>can a bounty be returned to its owner in such a case?

**[All bounties are paid for up front and non-refundable under any circumstances.][1]** 

So that would be: no. 

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Topic starter should have done more research prior to posting and prior to adding a bounty. It probably is best to let the bounty run its course and then close it. Someone might come up with a new answer independent of the duplicate that is worth a bounty. 

I would VTC when the bounty reached its end. Even if there is an answer and if there are answers that differ from yours I would assume -merging- them might be the best option (that would transfer the bounty over to the other question I would assume). 



  [1]: https://askubuntu.com/help/bounty