Bengaluru: In a bizarre case where cricket rivalry spilled into real-world violence, Karnataka high court recently granted regular bail to two men who allegedly assaulted a lodge owner in Tumakuru after mistaking his business acronym for a tribute to Chennai Super Kings (CSK).Justice S Vishwajith Shetty allowed the bail petition filed by Swamy, 38, and Suprith, 23, after nearly two months in judicial custody.According to police records, the incident took place on June 1 within Tilak Park police limits in Tumakuru, shortly after an Indian Premier League match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans.The accused allegedly confronted lodge proprietor Ameen Ahamad CS, questioning why he had named his business ‘CSK Comforts’. The men allegedly mistook the three-letter signage for a reference to Chennai Super Kings, a fierce rival of RCB. Despite Ahamad clarifying that CSK was merely an abbreviation for his business and had no connection to the cricket team, the duo allegedly abused and assaulted him before damaging lodge property.Ahamad subsequently filed a complaint, following which police registered an FIR under several provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act. Both men were remanded in custody the same day.The accused later approached a local court for bail, but their plea was rejected. They then moved the high court under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, citing the progress of investigation.The HC noted that Ahamad had suffered simple injuries, a major portion of the investigation was complete, and neither accused had prior criminal antecedents. It concluded that further pre-trial detention was unnecessary and ordered their release.The court directed them to execute a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each with a matching surety, cooperate with the trial and appear regularly. They were also barred from tampering with prosecution witnesses, committing similar offences or leaving the trial court’s jurisdiction without prior permission.
