Puttur, September 5, 2025: The Karnataka High Court has granted conditional bail to Shrikrishna J. Rao (21), son of BJP leader P.G. Jagannivasa Rao, in a high-profile sexual exploitation case registered at the Puttur Women’s Police Station. Rao, a resident of Bappalige, Puttur Kasaba village, was released from Mangaluru Prison on September 4, 2025, after completing legal formalities following the court’s order on September 3, 2025.
Case Background
Rao was arrested on July 5, 2025, following a complaint by a 21-year-old woman, a recent graduate from a Mangaluru-based college, who alleged that Rao sexually exploited her under a false promise of marriage, resulting in her pregnancy. The case, registered under Crime No. 49/2025, invoked Sections 64(1) (rape) and 69 (sexual intercourse by deceitful means) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The complainant and Rao, former high school classmates, were reportedly in a relationship since their school days.
High Court Judgment
In the Criminal Petition No. 11663 of 2025, heard before Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum, Rao’s counsel, Senior Advocate P.P. Hegde, argued that the relationship was consensual, supported by the complainant’s acknowledgment of an affair and frequent visits to Rao’s residence. The counsel emphasized that the investigation was complete, with Rao’s blood sample sent for forensic analysis, and highlighted his status as an engineering student in judicial custody for two months.
The Additional State Public Prosecutor, Rashmi Jadhav, countered that the relationship was not consensual, citing the complainant’s pregnancy and allegations of forcible physical relations. However, Justice Magadum noted that the complainant’s statements in the FIR suggested a consensual relationship, which required further examination during a full trial. The court found that continued judicial custody would violate Rao’s fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution, given the completion of the investigation and filing of the final report.
Bail Conditions
The court granted bail on the following terms:
- Rao must furnish a bond of ₹1,00,000 with one surety for the same amount.
- He is prohibited from tampering with prosecution witnesses.
- He must appear before the Principal Civil Judge (Junior Division) and JMFC Court, Puttur, on all hearing dates unless exempted for genuine reasons.
- He cannot leave the jurisdiction of the trial court without prior permission until the case is resolved.
Context and Implications
The case had garnered significant attention due to Rao’s father, P.G. Jagannivasa Rao, a BJP leader and member of the Puttur City Municipal Council, who was also briefly arrested for allegedly aiding his son’s evasion after the complaint was filed on June 24, 2025. The complainant gave birth to a baby boy on June 28, 2025, and DNA tests were conducted on the victim, her child, and Rao on August 20, 2025, to establish paternity, with results pending from the Forensic Science Laboratory in Bengaluru.
