IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 10^TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR

CRIMINAL PETITION No. 14783 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) /

482(BNSS))

BETWEEN:

1. RASHMI JHA @ RASHMI KUMARI

C/O DIWAKAR JHA

AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS

R/A WARD No.16

GARHPURA, GARHPURA

BEGUSARAI, BIHAR- 848 204.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI HANUMANTHARAYA C H, ADVOCATE)

Digitally signed by

LAKSHMINARAY ANA AND:

MURTHY RAJASHRI

Locatio n: HIGH

COURT OF 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA

KARNA TAKA

BY YESHWANTHAPURA P.S.

REPRESENTED BY STATE

PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

KARNATAKA HIGH COURT BUILDING

BANGALORE – 560 001.

…RESPONDENT

(BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP

SRI ANKUR TRIPATHI, ADVOCATE

FOR DEFACTO COMPLAINANT)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 Cr.PC (FILED

UNDER SECTION 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT HER ANTICIPATORY BAIL WITH A DIRECTION TO THE SHO OF THE YESHWANTHPURA POLICE STATION, BENGALURU, TO RELEASE HER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HER ARREST IN

CR.No.305/2025 REGISTERED ON 11.09.2025 FOR OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 80(2) R/W 3(5) OF BNS, 2023.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR

ORAL ORDER

This petition is filed by accused No.3 under Section

482 of BNSS to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.305/2025 of Yeswanthapura Police Station registered for offences under Section 80(2) read with 3(5) of BNS.

2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent/State who is assisted by counsel for defacto complainant.

3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that the deceased after some days of marriage came to Bangalore and resided in a rented premises along with her husband. The petitioner who is working as a PSI (Probationer) is working in Mustak Police Station which is a different place than the native village of accused No.1. The petitioner is the younger sister of accused No.1. The averments of complaint are that giving gift items at the time of marriage is a customary and it cannot be termed as a dowry. In the allegation of dowry demand and harassment against accused No.2 / mother-in-law, B report has been filed against her. There is no allegation of any dowry demand by this petitioner. The accused No.2, who is also similarly placed to that of accused No.2, has been granted anticipatory bail. The deceased was suffering from some mental illness and she was getting treatment for the same. The same has been stated by one Shubham, at the time of giving statement while conducting inquest mahazar. The deceased has stated before the said Shubham that her husband is not attending her phone calls and she was upset with the same and on the same night itself she has committed suicide. The investigation in so far accused No.1 is concerned is completed and charge sheet has been filed against him. So far as accused No.2 is concerned, B report has been filed. Insofar as the petitioner is concerned the investigation is still in progress.

The petitioner is ready to co-operate with the police in the investigation and abide by any terms and conditions to be imposed by this Court. With this he prayed to allow the petition.

4. Per contra, learned HCGP, who is assisted by learned counsel for defacto complainant would contend that in the further statement, the complainant stated the harassment and demand of dowry by this petitioner. The investigation is still in progress. The petitioner is working in police Department. If she is granted anticipatory bail, there are chances of she hampering further investigation and tampering the prosecution witnesses. With this, he prayed to reject the petition.

5. Having heard the learned counsels the Court has perused the FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record.

6. The marriage of the deceased with accused No.1 has taken place on 11.12.2024. Accused No.1 who is husband of deceased, was working in Railway at Bangalore. After some days of marriage, the deceased came to Bangalore and resided in a rented premises with her husban