Mr.Joshua Joseph S K, v. State of Karnataka

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13447 OF 2026 BETWEEN:

MR. JOSHUA JOSEPH S.K S/O. SHASHI KUMAR AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS R/AT NO.134, SERENITY 8TH CROSS, BDS NAGAR K. NARAYANAPURA CROSS KOTHANUR, BENGALURU - 560 043. …PETITIONER (BY SRI TIMOTHY CHARLES, ADV.) AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BAGALUR P.S, BENGALURU - 562 149 REP BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI RAHUL RAI K, HCGP)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER AND DIRECT THAT, IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST BY THE BAGALUR POLICE, BENGALURU, IN CRIME NO.241/2026 FOR THE OFFENCE ALLEGED U/S 303(2) OF THE BNS, THE PETITIONER BE RELEASED ON BAIL, SUBJECT TO SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THIS HONBLE COURT MAY DEEM FIT TO IMPOSE.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY

ORAL ORDER

¶1Accused No.2 in Crime No.241/2026 registered by Bagalur Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offence punishable under Section 303(2) of BNS, 2023, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail.

¶2Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

¶3FIR in Crime No.241/2026 was registered by Bagalur Police Station, Bengaluru, for the aforesaid offences against Karthik and others based on the first information dated

15.07.2026 received from Babu Nataraj S/o Nataraj. Apprehending arrest in the case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.15175/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court which was rejected on 25.08.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court.

¶4Perusal of the material on record would go to show that son of the first informant by name Devi Prasad, who was the friend of the petitioner herein, had met with a road traffic

accident on 08.05.2026 and in respect of the said incident, FIR was registered in Crime No.78/2026 of Chikkaballapura Police Station, Chikkaballapura, for the offences punishable under Sections 281 and 106(1) of BNS, 2023 and Section 187 of Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, based on the first information dated 09.05.2026 received from Babu Nataraj.

¶5In the present case, it is alleged that after the death of Devi Prasad, accused in the present case had gone to his house after some days and had taken away his valuables, education documents, pan card, adhar card, bank passbooks, ATM cards etc. without giving any information either to the first informant or to the owner of the house in which Devi Prasad was living. FIR in the present case has been registered on 15.07.2026, which is after a period of more than two months from the day on which Devi Prasad had met with a road traffic accident and died. Petitioner, who is a youngster having no other criminal antecedents has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter and the punishment provided for the alleged offences, I am of the opinion that his prayer for grant of

anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order:-

¶6The petition is allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.241/2026 registered by Bagalur Police Station, Bengaluru, for the offence punishable under Section 303(2) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions:

¶1The Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer.

¶2Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons.

¶3Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and he shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon.

¶4The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future.

Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE

DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 83