AKSHATHA VEERESH v. STATE OF KARNATAKA

Digitally signed by NANDINI M S Location: High Court of Karnataka

2. VEERESH S/O LATE SANNAMAADAPPA, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS,

3. SMT. SOUBHAGYA W/O VEERESH, AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS, ALL THE ABOVE PETITIONERS NO.1, 3 & 4 R/AT NO.9, ABISHTA 6TH BLOCK, MADHUVANA LAYOUT, SRIRAMPURA 2ND STAGE, KUVEMPUNAGAR, MYSORE-570 023.

4. MANASA G P D/O GM PRAKASH, - 2 - NC: 2026:KHC:2267 CRL.P No. 114 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 494 of 2026 …PETITIONERS HC-KAR AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, R/AT DOOR NO.21, 6TH BLOCK, JSS NAGAR, SIDDHARTHNAGAR, MYSORE-570 011. (BY SRI. SAMEER SHARMA, ADVOCATE) AND:

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY MALLESHWARAM POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001.

2. SANJANA K.S. D/O SHANMUGAPPA, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, R/AT: NO.31, SHOVA NILAYA, VIDYANAGARA, DASARAHALLI, BENGALURU CITY-560 057. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. SIDDHARTH SUMAN, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.P.C (U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR IN CRIME NO.209/2025 REGISTER BY THE MALLESHWARAM POLICE STATION, MALLESHWARAM SUB-DIVISION, PENDING ON THE FILE OF XXXII ADDL. CJM COURT, BENGALURU CITY, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 69, 351(2), 351(3), 352, 3(5) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA (BNS), 2023 (ANNEXURE-A). - 3 - NC: 2026:KHC:2267 CRL.P No. 114 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 494 of 2026 HC-KAR IN CRL.P NO. 494/2026 BETWEEN: SRI. VEDIK VEERESH AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, S/O VEERESH S., R/AT NO.09, ABHISTA, 6TH BLOCK, MADHUVANA LAYOUT, SRIRAMPURA, 2ND STAGE, KUVEMPUNAGAR, MYSURU-570 023. (BY SRI. SAMEER SHARMA, ADVOCATE) AND:

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY MALLESHWARAM P.S., REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001.

2. SANJANA K.S. AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, D/O SHANMUGAPPA, R/AT NO.31, SHOVA NILAYA, VIDYANAGARA, DASARAHALLI, BENGALURU-560 057. ...PETITIONER ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. SIDDHARTH SUMAN, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.P.C (U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR IN CRIME NO.209/2025 REGISTERED AGAINST THE PETITIONER FOR THE OFFENCES - 4 - NC: 2026:KHC:2267 CRL.P No. 114 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 494 of 2026 HC-KAR UNDER SECTION 69, 351(2), 351(3), 352 AND 3(5) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023, PENDING BEFORE THE XXXII ADDL. CJM COURT, BENGALURU CITY. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The Learned counsel Sri Siddharth Suman enters appearance for respondent No.2/complainant.

2. The registry to print the name of learned counsel Sri Sameer Sharma as appearing for the petitioners in place of Sri Udaya Prakash M.

3. These petitions arise out of a crime that is registered in Crime No.209/2025. On registration of the crime, accused No.1 is said to have been taken into custody and still remains in custody. The parties to the lis have now settled the dispute amongst themselves and by drawing certain conditions of such settlement have filed a joint affidavit. - 5 - NC: 2026:KHC:2267 CRL.P No. 114 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 494 of 2026 HC-KAR

4. Joint affidavit reads as follows: “AFFIDAVIT We, Akshatha Veeresh, aged about 26 Years, C/O S Veeresh, residing at: #9, 6th Block, 6th Cross, Madhuvana Layout, Srirampura, 2nd Stage, Mysore 570023 Veeresh, Late Sannamaadappa, residing at: #9, 6th Block, 6th Cross, Madhuvana Layout, Srirampura, 2nd Stage, Mysore 570023 Years, S/O 60 Soubhagya, about 54 Years, W/O Veeresh, residing at No.9, Abishta, 6th Block, Madhuvana Layout, Srirampura 2nd Stage, Kuvempunagar, Mysore-570023 Manasa G.P., aged About 30 Years, D/O Gm Prakash, residing at No.21, 6th Block, Jss Nagar, Siddharthnagar, Mysore-570011 Sanjana K.S., aged about 28 years, D/o Shanmugappa, resisting at No. 31, Shova Nilaya, Vidyanagara, Dasara halli, Bengaluru 560 057 Now at Bengaluru do solemnly affirm and swear on oath as follows:

