16520 of 2025
HC-KAR
THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.P.C (U/S
482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL AND
DIRECT THE RESPONDENT ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL
IN THE EVENT OF ARREST IN WLOR 1/2025-26 (FIR
NO.44/2025) DTD 28.09.2025 REGISTERED BY RESPONDENT
FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 9, 39,
48(A), 51 OF WILD LIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972 AND
AMENDED ACT, 2022.
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 sole accused under Section
482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying
to grant anticipatory bail in WLOR No.1/2025-26 (FIR
No.44/25) registered by the Deputy Range Forest Officer,
Chikka Agrahara Branch and Range for the offences
punishable under Sections 9, 39, 48(A) and 51 of Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972 read with Amended Act, 2022.
2. Heard the learned counsel for petitioner and the
learned High Court Government Pleader for
respondent/State.
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HC-KAR
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would
contend that the petitioner has been arrayed as an
accused solely on the ground that the car in which the
dead deer was found belongs to him and is registered in
his name. He submits that the petitioner is innocent and
has not been involved in the commission of any offence.
The maximum sentence that can be imposed for the
offence alleged against him is imprisonment which may
extend to three years and fine which may extend to
Rs.1,00,000/-. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with
the Investigating Officer in investigation and abide by any
conditions to be imposed by this Court. The petitioner is
not having any criminal antecedents. With this, he prayed
for allow the petition.
4. Per contra, the learned High Court Government
Pleader for the respondent/State would contend that the
hunted deer's body was found in the car. The said car
belongs to this petitioner. The petitioner has no
explanation for dead deer found in his car. The petitioner
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is required for custodial interrogation. With this, she
prayed to reject the petition.
5. Having heard the learned counsel, the Court
has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed
on record.
6. On receipt of credible information, when the
Range Police Officer was following the vehicle, the accused
who were in the car stopped the vehicle and ran away
from the spot. The said car is having registration number
KA34MD7799 and in the said car dead deer's body was
found. It is alleged that there was hunting of the said deer
by the petitioner. The name of the petitioner has been
arrayed as an accused solely on the basis that a copy of
the insurance policy found in the car was in the name of
the petitioner. Whether the petitioner is involved in
hunting of a deer and transporting its dead body is a
matter of investigation. The offence alleged against the
petitioner is provided with sentence of imprisonment which
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HC-KAR
may extend to three years. The petitioner has undertaken
to cooperate with the Investigating Officer in the
investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed
by this Court. There are no criminal antecedents of the
petitioner.
7. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner
has made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail with
conditions.
In the result, the following:
ORDER
i) The petition is allowed.
ii) The petitioner is ordered to be release on bail in
the event of his arrest in WLOR No.1/2025-26 registered
by the Deputy Range Forest Officer, Chikka Agrahara
Branch and Range for the offences punishable under
Sections 9, 39, 48(A) and 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act,
1972 read with Amended Act, 2022 subject to following
conditions:
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a) The petitioner shall voluntarily appear
before the Investigating Officer within fifteen
days from this day and execute a bail bond for a
sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for the like
sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating
Officer.
b) The petitioner shall appear before the
Investigating Officer whenever called for and
cooperate for investigation.
c) 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.
d) The petitioner shall appear before the Trial
Court on all dates of hearing and cooperate for
speedy disposal of the case in case of filing of
the charge sheet or report/complaint against
him.
Sd/-
(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR)
JUDGE
BKM
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 23
