Karnataka High Court
Thummala Sarada @ Sharada (A2) vs The State Of Karnataka, By Kr Puram … on 19 May, 2026
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CRL.P No. 7268 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF MAY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND
CRIMINAL PETITION No. 7268 OF 2026 (438(Cr.PC) /
482(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
1. THUMMALA SARADA @ SHARADA (A2),
W/O. LATE THUMMALA BABU,
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS,
R/A. NARAYANAREDDY PETA,
NELLORE RURAL, GUDIPALLIPADU,
NELLUR, ANDHRA PRADESH-524314.
2. OTTURU ANUSHA @ ANUSHA (A5)
W/O. OTTURU VENKATESHWARLU,
AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS,
R/A. R. R. NAGAR, ALLIPURAM (RURAL),
ALLIPURAM, NELLORE,
ANDHRA PRADESH-524314.
...PETITIONERS
Digitally signed
by VINUTHA B (BY SRI BHADRAVADI SIDDESWARA, ADVOCATE)
S
Location: High
Court of AND:
Karnataka
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,
BY K R PURAM POLICE STATION,
BANGALORE,
REPRESENTED BY S.P.P.,
HIGH COURT PREMISES,
BANGALORE-01.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SMT. RASHMI PATEL, HCGP)
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CRL.P No. 7268 of 2026
HC-KAR
THIS CRL.P. IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 CR.P.C. (U/S
482 BNSS) CRL.P.C. PRAYING TO GRANT AN ORDER OF
ANTICIPATORY BAIL BY DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT TO
RELEASE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF THEIR
ARREST IN CR.No.147/2026, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S
3(5),80(2),85 OF BNS, 2023, UNDER SECTION 3 AND 4 OF
D.P. ACT, PENDING BEFORE THE LEARNED 29th CMM COURT,
MAYO HALL, BENGALURU CITY.
THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND
ORAL ORDER
Heard Sri Bhadravadi Siddeswara, learned counsel
appearing for the petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 5, and
Smt.Rashmi Patel, learned High Court Government Pleader
appearing for the respondent-State.
2. This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of the
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘BNSS’)
by accused Nos.2 and 5 seeking grant of anticipatory bail in
Crime No.147/2026 registered by K.R. Puram Police Station,
Bengaluru City, for the offences punishable under Sections
3(5), 80(2) and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for
short, ‘BNS’), and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition
Act, 1961 (for short, ‘D.P. Act‘).
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3. The complaint came to be filed by Smt. G. Padmavathi
against the accused persons alleging that the complainant’s
daughter died an unnatural death while undergoing treatment
in an unconscious state with severe injuries. It is alleged in the
complaint that the accused persons subjected the deceased to
harassment, mental and physical cruelty, and dowry-related
harassment, on account of which the complainant’s daughter
succumbed.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that accused
No.2 is the mother-in-law and accused No.5 is the sister-in-law
of the deceased. He further submits that the alleged incident
took place in Bengaluru, where accused No.1 and the deceased
were residing. It is contended that the petitioners are residing
at Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, and that there is no prima facie
material to indicate their involvement in the alleged offences.
5. Learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for
the respondent-State submits that the investigation is at its
initial stage and, if the petitioners are granted anticipatory bail,
they may not co-operate with the investigation.
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6. Considered the submissions made by the learned counsel
for the petitioners and the learned High Court Government
Pleader appearing for the respondent-State.
7. Prima facie, a perusal of the complaint indicates that, at
the time of the alleged incident, the deceased was residing in
Bengaluru along with accused No.1. The material on record
further indicates that the deceased was employed as a
Software Engineer in a company at Bengaluru. The complaint
does not disclose that the petitioners were residing along with
accused No.1 and the deceased. On the other hand, the
material placed on record indicates that the petitioners are
residing in Andhra Pradesh. It is not the case of prosecution
that petitioners were present in Bengaluru on the date of the
incident.
7.1 At this stage, there is no prima facie material to indicate
that the petitioners would not co-operate with the investigation.
The alleged involvement of the petitioners can be investigated
without subjecting them to custodial interrogation. However, in
order to ensure their co-operation in the investigation,
appropriate conditions can be imposed.
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8. In the above circumstances, without expressing any
opinion on the merits of the case, this Court is of the view that
the petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 5 are entitled to be enlarged
on anticipatory bail.
9. Accordingly, the following:
ORDER
(i) The Criminal Petition is allowed.
(ii) The respondent-Police are directed to release the
petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 5 in the event of their
arrest in Crime No.147/2026 registered by K.R. Puram
Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offences
punishable under Sections 3(5), 80(2) & 85 of the BNS
and Sections 3 and 4 of the D.P. Act, subject to the
following conditions:
(a) The petitioners/accused Nos.2 and 5 shall
appear before the Investigating Officer within
15 days from the date of receipt of copy of
this order and each of them shall execute a
personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/-
(Rupees One Lakh) only with two sureties for
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the likesum to the satisfaction of the
Investigating Officer.
(b) Petitioners shall regularly appear before the
Trial Court without fail unless exempted by
the Trial Court for valid reasons.
(c) Petitioners shall not tamper with the
prosecution witness and shall co-operate with
the Police for investigation and appear before
them whenever called upon.
(d) The petitioners shall not involve in any
offences in future.
Sd/-
(K. V. ARAVIND)
JUDGE
MV
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 65
