Karnataka High Court
Smt. Anitha B.N vs State Of Karnataka on 21 April, 2026
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NC: 2026:KHC:21540
CRL.P No. 3190 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF APRIL, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3190 OF 2026
(438(Cr.PC)/482(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
SMT. ANITHA B.N,
W/O BYRAPPA,
AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS,
RESIDING AT NO.295,
MANJUNATH NILAYA,
SARASWATHINAGAR MAIN ROAD,
VIJAYANAGARA,
BENGALURU - 560 040.
Digitally
signed by ...PETITIONER
PAVITHRA
N (BY SRI. SAMUEL S DANDIN.,ADVOCATE)
Location:
High AND:
Court of
Karnataka
STATE OF KARNATAKA
THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER,
HIGH GROUNDS POLICE STATION,
BENGALURU - 560 001.
...RESPONDENT
(BY Ms. ASMA KOUSER., ADDL. SPP)
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NC: 2026:KHC:21540
CRL.P No. 3190 of 2026
HC-KAR
THIS CRL.P FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS)
BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING TO GRANT
ANTICIPATORY BAIL AND DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE
HIGH GROUND POLICE STATION TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER
IN THE EVENT OF HER ARREST IN THEIR CR.NO.19/2026
PENDING ON THE FILE OF I ACMM BENGALURU, FOR THE
ALLEGED OFFENCE P/U/S 420, 468 OF IPC.
THIS PETITION, 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 seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.19/2026 filed by the respondent-Police for the offences punishable under Section 420 and 468 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short IPC).
Factual matrix of the case:
2. The case of the prosecution is that one Sri.Mahaling Kallappa Adin had lodged a complaint before the jurisdictional-Magistrate. The jurisdictional-Magistrate -3- NC: 2026:KHC:21540 CRL.P No. 3190 of 2026 HC-KAR referred the case to the concerned Police Station to conduct investigation. The concerned Police have registered a zero FIR in Crime No.1/2025 and the same has been transferred to the respondent-Police. The facts of the case has been unfolded in such a way that the petitioner through one Veeresh had induced the complainant that she had several contacts at Karnataka Public Service Commission (for short 'KPSC') and also the petitioner had promised him to get Second Division Assistant job in KPSC and demanded a sum of Rs.15,00,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Lakhs). Accordingly, on 15.07.2022, amount of Rs.15,00,000/- was paid in presence of one Jagadeesh Dasharatha Goti and Appasab Jamadar. When the KPSC published the selection list, the name of the complainant was not found in the said list. Then, the complainant contacted the petitioner and asked them to refund the amount. However, the petitioner herein had threatened the complainant through accused No.2. The complainant being aggrieved by the act of the present -4- NC: 2026:KHC:21540 CRL.P No. 3190 of 2026 HC-KAR petitioner had approached the Court and filed a private complaint. Later, it was transferred to the respondent- Police herein.
3. Heard Sri.Samuel S Dandin, learned counsel for the petitioner and Smt. Asma Kouser, learned Additional Special Public Prosecutor for respondent.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offences and she has been falsely implicated in this case. There is no proof regarding payment made to the petitioner. In fact, there was a loan transaction between the complainant and the petitioner. The petitioner herein had filed a complaint against the complainant herein on the same issue. The FIR came to be registered against the complainant herein. The said complaint and FIR has been produced as Annexure-D. The petitioner is a lady and she is aged about 44 years. She is a permanent resident of Vijayanagar, Bangalore. She will abide the conditions to be imposed by this Court -5- NC: 2026:KHC:21540 CRL.P No. 3190 of 2026 HC-KAR in the event of her release on bail. Making such submission learned counsel for the petitioner prays to allow the petition.
5. Per Contra, learned Additional Special Public Prosecutor for respondent - State of Karnataka vehemently submitted that the petitioner is a habitual offender. Two more cases are pending against her and those cases are of similar in nature. The petitioner had issued color xerox cheque to the complainant and made him to believe that it is a original cheque and it is also stated that the amount would be repaid at the earliest. However, the petitioner neither get him suitable job nor repay the amount.
6. It is further submitted that the petitioner had clear intention to deceive the complainant. Therefore, it is not appropriate to grant bail to the petitioner. Making such submission learned Additional Special Public Prosecutor for respondent - State prays to reject the petition. -6-
NC: 2026:KHC:21540 CRL.P No. 3190 of 2026 HC-KAR
7. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties and perused the averments of the complaint, it appears from the record that the complainant being aspirant of suitable job, had approached the petitioner herein. Further, the petitioner had assured that she would get him suitable job in KPSC and received amount of Rs.15,00,000/- from him. However, she has not kept her promise. It is further alleged that she has threatened the complainant by sending accused No.2.
8. It is the submission of learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner had lodged a complaint against the complainant stating that cheque has been misused by the complainant and FIR has been registered against the complainant in Crime No.107/2023 of Vidhana Soudha Police Station. Considering the documents made available by the learned counsel for the petitioner, it is appropriate to grant the relief as prayed for.
9. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: -7-
NC: 2026:KHC:21540 CRL.P No. 3190 of 2026 HC-KAR ORDER i. This Criminal Petition is allowed. ii. The petitioner is ordered to be enlarged on bail in the event of her arrest in Crime No.19/2026 filed by the respondent-Police for the offences punishable under Sections 420 and 468 of Indian Penal Code, 1860, on executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with one (01) surety for the like sum of the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer.
iii. The petitioner shall appear before the jurisdictional Police within a period of one (01) month from the day of receiving this order, to execute personal bond and also to furnish surety. -8-
NC: 2026:KHC:21540 CRL.P No. 3190 of 2026 HC-KAR iv. The petitioner shall co-operate with investigation till filing of the charge sheet.
v. The petitioner shall not threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses nor hamper with the proceedings of the Court.
vi. The petitioner shall appear before the Trial Court on all hearing dates, without fail.
vii. The petitioner shall not commit any criminal cases till disposal of the case. In case, the petitioner violates any of the bail conditions mentioned above, liberty is reserved to the prosecution to file necessary application for cancellation of bail.
Sd/-
(S RACHAIAH) JUDGE NM