IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 6^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR

CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 15332 OF 2025 (439(Cr.PC) /

483(BNSS))

BETWEEN:

SRI VINOD KUMAR

S/O VISHNUMOORTHI SHET

AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS,

R/AT "MAHAVISHNU NIVASA",

HIRANJE CROSS,

CHANTHAR VILLAGE AND POST,

BRAHMAVARA TALUK,

UDUPI DISTRICT - 576 213.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI.KEMPEGOWDA.M.K., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by

LAKSHMINARA YANA

MURTHY RAJASHRI

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

Location: HIGH

COURT OF BY MALPE POLICE STATION,

KARNATAKA

REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,

HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001.

…RESPONDENT

(BY SRI.M.R.PATIL., HCGP)

THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 CR.PC (FILED U/S 483 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN CRIME NO.96/2025 FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), 316(5), 318(4), 3(5) OF BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA (BNS), 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF PRL.SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND C.J.M AT UDUPI.

THIS CRIMINAL 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.7 under Section

483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant bail in Crime No.96/2025 of Malpe Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Sections 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), 316(5), 318(4), Section 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 66(d) of Information Technology Act, 2000.

2. Heard the learned counsel for petitioner and the learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent/State.

3. The learned counsel for petitioner would contend that, the name of the petitioner is not mentioned either in the complaint or in the FIR. As per averments of the complaint, there is no allegation of any transfer of amount by the accused No.1 to the account of the petitioner. The petitioner has been arrested on 07.09.2025, and he has been taken into police custody for five days, and has been interrogated. The major portion of the investigation is over. The petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable either death or imprisonment for life. With this, he prayed to allow the petition.

4. Per contra, the learned High Court Government Pleader would contend that, the investigation reveals that certain amounts are transferred to the account of this petitioner. The petitioner is involved in commission of the offences alleged against him. With this, he prayed to reject the petition.

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

6. The accused No.1, who was the Branch Manager in SBI, Malpe Branch, had authorised fifteen transactions and debited the account of M/s.Piramal Finance Ltd. and credited the amount to the accounts of accused Nos.2 to 6. The said transaction is stated to be based on an e-mail received at the branch. As per averments of the complaint, the beneficiaries are accused Nos.2 to 6. The name of the petitioner is not found in the complaint/FIR. The petitioner has been arrested on 07.09.2025, and he has been taken into police custody for five days, and has been interrogated. Therefore, he is not required for further custodial interrogation. The offences alleged against him are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner.

7. Considering the above aspects, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of bail with conditions.

In the result, the following:

ORDER i) The petition is allowed.

ii) The petitioner is granted bail in Crime No.96/2025 of Malpe Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Sections 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), 316(5), 318(4), Section 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 66D of Information Technologies Act, 2000, subject to following conditions.

a) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a s