Devaraju C @ Bublu v. State of Karnataka

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 5TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14758 OF 2026 BETWEEN:

DEVARAJU C @ BUBLU S/O CHANDRASHEKAR AGED 29 YEARS R/AT.2ND CROSS BHOVI COLONY, KODI CAMP TARIKERE-577228. …PETITIONER (BY SRI ANIKETH KUNIKULLAYA V, ADV., FOR SRI SACHIN B.S, ADV.) AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA BY RANGE FOREST OFFICER TARIKERE, REPRESENTED BY HIGH COURT BUILDING STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR BANGALORE - 01. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI RAHUL RAI K, HCGP)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN FOC.NO.18/2026-27 DATED 22.08.2026 REGISTERED BY RANGE FOREST OFFICER, TARIKERE PENDING ON THE FILE OF TE 1ST ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE AND J.M.F.C AT TARIKERE REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 33,50,62,84,86,87 OF KARNATAKA FOREST ACT BY ACCEPTING SURETY OR ON ANY CONDITIONS THAT THIS HONBLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO IMPOSE.

Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY ORAL ORDER

¶1Accused No.7 in FOC No.18/2026-2027 registered by Range Forest Officer, Tarikere, for the offences punishable under Sections 33, 50, 62, 84, 86 and 87 of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, pending before the Court of Civil Judge and JMFC, Tarikere, is before this Court in this petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023, seeking anticipatory bail.

¶2Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

¶3The Range Forest Officer, Tarikere, had registered FIR in FOC No.18/2026-2027, against one Krishna, S/o Papanna and others. Petitioner is arraigned as accused No.7 in the said FIR. Apprehending arrest in the case, he had filed Crl.Misc.No.575/2026 before the jurisdictional Sessions Court, which was rejected on 10.09.2026. Therefore, he is before this Court.

¶4According to the prosecution, on 21.08.2026 at about 11:00 p.m., based on credible information to the effect that

some persons were roaming suspiciously within the reserve forest area and were attempting to cut and remove sandalwood trees, the Range Forest Officer and his staff had apprehended accused Nos.1 to 6 and from their possession, articles such as saw, machete, weighing machine, plastic covers etc., were recovered and on enquiry, they informed the Range Forest Officer that they had cut and removed sandalwood trees at the instance of accused No.7. It was found that accused Nos.1 to 6 had cut and removed three sandalwood trees into 14 sandalwood billets totally weighing 59.580 kgs and the same has been recovered and seized in the present case. Accused Nos.1 to 6, who were arrested are remanded to judicial custody. Insofar as petitioner is concerned, he is arraigned as accused only based on the confession statement of accused Nos.1 to 6, who undisputedly hail from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Petitioner, who is a permanent resident of Tarikere in Chikkamagaluru, has no other criminal antecedents. He has undertaken to cooperate with the police for the purpose of investigation. Considering the aforesaid aspects of the matter, the following order:-

¶5The 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 FOC No.18/2026-2027 registered by Range Forest Officer, Tarikere, for the offences punishable under Sections 33, 50, 62, 84, 86 and 87 of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, pending before the Court of Civil Judge and JMFC, Tarikere, subject to the following conditions:

¶1The Petitioner shall appear before the 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.

¶2Petitioner shall regularly appear before the Trial Court without fail unless exempted by the Trial Court for valid reasons.

¶3Petitioner shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and he shall co-operate with the police for investigation and appear before them whenever called upon.

¶4The petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future.

Sd/- (S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE

DN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 88