1. We state that based on the complaint lodged by the Respondent No.2 in Crime No. 209/2025 before the Respondent No.1 police, an FIR came to be registered on 14.11.2025 for offences punishable U/s 69, 351(2), 351(3), 352 of BNS which is now pending before the Hon'ble 32nd Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mayo Hall at Bengaluru. The Accused No.1 / Petitioner in Crl.P. No. 494/2026 was arrested on 04.01.2026 and since then is in police custody. - 6 - NC: 2026:KHC:2267 CRL.P No. 114 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 494 of 2026 HC-KAR

2. We state that upon the intervention and counselling by the well-wishers, an am cable settlement is arrived at between the parties and in terms thereof, the Respondent No.2 has agreed to withdraw all the allegations made against the Petitioners and thereby the Respondent No.2 has no objection for these Criminal Petition in Crl.P. No. 114/2026 and Crl.P. No. 494/2026 to be allowed and for the FIR in Crime No. 209/2025 dated 14.11.2025 for offences punishable U/s 69, 351(2), 351(3), 352 of BNS which is now pending before the Hon'ble 32nd Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mayo Hall at Bengaluru be quashed.

3. We state that the Petitioners and Respondent No.2 withdraw all other allegations made against each other before any forum or court and they further undertake that either of them will not file any case against the each other or their family or relatives. Further that the Petitioners and Respondent No.2 state that there are no claims either present, past or future against each other. photographs,

4. We state that the Accused No. 1 and the Petitioners in Crl.P. No. 114/2026 have deleted and destroyed videos, WhatsApp conversations, other conversations, display pictures, profile pictures, status, SMS's, emails, in respect of each other, which are stored either in the mobile phones, computers, pen-drives, storage devices, social media websites or any other electronic media, they further undertake that none of the photos or videos are stored in any device for any purpose whatsoever and further has undertaken that the same will not be leaked, published or circulated by any means be it electronic or otherwise and they indemnify each other against such use or publication or circulation of such sensitive information and data. Further, the Petitioners have also undertaken to - 7 - NC: 2026:KHC:2267 CRL.P No. 114 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 494 of 2026 HC-KAR indemnify the Respondent No.2 for any loss or injury caused in relation to the aforesaid data.

5. We state that the Petitioner in C I.P. No. 494/2026 Vedik Veeresh, along with the other Petitioners who are members of his family, have tendered their unconditional apology for any harassment caused to intentional or the Respondent No.2, whether otherwise. The Petitioners further acknowledge that the Shadi.com application, which was intended to be used for a genuine matrimonial purpose, was unfortunately misused, pursuant to which certain videos had surfaced. It is submitted that the said videos have since been deleted and that all related data and history have been permanently erased.

6. We state that considering the future prospects of both the Petitioners and Respondent No.2, the latter, who is the complainant herein, has agreed to bring the entire dispute to an end. It is further submitted that Respondent No.2's mental health has been adversely affected as a result of the ordeal she has undergone, and particularly in the aftermath of the arrest of the petitioner-cum-Accused No.1. Having regard to the emotional distress faced by Respondent No.2, the likelihood of the petitioner- cum-Accused No.1 suffering serious prejudice including loss of employment, and with a view to bringing quietus to the dispute and enabling both sides to move forward in life, Respondent No.2 has voluntarily consented to the present compromise and has expressed that she does not prosecute the complaint any further.

7. We state that we will ensure that the family members, relatives, friends and all/any other the persons will not interfere with the each other's lives or contact each other and will not circulate or publish any information relating to the each other in any manner, in the future. - 8 - NC: 2026:KHC:2267 CRL.P No. 114 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 494 of 2026 HC-KAR

8. We state that this compromise has been filed without any force, fraud or undue influence of any person and on the own will and volition of the parties and that there is no collusion in presenting the petition. What is stated in the above paragraphs are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, belief and information.”

5. In the light of the settlement arrived at between the parties as noted herein above in the joint memo, notwithstanding the fact that the offence is the one punishable under Section 69 of the BNS, I deem it appropriate to accept the joint memo, obliterate the proceedings, qua the petitioners in both these cases.

6. In the light of accused No.1 being in judicial custody and the matter being settled between the parties, a direction is to be issued to the prison authorities to release the petitioner forthwith in accordance with law.

7. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: O R D E R [I] The criminal petitions stand allowed. - 9 - NC: 2026:KHC:2267 CRL.P No. 114 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 494 of 2026 HC-KAR [II] The crime in Crime No.209/2025 registered by the 1st respondent for the offences punishable under Sections 69, 351(2), 351(3), 352, 3(5) of the BNS, 2023, pending before the XXXII Addl. CJM Court, Bengaluru City, stands quashed against these petitioners. [III] In Crl.P.No.114/2026, the Registry is directed to communicate this order to the prison Authorities to release accused No.1 without brooking any delay in accordance with law. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE HB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 40