IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24^TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION No. 9416 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) /

482(BNSS))

BETWEEN:

1. SRI RAMAKRISHNA S/O LATE NARAYANAPPA AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS R/AT No. 104, GANESHA TEMPLE 6^TH MAIN ROAD, RUKMININAGAR NAGASANDRA BENGALURU - 560 079.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI SHIVASWAMY, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT MINISTRY OF FINANCE Digitally signed by GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LAKSHMINARAYANA BENGALURU ZONAL OFFICE MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH B M T C ‘B’ BLOCK, 3^RD FLOOR COURT OF SHANTHINAGAR, K H ROAD KARNATAKA WILSON GARDEN BENGALURU - 560 027.

BY ITS I.O., ASSISTANT DIRECTOR REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 009.

…RESPONDENT (BY SRI UNNIKRISHNAN M, ADVOCATE)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 Cr.P.C (UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER BY DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER INVESTIGATION OFFICER TO RELEASE HIM ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CASE No. ECIR/BGZO/05/2025 FOR OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 3 AND 4 OF PREVENTION OF MONEY LAUNDERING ACT, 2002 AND ETC.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR

ORAL ORDER

1. This petition is filed by accused No. 14 under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, (hereinafter referred to as `BNSS’) praying to grant anticipatory bail in ECIR/BGZO/05/2025 registered by the Directorate of Enforcement, Bengaluru Zone, Bengaluru for offence under Sections 3 and 4 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as `PMLA Act’).

2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner. Learned counsel for respondent is absent.

3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that petitioner is arraigned as accused in crime No. 56/2023 of Siddapura Police Station for offence punishable under Sections

420, 406, 409 of IPC and Section 13(1)(a) read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act (hereinafter referred to as the `PC Act’), he was arrested in the said case and subsequently, he has been granted bail by the trial Court by order dated 14.03.2024. Based on the said crime, petitioner has been arraigned as an accused in the present case for offence under Sections 3 and 4 of PMLA Act. Investigation in crime No. 56/2023 is not yet completed and charge sheet is not yet filed. Petitioner has cooperated with the investigating agency in crime No. 56/2023 of Siddapura Police Station. Petitioner is granted bail in the said crime and therefore, he is entitled for grant of anticipatory bail in the present case. 4. Having heard learned counsel for petitioner this Court has perused the FIR, complaint, statement of objections filed by learned counsel for respondent and other materials placed on record.

5. The allegation against the petitioner and other accused in crime No. 56/2023 of Siddapura Police Station is that the petitioner and other accused who were officials of Bhovi Nigama have created forged documents, opened bank accounts in the names of fake agencies and enterprises. They got transferred more than Rs.80.00 crores to the bank accounts of those fake agencies. They have rooted the said amount through the bank accounts of various people and misappropriated it by playing fraud and causing huge financial loss to Bhovi Nigama. The allegation in the present case is that the petitioner and others are laundering money got in crime No. 56/2023 of Siddapura Police Station and are alleged to have committed offence under Section 3 and 4 of PMLA Act.

6. Final report/charge sheet has not yet been filed in crime No. 56/2023 of Siddapura Police Station. It is still under investigation. What is the role of this petitioner in crime No. 56/2023 of Siddapura Police Station is not yet ascertained as charge sheet is not yet filed. Petitioner has been granted regular bail in crime No. 56/2023 o