The Karnataka High Court has granted anticipatory bail to an MLA’s daughter accused of abusing and slapping a woman Sub-Inspector on temple bandobast duty in Mandya district, noting the maximum sentence of two years, her public apology, her lack of criminal antecedents and her undertaking to cooperate with the investigation.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Aishwarya alias Ishwarya, the daughter of an MLA, in a case registered after she allegedly abused and slapped a woman Police Sub-Inspector who was on bandobast duty at a temple in Mandya district [Smt. Aishwarya @ Ishwarya v. State of Karnataka].
Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty passed the order on September 22, 2026 in Criminal Petition No. 13991 of 2026, filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). The allegations are untested, and the order is only on anticipatory bail.
The case
Crime No. 127/2026 was registered by the Kyathanahalli Police Station, Mandya district, under Sections 132, 115(2), 352 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), on information given on August 12, 2026 by a Police Sub-Inspector of the Women Police Station, Mandya. According to the first information, she was on bandobast duty at the Marramma Temple at Arathi Ukkada at about 4.30 pm when the petitioner and two others came for darshan. When one of them tried to enter the Garbagudi, the sanctum, and the officer tried to stop him, the petitioner allegedly abused her and slapped her on the cheek.
The Sessions Court rejected the petitioner’s plea for anticipatory bail in Crl. Misc. No. 5303/2026 on August 31, 2026, and she then approached the High Court.
What the parties argued
Senior Advocate Sandesh J. Chouta, for the petitioner, submitted that the incident took place in the spur of the moment and that the assault was not intentional. He said that the petitioner and her father had publicly tendered an unconditional apology, that the maximum punishment for the offences is two years’ imprisonment, that she is a married woman with no criminal antecedents, and that she is willing to cooperate with the investigation. High Court Government Pleader Channappa Erapp opposed the plea, saying the investigation was in progress.
The Court’s reasoning
The Court noted from the record that the petitioner is the daughter of an MLA, that her husband is a serving Deputy Superintendent of Police, and that she is a married woman with minor children. It noted that the material produced prima facie showed that she and her father had publicly and unconditionally apologised for the incident, that the maximum punishment is two years’ imprisonment, that she has no other criminal antecedents, and that she has undertaken to cooperate with the investigation. On these aspects, it held that the plea for anticipatory bail should be allowed.
The conditions
The Court directed that the petitioner be released in the event of her arrest, on conditions. She must appear before the Investigating Officer within 15 days of receiving the order and execute a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties for the same sum. She must appear regularly before the trial court unless exempted, must not tamper with prosecution witnesses, must cooperate with the investigation and appear whenever called, and must not be involved in similar offences.
Why it matters
The order applies the usual factors for anticipatory bail, the maximum sentence, the absence of antecedents and the willingness to cooperate, to an allegation of assault on a police officer on duty, and it also gives weight to the public apology. It does not decide whether the offences are made out.
The investigation continues, and the petitioner remains bound by the conditions set by the Court. The facts of the incident will be tested in the course of the case.
Case Title: Smt. Aishwarya @ Ishwarya v. State of Karnataka [Criminal Petition No. 13991 of 2026]
Bench: Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty, Karnataka High Court
Date of Order: September 22, 2026
Appearances: Senior Advocate Sandesh J. Chouta, for Advocate Raghavendra K.S., appeared for the petitioner, and High Court Government Pleader Channappa Erapp appeared for the State.