- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14045 OF 2026 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12547 OF 2026 IN CRL.P No. 14045/2026: BETWEEN: MOHAMMED HUSSAIN S/O AHAMMED BAVA AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS R/AT SHIVARATRESHWARA NAGARA MYSURU CITY AND NEAR SHRIRAMA SCHOOL, BAHADDUR NAGARA KALLADKA TOWN, BANTWALA TALUK D.K. DISTRICT - 574 211. …PETITIONER (BY SRI ARUNA SYAM, LEARNED SR. COUNSEL FOR SRI THARUN THARANATH POOJARI, ADV.) AND: Digitally signed by NANDINI M S STATE OF KARNATAKA Location: HIGH BY SRIRANGAPATNA TOWN COURT OF KARNATAKA POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CR.NO.164/2026 IN FIR REGISTERED BY SRIRANGAPATNA POLICE STATION, MANDYA DISTRICT, FOR THE OFFENCE P/US/ 61(2), 204, 316(5), 318(3), 335, 336(3), 340(2), 341 AND 190 OF BNS 2023 ADDL CIVIL JUDGE (Jr.Dn.) AND JMFC COURT S.R.PATNA MANDYA. - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 IN CRL.P NO. 12547/2026: BETWEEN: NITHIN PREMANANDA MAHALE S/O LATE PREMANANDA MAHALE AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS

RESIDING AT SHIVARATHRESHWARA NAGARA, MYSURU CITY PERMANENT RESIDENT OF V.T. ROAD SONARA KERE, BATWKALA TALUK UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI P.P. HEGDE, LEARNED SR. COUNSEL FOR SRI N. SURESH, ADV.,) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SRIRANGAPATNA TOWN POLICE STATION, MANDYA DISTRICT REP BY HCGP, HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME NO.164/2026 OF SRIRANGAPATNA TOWN POLICE STATION, MANDYA DISTRICT, ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC COURT, S.R.PATNA, MANDYA DISTRICT, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 61(2), 204, 316(5), 318(3), 335, 336(3), 340(2), 341 READ WITH SECTION 190 OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused nos.1 & 2 in Crime No.164/2026 registered by Srirangapatna Police Station, Mandya District, for the offences punishable under Sections 61(2), 204, 316(5), 318(3), 335, 336(3), 340(2), 341, 190 of BNS, 2023, are before this Court in these two petitions filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the parties.

3. FIR in Crime No.164/2026 was registered by Srirangapatna Police Station, Mandya District, for the aforesaid offences against Nithin Premananda Mahale and others based on the first information dated 02.07.2026 received from Byatarayagowda.B.P., Police Officer attached to Lokayuktha Police, Mandya. In the said case, accused no.1 was arrested on 02.07.2026 and accused no.2 was arrested on 07.08.2026. Subsequently, they were remanded to judicial custody. Their bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court was rejected. Therefore, they are before this Court. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 4. Accused no.2 was working as Assistant Director of Land Records at Srirangapatna and accused no.1 was working as Data Entry Operator in the said office. According to the prosecution, accused no.2 and other accused persons named in the FIR who were working as Surveyors at Srirangapatna had engaged the services of accused no.1 and had permitted him to have access to official records of the department and also use the seal and official signatures of the officers. 5. Accused nos.3 to 10 who had approached this Court in Crl.P.Nos.11931/2026, 11599/2026, 12075/2026, 12016/2026, 11872/2026, 11685/2026, 12111/2026 & 11899/2026, have been granted regular bail by this Court.

6. It is not in dispute that petitioners herein do not have any criminal antecedents. Accused no.2 is a Government servant and accused no.1 was working in the office at his instance. Major portion of the investigation is already completed. The alleged offences are triable by the Court of Magistrate and the maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of seven years. The allegations found against the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 accused persons are all based on documentary evidence, which is in the custody of the department. Accused no.2 is now suspended from service. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioners' for grant of regular bail is required to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order: 7. The petitions are allowed. The petitioners are directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.164/2026 registered by Srirangapatna Police Station, Mandya District, for the offences punishable under Sections 61(2), 204, 316(5), 318(3), 335, 336(3), 340(2), 341, 190 of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioners shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with two sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court;

b) The petitioners shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court exempts their appearance for valid reasons; - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 c) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; d) The petitioners shall not involve in similar offences in future; e) The petitioners shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without permission of the said Court until the case registered against them is disposed off. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KK

- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14045 OF 2026 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12547 OF 2026 IN CRL.P No. 14045/2026: BETWEEN: MOHAMMED HUSSAIN S/O AHAMMED BAVA AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS R/AT SHIVARATRESHWARA NAGARA MYSURU CITY AND NEAR SHRIRAMA SCHOOL, BAHADDUR NAGARA KALLADKA TOWN, BANTWALA TALUK D.K. DISTRICT - 574 211. …PETITIONER (BY SRI ARUNA SYAM, LEARNED SR. COUNSEL FOR SRI THARUN THARANATH POOJARI, ADV.) AND: Digitally signed by NANDINI M S STATE OF KARNATAKA Location: HIGH BY SRIRANGAPATNA TOWN COURT OF KARNATAKA POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CR.NO.164/2026 IN FIR REGISTERED BY SRIRANGAPATNA POLICE STATION, MANDYA DISTRICT, FOR THE OFFENCE P/US/ 61(2), 204, 316(5), 318(3), 335, 336(3), 340(2), 341 AND 190 OF BNS 2023 ADDL CIVIL JUDGE (Jr.Dn.) AND JMFC COURT S.R.PATNA MANDYA. - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 IN CRL.P NO. 12547/2026: BETWEEN: NITHIN PREMANANDA MAHALE S/O LATE PREMANANDA MAHALE AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS

RESIDING AT SHIVARATHRESHWARA NAGARA, MYSURU CITY PERMANENT RESIDENT OF V.T. ROAD SONARA KERE, BATWKALA TALUK UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI P.P. HEGDE, LEARNED SR. COUNSEL FOR SRI N. SURESH, ADV.,) AND: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SRIRANGAPATNA TOWN POLICE STATION, MANDYA DISTRICT REP BY HCGP, HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN CRIME NO.164/2026 OF SRIRANGAPATNA TOWN POLICE STATION, MANDYA DISTRICT, ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC COURT, S.R.PATNA, MANDYA DISTRICT, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 61(2), 204, 316(5), 318(3), 335, 336(3), 340(2), 341 READ WITH SECTION 190 OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 ORAL ORDER 1. Accused nos.1 & 2 in Crime No.164/2026 registered by Srirangapatna Police Station, Mandya District, for the offences punishable under Sections 61(2), 204, 316(5), 318(3), 335, 336(3), 340(2), 341, 190 of BNS, 2023, are before this Court in these two petitions filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, seeking regular bail. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the parties.

3. FIR in Crime No.164/2026 was registered by Srirangapatna Police Station, Mandya District, for the aforesaid offences against Nithin Premananda Mahale and others based on the first information dated 02.07.2026 received from Byatarayagowda.B.P., Police Officer attached to Lokayuktha Police, Mandya. In the said case, accused no.1 was arrested on 02.07.2026 and accused no.2 was arrested on 07.08.2026. Subsequently, they were remanded to judicial custody. Their bail application filed before the jurisdictional Sessions Court was rejected. Therefore, they are before this Court. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 4. Accused no.2 was working as Assistant Director of Land Records at Srirangapatna and accused no.1 was working as Data Entry Operator in the said office. According to the prosecution, accused no.2 and other accused persons named in the FIR who were working as Surveyors at Srirangapatna had engaged the services of accused no.1 and had permitted him to have access to official records of the department and also use the seal and official signatures of the officers. 5. Accused nos.3 to 10 who had approached this Court in Crl.P.Nos.11931/2026, 11599/2026, 12075/2026, 12016/2026, 11872/2026, 11685/2026, 12111/2026 & 11899/2026, have been granted regular bail by this Court.

6. It is not in dispute that petitioners herein do not have any criminal antecedents. Accused no.2 is a Government servant and accused no.1 was working in the office at his instance. Major portion of the investigation is already completed. The alleged offences are triable by the Court of Magistrate and the maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of seven years. The allegations found against the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 accused persons are all based on documentary evidence, which is in the custody of the department. Accused no.2 is now suspended from service. Under the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioners' for grant of regular bail is required to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following order: 7. The petitions are allowed. The petitioners are directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.164/2026 registered by Srirangapatna Police Station, Mandya District, for the offences punishable under Sections 61(2), 204, 316(5), 318(3), 335, 336(3), 340(2), 341, 190 of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioners shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with two sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court;

b) The petitioners shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court exempts their appearance for valid reasons; - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:50870 CRL.P No. 14045 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 12547 of 2026 CNR: KAHC010629602026 c) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses; d) The petitioners shall not involve in similar offences in future; e) The petitioners shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without permission of the said Court until the case registered against them is disposed off. Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KK