Smt. Sugandha B R v. The Superintendent

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 22226 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN:

¶1SMT. SUGANDHA B R W/O RAJAPPA B E AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, R/AT GUMMANAKOLLI VILLAGE, SOMWARPET TALUK, KODAGU DISTRICT-571 234

THE PETITIONER IS THE MOTHER OF THE CONVICT PRISONER NO 1124 ARUNKUMAR, SERVING LIFE SENTENCE IN OPEN PRISON, DEVANAHALLI … PETITIONER (BY SRI. PRADEEP PATIL., ADVOCATE) AND:

¶1THE SUPERINTENDENT OPEN PRISON, DEVANAHALLI, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT-562 164.

¶2THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, KODAGU DISTRICT, KODAGU-571 201.

¶3THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE PRISONS AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES SESHADRI ROAD BENGALURU-560 003. … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. PANINI A.H., AGA)

THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO DIRECTION IN THE NATURE

by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

OF MANDAMUS TO THE R-1 TO RELEASE THE CONVICT PRISONER NO1124 ARUN KUMAR @ PUSHPARAJ S/O RAJAPPA ON GENERAL PAROLE FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

ORAL ORDER

¶1The petitioner who is the mother of the detenu-Arunkumar @ Pushparaj (CTP No.1124) is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Issue a Writ Order or direction in the nature of mandamus to the Respondent No.1 to release the convict prisoner No.1124 Arunkumar @ Pushparaj S/o Rajappa on general parole for a period of 90 days.

b. Pass such other orders/directions considering the facts and circumstances of the case together as to costs in the interest of justice.

¶2The detenu had been convicted in S.C.No.99/2007 for offences under Section 302, 324, 341, 427 r/w 34 of IPC by the 7th Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru Rural District and sentenced on

21.11.2015, with the highest of the sentence being imprisonment for life. The detenu has served 3 years, 3 months, and 13 days with a remission of 1

year, 10 months, and 18 days of imprisonment as on

07.07.2026, and his conduct in jail is said to be satisfactory.

¶3The application for parole filed by the mother of the detenu came to be rejected on the ground that the wife of the detenu had submitted an objection stating that she would be subjected to harassment by the detenu if he were to be released on parole. It is in this background that learned counsel for the petitioner was called upon to obtain instructions and make his submissions.

¶4Today the wife of the detenu, Mrs.Monsi.C.K., identified by the counsel for the petitioner, is present before this Court.

¶5She submits that a settlement has been arrived at between herself and the detenu, pursuant to which they have agreed to file the necessary application for dissolution of their marriage by mutual consent. In that background, she submits that she withdraws her

objection and has no objection to the release of the detenu on parole, so as to facilitate the filing of the necessary petition for divorce by mutual consent.

¶6In that view of the matter, and taking into consideration that the detenu has undergone imprisonment for a period of 9 years, 3 months and 13 days and had earlier been granted parole for a period of 2 years and 17 days, during which period there was no complaint against the detenu, this Court is of the considered opinion that the request for parole may be considered, I pass the following: ORDER i. The Writ Petition is allowed. ii. Respondent–Superintendent, Open Prison, Devanahalli, Bangalore Rural District is directed to release the detenu-Arunkumar @ Pushparaj (CTP No.1124) on parole for a period of 90 days commencing from 01.09.2026, subject to the following conditions: a) The detenu shall mark his attendance in the jurisdictional Police Station once a week throughout the period of his parole and it

would be the responsibility of the jurisdictional Police to take them to gaol, in the event, the detenu would evade going back to the gaol, after the expiry of the period of parole. b) Respondents shall stipulate strict conditions as are usually stipulated to ensure return of the detenu to the gaol and that he shall not commit any other offence during the period of parole. iii. The Registry is directed to communicate the order to the prison authority for its immediate execution. iv. The petitioner and family members of the detenu is directed to comply with all other formalities before the date fixed for release.

Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE

SR List No.: 2 Sl No.: 24