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. 1697 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS))

BETWEEN:

MR SANDEEP K, S/O SRI.KATTAPPA, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, R/AT GANGATTA VILLAGE, Di gitally HOLUR HOBLI, KOLAR 563 101.

signed by NARAYANA …PETITIONER UMA (BY SRI. SAMPATH A., ADVOCATE A/W Location:

High Court of SRI. ANKUSH S., ADVOCATE)

Karnataka AND:

STATE BY HENNUR POLICE STATION BENGALURU.

REP BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, HIGH COURT BUILDING, DR.AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BENGALURU-560 001.

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

THIS CRL.P FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS)

PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER - ACCUSED NO.2 ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN CR.NO.514/2025 DATED 20.11.2025 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT - HENNUR POLICE FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 316(2),318(4) OF BNS 2023 VIDE ANNEXURE-B PENDING ON THE FILE OF 4^TH A.C.M.M AT BENGALURU.

THIS CRL.P, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH

ORAL ORDER

1. This petition is filed by the petitioner, who is arrayed as accused No.2 in Crime No.514/2025 filed by the respondent-Police for the offences punishable under Section 316(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short BNS), seeking anticipatory bail.

Factual matrix of the case:

2. The case of the prosecution is that one Sri. Ramesh B. C. lodged a complaint on 20.11.2025 stating that Sri. Sandeep K., Branch Manager, Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd., had misappropriated the company's funds. It is alleged that the petitioner herein and another were working as Branch Managers of the Units and used to collect the amount from the customers, and they would remit the amount to the Unit. However, in recent years, the Petitioners, being branch managers after having collected the money from the Members, had not deposited the same to the Bank/Financial Institution.

Hence, this complaint.

3. Based on the complaint, the respondent, the Police, registered a case and conducted an investigation.

The investigation is in progress.

3. Heard Sri. Sampath A., and Sri. Ankush S., learned counsel for the petitioner and Smt. Anitha Girish N., learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offences and he has not committed any offences as alleged by the respondent-Police. The allegations made against the petitioner are baseless and false. At any point in time, he was not entrusted with any money either to deposit or to hand over the amount as alleged. There is no direct nexus between the petitioner and the alleged misappropriation.

However, he has been falsely implicated in this case.

5. It is further submitted that the petitioner is aged about 34 years and he is a permanent resident of Gangatta Village, Kolar District. He will abide by the conditions imposed by this Court in the event of his release on bail. Making such submissions, learned counsel for the petitioner prays to allow the petition.

6. Per Contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent - State vehemently submitted that the amount of Rs.4,96,599/- has been misappropriated by the petitioner. In fact, accused No.1 is stated to have misappropriated the amount of Rs.9,98,458/- after collecting money from 551 women from 16 Self Help Scheme Members, and it is the hard- earned money of the Members, and the same has been misappropriated by the petitioner and another. Investigation is in progress. At this stage, it is not appropriate to grant them bail as prayed for.

7. Heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and perused the averments of the complaint. It appears from the complaint that the complainant was working as a Unit Manager of the Financial Institution. He has lodged a complaint stating that the petitioner herein and another, being the Branch Managers, have misappropriated