L. BABU Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is filed under Sec. 438 of Cr.P.C. by the petitioners/accused No.1 and 2, seeking anticipatory bail in connection with a case registered in Crime No.12/2021 of BEML Nagar Police Station, KGF, for offence punishable under Ss. 353, 384, 506 read with Sec. 34 of IPC.

(2.) It is alleged by the prosecution that the first informant Sri. Muralidhar is working as FDA at ARTO Office in KGF. On 18/12/2020 at 5.00 p.m., while he was discharging his duty as a public servant, Accused No.2 came to the ARTO office and asked him to come out of the office stating that accused No.1 intends to meet him. He was taken behind the office premises where accused No.1 was present. The said accused demanded a sum of Rs.50,000.00 from him and when the first informant refused to pay the amount, both the accused threatened him and deterred him from discharging his duties as a public servant. It is further alleged that on 9/3/2021 at about 5.30 p.m., accused No.1 came to the ARTO office and demanded Rs.1,00,000.00 from the first informant stating that he has misappropriated the amount belonging to the Government and that he has published the same in his weekly newspaper "Pullertone". He threatened him that if Rs.1,00,000.00 is not paid, he will get him transferred.

(3.) Heard the learned counsel for petitioner, learned HCGP for respondent-State and perused the material on record.