IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3133 OF 2026 (439(Cr.PC)/483(BNSS))

BETWEEN:

1. SRI. H. R. PUTTAPPA S/O LATE RUDRAPPA, AGED ABOUT 76 YEARS, AGRICULTURIST, R/O HIREKANAVANGALA VILLAGE, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT – 577-101.

Digitally signed by

2. SMT. LALITHAMMA, PAVITHRA W/O H.R. PUTTAPPA, N AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, Location:

High R/O HIREKANAVANGALA VILLAGE, Court of AJJAMPURA TALUK, Karnataka CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT – 577 101.

…PETITIONERS (BY SRI. VIJETHA R NAIK., ADVOCATE)

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH AJJAMPURA PS REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001.

…RESPONDENT (BY SMT. ANITHA GIRISH N., HCGP)

THIS CRL.P FILED U/S.439 (FILED U/S.483 BNSS) CR.P.C BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS PETITION, ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON REGULAR BAIL IN S.C.NO.15/2026 (CRIME NO.268/2025) REGISTERED BY RESPONDENT AJJAMPURA POLICE STATION, FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 103(1), 49, 3(5) OF BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRINCIPAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, CHIKKAMAGALURU.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH

ORAL ORDER

1. The petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 3 are before this Court seeking for grant of regular bail in SC.No.15/2026 (arising out of Cr.No.268/2025) pending on the file of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chikkamagaluru for the offence under Sections 103(1), 49 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Brief facts of the case

2. The case of the prosecution is that the father of the deceased namely, Shivakumara lodged a complaint stating that his daughter Smt.Tanuja married to Ramesh in the year 2018. The couple had a son of 06 years and they were living happily. It is alleged that the petitioners and the son-in-law of the complainant was harassing his daughter Tanuja on one or the other pretext. After having learnt that his daughter was not happy in her matrimonial home, a panchayath was held by the complainant. As per the instruction of the well-wishers and elders, son-in-law and his daughter were allowed to stay separately in a farmhouse. It is further alleged that his son-in- law was in the habit of consuming alcohol every day. Therefore, he was asked to join De-Addiction Centre and accordingly, he got admitted to the said hospital. After coming from the said De-Addiction Centre, he was advised by his family members that he should not live along with his wife. Consequently, accused No.1 being the son-in-law of the complainant was not living properly with the daughter of the complainant.

3. It is further alleged that accused No.1 was not taking proper care of the daughter of the complainant. Therefore, a case has been filed against the son-in-law for maintenance. The Court has passed an order to pay Rs.4,000/- per month. Being annoyed by the said order passed by the Court, all the persons were not happy about the development. Such being the fact, accused No.1 being husband of the deceased used to visit the house of his wife and asked her to take back all the cases and he had expressed his intention to stay with her happily. The complainant learnt about the said development through his deceased daughter. Such being the fact, on 15.10.2025 around about 09.30 p.m., a person named Kumar, who is a resident of Hirekanavangala had informed the complainant that his daughter had been killed. The complainant and his family members went to the farmhouse where his daughter was residing and saw that his daughter was lying in the pool of blood in the said house.

4. The complainant further learnt that his son-in-law had killed his daughter and fled away from the spot. Based on the said information, the complainant lodged a complaint before the respondent-police. The respondent-police after conducting investigation submitted the charge sheet.

5. Heard Sri. Ravi B. Naik, learned Senior counsel