Criminal Petition No.17239/2025 is filed by accused Nos.12 and 16, Criminal Petition No.17283/2025 is filed by accused No.11 and Criminal Petition No.17103/2025 is filed by accused No.9. All the three petitions are filed under Section 482 of BNSS seeking grant of anticipatory bail in Crime No.379/2025 of Anekal Police Station registered for offences punishable under Section 192A of Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 and Sections 316(4), 336(3), 318(4), 336(2), 340(2) read with Section 3(5) of BNS.

2. Heard learned counsels for petitioners and learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent

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3. Learned counsel for petitioners would contend that there is no role of petitioners in missing of the documents and creation of the documents. The petitioners are not custodians of the documents. Accused Nos.1,2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court. Therefore, the petitioners are also entitled for grant of anticipatory bail on the ground of parity. The petitioners are ready to co-operate with the Investigating Officer in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. With these, they prayed to allow the petitions.

4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent -State would contend that investigation is in progress. The offence alleged against the petitioners are provided with sentence of imprisonment which may extend upto 07 years. The allegation against the accused persons is helping the land grabbers by creating and forging the documents and -6- NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 HC-KAR missing of the records from the office. With these, he prayed for dismissal of the petitions.

5. Having heard learned counsels appearing for parties, the Court has perused FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record.

6. This court while granting anticipatory bail to accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 in the order dated 19.01.2026 passed in Criminal Petition No.17369/2025 and other connected matters as observed as under:

The petitioners who are working as F.D.A, S.D.A and Group D employees in Anekal Taluk Office are similarly placed to that of other accused persons who have already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court. Petitioners have undertaken to co-operate with Investigating Officer in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. Offences alleged against petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. Considering the above aspects, petitioners have made out case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions.

7. In the result, the following ORDER

i) All the three criminal petitions are allowed.

ii) Petitioners -accused Nos.9, 11, 12 and 16 are ordered to be released on bail in the event of -8- NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 HC-KAR their arrest in Crime No.379/2025 of Anekal Police Station subject to following conditions:

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d) Petitioners -accused Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16 shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence.

(SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DSP List No.: 2 Sl No.: 10 Ct.sm