IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 9^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR

CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 16637 OF 2025

[(438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)]

BETWEEN:

MAYANK GOWDA

S/O. Y.C. MANOHAR,

AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS,

R/AT NO.5423, OLD HOUSING BOARD,

RAVINDRA NAGAR, HASSAN - 573 201.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. C.V. NAGESH, SENIOR ADVOCATE ALONG WITH

SMT. JYOTHI S.K., ADVOCATE)

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA

PUTTENAHALLI POLICE STATION,

Digitally signed by

LAKSHMINARAYANA JAYANAGAR SUB-DIVISION,

MURTHY RAJA SHRI

BENGALURU - 560 078,

Location: HIGH

COURT OF REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,

KARNATAKA

HIGH COURT OF KARANTAKA,

BENGALURU - 560 001.

…RESPONDENT

(BY SMT. WAHEEDA M.M. HCGP;

SRI. SUNIL KUMAR S., ADVOCATE FOR DEFACTO

COMPLAINANT)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF ARREST IN CRIME NO.307/2025 ON THE FILE OF XXX ADDITIONAL CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 108, 351(2) AND 352 READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF BNS, REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT PUTTENAHALLI POLICE STATION, BENGALURU.

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.1 under Section

482 of Bharatiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.307/2025 of Puttenahalli Police Station, registered for offences punishable under Sections 108, 351(2), 352 read with

3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

2. Heard learned Senior Counsel for petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent -

State who is assisted by learned counsel for defacto complainant.

3. Learned Senior Counsel for petitioner would contend that, the father of the deceased has filed a complaint and on going through the averments of the said complaint, the deceased was not interested in continuing relationship with the petitioner. The alleged conversation between the petitioner and the deceased was over phone call that to fifteen (15) days prior to the date of suicide by the deceased. Merely saying to go and die does not amounts to abetment to commit suicide. The petitioner is ready to cooperate with the Police in investigation and abide by any terms and conditions to be imposed by this Court. The offence alleged against the petitioner is not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. With these, he prayed to allow the petition.

4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent who is assisted by learned counsel for defacto complainant would contend that, the petitioner who is in love affair with the deceased has made phone call to the deceased and told her that, he is loving another girl who is rich and his mother is also cooperating for the same and he is not required and also not interested in her and asked her to go and die. The said act of the petitioner amounts to abetment. The deceased depressed by the same has committed suicide on 21.11.2025. The Investigating Officer has recorded the statement of mother and sister of the deceased. The investigation is pending. The petitioner has moved with the deceased on several occasions. The iPhone of the deceased has been seized and it is sent for FSL and report is awaited. The petitioner is required for custodial interrogation. With these, she prayed for dismissal of the petition.

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

6. The deceased who is daughter of the complainant committed suicide on 21.11.2025 at Bengaluru in the house of her maternal uncle. Both the deceased and the complainant were residents of Hassan. The petitioner and his mother - accused No.2 were also residents of Hassan. As per averments of the complaint, the petitioner has pestered the deceased to love him and forced him to have sexual