Pavan Kumar S K vs State Of Karnataka

Accused No.9 in Cr.No.198/2025 registered by Melukote Police station, Mandya District, for the offences punishable under Section 61(2)(a), 103(2), 238(a), 45(c), 55, 239 read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 seeking regular bail.

Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader on behalf of the respondent-State.

FIR in Crime No.198/2025 was registered by Melukote Police Station, Mandya for offences punishable under Section 103, read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 against Bheema @ Ramachandra and others based on the first information dated 30.11.2025 received from the brother of deceased Mahesh. During course of investigation, the petitioner was arrested on 29.12.2025 and remanded to judicial custody. After completion of the investigation, charge sheet was filed against nine persons and petitioner was arrayed as accused No.9 in the charge sheet. His bail application filed before the jurisdictional Court in Crl.Misc.No.5106/2026 was rejected on 21.04.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court.

As per the charge sheet, allegation against the petitioner is that the he has supplied the weapon to accused No.1 in order to commit the murder of Mahesh. Accused No.1 allegedly conspired with other accused persons to commit the murder of Mahesh. On 29.11.2025 accused Nos.1 and 5 to 8 allegedly had intercepted the vehicle in which deceased Mahesh was travelling with CW2 and CW3 and thereafter assaulted him with deadly weapons and committed his murder. Allegation in so far as the petitioner, who has no other criminal antecedents is that at the request of accused No.1, he has supplied weapons which were used by the assailants to commit the murder of Mahesh. It is also alleged that after the crime was committed, accused No.1 had informed over phone to the petitoner about the murder of Mahesh. Accused Nos.7 and 8 have been granted regular bail by this Court in Crl.P.Nos.7865/2026 C/w 7914/2025 dated 28.07.2026. So far as the petitioner is concerned, only allegation against him is about supplying the weapons to accused No.1, who had committed the crime along with other accused.

Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, I am of the opinion that prayer made by the petitioner for grant of regular bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following:

The Criminal Petition is allowed. The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Cr.No.198/2025 registered by Melukote Police station, Mandya District, for the offences punishable under Section 61(2)(a), 103(2), 238(a), 45(c), 55, 239 read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions: