SWATHI Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is filed by the petitioner-accused No.3 under Sec. 439 of Cr.P.C., for granting regular bail in Crime No.59/2022 registered by Nandini Layout Police Station, Bengaluru for the offences punishable under Ss. 326-A, 448 read with Sec. 34 of IPC.

(2.) Heard the arguments of learned counsel for the petitioner and learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent-State.

(3.) The case of the prosecution is that the complainant-Devi C.M., gave her statement before the Police when she was taking treatment in the Victoria Hospital on 18/3/2022 alleging that she worked as a B.M.T.C. conductor and after giving voluntary retirement to the service, she is working as a Drama Artist. She came in contact with accused No.1 and due to her relationship with accused No.1, the wife of accused No.1 said to be left him. Therefore, accused No.1 is having enmity with the victim. Subsequently, accused No.3-the present petitioner who is also a drama artist and a competitor, wants to destroy the face of the victim to disfigure her, thereby, she will get chances in the drama. For the same, she contacted accused No.2 and later, accused Nos.1 to 3 colluded together and decided to throw acid on the face of the victim, thereby, her face would become ugly and she will loose the chance as drama artist. Therefore, accused No.2 assured to pay Rs.10,000.00 to accused No.1 but accused No.1 did not agree to throw acid. Later, accused No.2 along with accused No.1 went in a car and stopped the car little away from the house of victim on 18/3/2022 at 4.30 a.m. and accused No.1 went to the house of the victim and when she was sleeping in the hall, he thrown the cleaning acid on the face and the back of the victim and ran away. After verifying the CCTV footage, accused Nos.1 to 3 were arrested and they are in custody. The bail petition of accused No.3 is rejected. Hence, she is before this Court.