Minot Khongkai vs State Of Karnataka

M.G.S. Kamal, J

The petitioner, who is accused No.4 in Crime No.384/2025 registered at HSR Layout Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2008, Section 84B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 318(4), 319, 61(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is before this Court seeking grant of bail. The charge sheet has been filed. Accused No.4 - petitioner has been in custody since 07.10.2025.

Learned counsel for accused No.4 - petitioner submits that accused Nos.2, 3, 6 to 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 have been granted regular and anticipatory bail respectively.

The allegation against the present petitioner, as found at page 88, reads as under:

Learned counsel for accused No.4 - petitioner submits that except the allegation that the petitioner and others were carrying on the suspected business, no incriminating material has been brought on record. He further submits that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents. Since accused No.4 - petitioner is similarly situated to the other accused persons who have already been granted bail, accused No.4 - petitioner is also entitled to be enlarged on bail.

Learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent-State does not dispute that accused No.4 - petitioner has no criminal antecedents. It is also not disputed that, though the charge sheet has been filed, no material has been brought on record to indicate that the Company being run by accused Nos.22 and 23, in which the petitioner herein was employed, was in fact involved in any crime. Except the allegation of suspected operation, no other material is available on record.

Considering the allegations made against accused No.4 - petitioner and in view of the fact that bail has already been granted to the other accused, this Court deems it appropriate to grant bail to accused No.4 - petitioner.

Accordingly, I pass the following:

ORDER

(i) Criminal Petition is allowed.

(ii) Accused No.4 - petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail in Crime No.384/2025 for the offences punishable under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2008, Section 84B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 318(4), 319, 61(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, subject to the following conditions:

a) Accused No.4 - petitioner shall execute personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two local sureties for the likesum, to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court;

b) Accused No.4 - petitioner shall appear regularly on all the dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless the Trial Court exempts his appearance for valid reasons;

c) Accused No.4 - petitioner shall not directly or indirectly threaten or tamper with the prosecution witnesses;

d) Accused No.4 - petitioner shall not involve in similar offences in future;

e) Accused No.4 - petitioner shall not leave the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without permission of the said Court until the case registered against him is disposed off;