The Supreme Court has set aside the anticipatory bail granted to Srinath Joshi Mahadev, an IPS officer and former Superintendent of Police in the Karnataka Lokayuktha Police, in a corruption-related case. A Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva directed him to surrender within three weeks, while allowing him to seek regular bail under the law.
Background
The case arose from FIR No. 28/2025, registered on June 2, 2025, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Initially, the FIR named only Ningappa Savantha, a dismissed police constable accused of posing as a Lokayuktha official to allegedly extort money from public servants.
According to the prosecution, disclosures made by Savantha led to Mahadev being implicated in the case. Two mobile phones seized from the IPS officer were reportedly found tampered with and extensively damaged. The devices had been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory, and its report was awaited when the Karnataka High Court granted anticipatory bail on September 1, 2025.
The High Court had considered the officer's appearance before the investigating officer and concluded that there was no apprehension of arrest. The Karnataka Lokayuktha Police challenged that decision before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court emphasised the seriousness of the allegations, particularly because they concerned an officer serving in an institution established to check corruption.
The Bench observed,
“As the very objective of the Lokayuktha’s establishment is to check corruption, the allegation against the respondent to the effect that he is himself a part of such corruption, warranted serious consideration.”
The Court further noted that the respondent's position in the police service was relevant while considering his request for protection from arrest.
On the investigative material, the Bench held,
“Given the material procured by the prosecution, which warranted deeper examination, the High Court was not justified in foreclosing the possibility of custodial interrogation by granting anticipatory bail to the respondent.”
The Supreme Court set aside the Karnataka High Court's order granting anticipatory bail and directed Srinath Joshi Mahadev to surrender within three weeks from October 29, 2026. It clarified that he could subsequently seek regular bail before the appropriate forum in accordance with law.
The appeal was allowed.
