AI Structured Summary
Not yet generated for this judgment
Judgment
Accused in Crime No. 156 of 2026 registered by Siddapura Police Station, Bengaluru city for offences punishable under Sections 75 and 78 of BNS, 2023 is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail.
Heard the learned counsel for the parties.
FIR in Crime No.156 of 2026 was registered by Siddapura Police Station, Bengaluru city for the aforesaid offences against the petitioner herein, based on the first information dated 20.07.2026 received from Smt. Lekshmidevi, mother of the alleged victim. Apprehending arrest in the said case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.7390/2026, which was rejected by the jurisdictional Sessions Court on 07.08.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court.
Material on record would go to show that, petitioner is working as a yoga therapist at NIMHANS Hospital in Bengaluru. It appears that, the victim girl aged 18 years was admitted in the said hospital. Allegation against the petitioner is that on 18.07.2006 he allegedly had tried to touch her inappropriately and thereafter, hugged and kissed her. In respect of the alleged incident that had taken place on 18.07.2026, first information is submitted by the mother of the alleged victim on 20.07.2026. Maximum punishment for the alleged offences is imprisonment for a period of three years. Petitioner who has no other criminal antecedents has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation.
Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, more so, the nature of allegations found in the first information, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively. Accordingly, the following:-
ORDER
The Criminal 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. 156 of 2026 is registered by Siddapura Police Station, Bengaluru city for offences punishable under Sections 75 and 78 of BNS, 2023, subject to the following conditions:-
The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer in the present case within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer/jurisdictional Court.
The petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons.
The petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witness and he shall co-operate with the Police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon.
The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future.
In view of the disposal of the criminal petition, pending interlocutory applications, if any, do no survive for consideration.