IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 461 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) /

482(BNSS))

BETWEEN:

SMT. VIJAYALAKSHMI W/O O. SHIVALINGAPPA AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS RETIRED TALUK DEVELOPMENT OFFICER DR.B.R. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, R/AT NO.1814, 3^RD CROSS

14^TH MAIN, 3^RD STAGE PRAKASH NAGAR, SRIRAMPURA BENGALURU-560 021 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NARASIMHA RAJESH K.S, ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by STATE OF KARNATAKA LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RA JASHRI BY KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA POLICE Location: HIGH COURT OF BENGALURU URBAN DIVISION KARNATAKA BENGALURU-560 001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. MANISH R, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. B.B.PATIL, ADVOCATE)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 OF CR.P.C (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF BNSS) PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HER ARREST IN CRIME NO.58/2025 REGISTERED BY THE KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA POLICE, BENGALURU URBAN DIVISION, FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS

13(1)(a) R/W SECTION 13(2) OF PC ACT 1988 (AS AMENDED IN 2018) AND SECTIONS 409, 420, 468, 471 R/W SECTION 120-B OF I.P.C PENDING BEFORE THE LEARNED XXIII ADDL CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND SPECIAL JUDGE (PC ACT) BENGALURU.

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. 8 under Section 482 of BNSS praying to grant anticipatory bail in Crime No.58/2025 registered by the Karnataka Lokayuktha Police, Bengaluru Urban Division, for offence under Section 13(1)(a) read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act (for short referred to as the `P.C. Act’) and Sections 409, 420, 468, 471 read with Section 120-B of IPC.

2. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned counsel for respondent.

3. Learned counsel for petitioner would contend that earlier there was a departmental enquiry against the petitioner and other accused and crime was registered in crime No. 419/2024 and in the said crime, after investigation, B report has been filed. Thereafter complaint filed before the Human Rights Commission has also been closed. Accused No. 1 has filed a petition seeking quashing of the FIR and it is pending before this Court. Petitioner is a woman, she is now aged 60 years, retired from service, she is bed-ridden and taking treatment. Petitioner is ready to cooperate with the Investigating Officer in the investigation and abide by any terms and conditions to be imposed by this Court. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioner. With this, he prayed to allow the petition.

4. Per contra learned counsel for respondent would contend that petitioner who was assigned the duty to scrutinize applications made by the woman self-help group, has approved the loan applications without properly scrutinizing them in respect of fake women self-help groups and misappropriated Rs.2.40 crores. There was a preliminary enquiry and sanction was also accorded under Section 17-A of P.C. Act. Petitioner is required for custodial interrogation. The offences alleged against the petitioner are provided with punishment which may extend to imprisonment for 10 years. With this he prayed to reject the petition.

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

6. The alleged misappropriation has taken place between 2020 to 2023. Petitioner was working as Taluka Development Officer in Ambedkar Development Corporation. She was assigned with the duty of scrutinizing the loan applications submitted by woman self-help groups. It is alleged that the petitioner without properly scrutinizing the applications had approved the applications in respect of 97 fake groups. All the accused together have misappropriated Rs.2.40 crores. It is admitted that earlier there was a departmental enquiry wherein petitioner has been exonerated. In the crime registe