Pavan C G v. State of Karnataka

O R D E R

(i) The criminal petition is allowed. The respondent - Police or any other police in the State of Karnataka are directed to release the petitioner in the event of his arrest in Crime No.110 of 2026 registered by Kushalanagar Police Station, Kodagu for the offences punishable under Section

120B, 381, 468, 471, 420, 406 read with Section 34 of IPC, 1860, subject to the following conditions: a) Petitioner shall appear before Investigating Officer within 15 days from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties for the likesum to the satisfaction of the investigating officer.

b) Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons.

c) Petitioner shall not tamper with prosecution witness and he shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon.

d) Petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future.

Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE

AMM, List No.: 1 Sl No.: 53

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13729 OF 2026 BETWEEN: PAVAN C G AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, S/O C. P. GANAPATHI, R/AT NANDIGUNDA VILLAGE, SOMWARPET TALUK, KODAGU DISTRICT, KARNATAKA - 571 236 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAJATH, ADVOCATE A/W SRI. AARON THOMAS, ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY KUSHALNAGAR RURAL POLICE STATION REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU - 560 001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.438 (FILED U/S.482 BNSS) CR.P.C. PRAYING TO PASS AN ORDER OF ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN THE EVENT OF PETITIONER ARREST CRIME NO.110/2026 RGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 POLICE FOR THE OFFENCE P/SU/ 120-B,381,468,471,420,406 R/W SEC.34 OF IPC PENDING BEFORE THE Ld.ADDL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT IN KUSHALNAGAR. Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER Accused No.1 in Crime No.110 of 2026 registered by Kushalanagar Police Station, Kodagu for the offences punishable under Section 120B, 381, 468, 471, 420, 406 read with Section 34 of IPC, 1860, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking anticipatory bail. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 3. FIR in Crime No.110 of 2026 was registered by Kushalanagar Police Station, Kodagu for the aforesaid offences against petitioners and others, based on the first information dated 20.06.2026 received from Glennie Smuel T Doss, Authorized Representative of company know as M/s. Bold Earth Agrifoods Pvt. Ltd. Apprehending arrest in said case, petitioner had filed Crl.Misc.No.256 of 2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court which was rejected on 28.08.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court. 4. A reading of the typed first information dated 20.06.2026 would reveal that complainant company is having its registered Office at Chennai and it is involved in the business of procurement of coffee bean, pepper and processing and trading of the same. 5. The petitioner was allegedly appointed as General Manager of the company with effect from 24.05.2017. Allegation as against the petitioner is that, during the period from 01.11.2023 to 17.12.2023, he had mismanaged the stock of the company and caused loss to the tune of nearly Rs.13 crores. From the reading of the first information, it is apparent that the allegations of misappropriation against the petitioner relates to a period about 3 years prior to the date of registration of the first information. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, from the month of December 2023, petitioner has left the services of the complainant's company. He has undertaken to co-operate with the police for the purpose of investigation. The inordinate delay of nearly 3 years in approaching the police has not been explained in the present case. The alleged offences carry maximum punishment of imprisonment for a period of 7 years. 6. Under these circumstances, I am of the opinion that the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail needs to be answered affirmatively, subject to appropriate conditions. Accordingly, following :