Criminal Petition No. 6696 of 2024 · The High Court
Case Details
- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:22646 CRL.P No. 6696 of 2024 HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO.6696 OF 2024 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI RAMACHANDREGOWDA S.V. S/O VENKATASWAMYGOWDA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS R/AT NO.03, 'CHANDRU NIVASA' 13TH MAIN, RMV BADAVANE SADASHIVANAGAR BENGALURU - 560080 CHARGE SHEET ADDRESS: R/AT SEEKAL VILLAGE, CHINTAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLAPUR DISTRICT - 563125. (BY SRI. R V SHIVANANDA REDDY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA
Legal Reasoning
BY CHINTAMANI RURAL POLICE STATION CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT REPTD. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING DR. B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560001.
Legal Reasoning
2. SRI R M NAGARAJU S/O MUNIAJJAPPA REVENUE INSPECTOR (RI) KAIWARA VILLAGE, KAIWARA HOBLI CHINTAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-563125. Digitally signed by GEETHA P G Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA …PETITIONER - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:22646 CRL.P No. 6696 of 2024 HC-KAR REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU-560 001. (BY SRI. B.N. JAGADEESH, ADDL. SPP FOR RESPONDENT NO.1) …RESPONDENTS THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF CR.P.C., PRAYING TO QUASH ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PETITIONER NO.108/2023) CHINTAMANI RURAL POLICE, FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 171(E) OF IPC PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDITIONAL CIVIL JMFC AT CHINTAMANI, CHIKKABALLAPUR DISTRICT, ETC. C.C.NO.1819/2023 JUDGE AND (CRIME IN THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR ORAL ORDER In this petition, petitioner has sought for the following reliefs: "a) Call for Trial Court records in C.C.No.1819/2023 (Crime No.108/2023) Chintamani Rural police, for the offence punishable under Section 171(E) of IPC pending on the file of the Addl. Civil Judge & JMFC at Chintamani, Chikkaballapur District; (b) Quash entire proceedings against Petitioner in C.C.No.1819/2023 (Crime No.108/2023) Chintamani Rural police, for the offence punishable under Section 171 (E) of IPC pending on the file of the Addl. Civil Judge & JMFC at Chintamani, Chikkaballapur District. - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:22646 CRL.P No. 6696 of 2024 HC-KAR (c) Pass any such order/s as deems fit by this Hon'ble Court in the facts and circumstances of the case, to meet the ends of justice." 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Additional SPP for respondent No.1 and perused the material on record. 3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that respondent No.2/original complainant filed the instant complaint dated 26.03.2023 against the petitioner/accused No.1 and others for the alleged offences punishable under Section 171E of the IPC. 4. In pursuance of the same, respondent No.1 conducted investigation and filed a charge sheet which is presently pending in C.C.No.1819/2023 before the trial court in which the petitioner is arraigned as accused No.1. In this context, the impugned complaint reads as under: "(cid:1)ಷಯ:-ಮುಂ(cid:8)ನ (cid:1)(cid:10)ಾನಸ(cid:13)ೆ ಚು(cid:16)ಾವ(cid:18)ೆ ಸಂಬಂದ (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) ಹಂಚುವ ಸಲು(cid:29)ಾ(cid:30) (cid:31)ಾ ಾ!"ೆ #ಾಡು%&ದ’ ಸಂಶಯದ )ೕ*ೆ ವಶ"ೆ+ ಪ-ೆ(cid:8)ರುವ KA.07.A.8547 ನಂಬ/ನ 407 0ೆಂ1ೕ ಮತು& KA.12.C.0969 0ಾ0ಾ ಎ(cid:21)ಇ (cid:29)ಾಹನಗಳ5 ಮತು& ಅದರ 7ಾಲಕರು ಮತು& ಸರಕು #ಾ9ೕಕರ )ೕ*ೆ "ಾನೂನು ಕ;ಮ ಜರು(cid:30)ಸುವ ಬ ೆ= ***. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:22646 CRL.P No. 6696 of 2024 HC-KAR )ೕಲ+ಂಡ (cid:1)ಷಯ"ೆ+ ಸಂಬಂ(cid:8)(cid:21)ದಂ@ೆ, Aಂ@ಾಮ! @ಾಲೂBಕು, "ೈ(cid:29)ಾರ DೋಬEಯ, (cid:23)ಾಜಸF G/ೕHಕ(cid:23)ಾದ ಆJ.ಎಂ.(cid:16)ಾಗ(cid:23)ಾಜ ಆದ (cid:16)ಾನು ತಮK9B ದೂರು GೕಡುವLMೇನಂದ(cid:23)ೆ, (cid:8)(cid:16)ಾಂಕ:25/03/2023 ರಂದು ಮMಾNಹ(cid:26) 2-00 ಗಂ0ೆಯ9B Aಂ@ಾಮ! @ಾಲೂBಕು O;ೕ. (cid:30)/ೕP Qಾಬು #ಾನN ತಹ(cid:21)*ಾ’J ರವರು ನನ ೆ 1ೕR #ಾS ಈ (cid:8)ನ (cid:8)(cid:16)ಾಂಕ:25/03/2023 ರಂದು Qೆಳ(cid:30)ನ Uಾವ 1- 30 ಗಂ0ೆಯ9B (cid:29)ಾ!ಜN @ೆ/ ೆ ಅV"ಾ/ (Uಾ/)-2, "ೋ*ಾರ. O;ೕ. WೕವR (cid:21).ಎಂ. ರವರು ಸರಕು (cid:31)ಾ ಾ!"ೆ (cid:29)ಾಹನಗಳ ತXಾಸ(cid:18)ೆಯ9BMಾ’ಗ QೆಂಗಳYರು ಕ-ೆZಂದ Aಂ@ಾಮ! ಕ-ೆ ೆ ಬರು%&ದ’ KA.07.A.8547 ನಂಬ/ನ 407 0ೆಂ1ೕ ಮತು& KA.12.C.0969 0ಾ0ಾ ಎ(cid:21)ಇ ಗೂ[\ (cid:29)ಾಹನಗಳನು(cid:26) Aಂ@ಾಮ! @ಾಲೂBಕು "ೈ(cid:29)ಾರ "ಾ;] ನ9B ವಶ"ೆ+ ಪ-ೆದು ಪ/Oೕ9(cid:21)Mಾಗ (cid:29)ಾಹನಗಳ9B (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) (cid:31)ಾ(cid:30)ಸು%&ದು’, ಸದ/ (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗE ೆ ಸಂಬಂ(cid:8)(cid:21)ದಂ@ೆ ^ಾವLMೇ Mಾಖ*ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) DಾಜರುಪSಸದ "ಾರಣ Dಾಗೂ ಸದ/ ಸರಕುಗಳನು(cid:26) ಚು(cid:16)ಾವ(cid:18)ೆಯ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಹಂಚುವ ಸಲು(cid:29)ಾ(cid:30) (cid:31)ಾ ಾ!"ೆ #ಾಡ*ಾಗು%&Mೆbಂಬ ಸಂಶಯದ )ೕ*ೆ ಸರಕು (cid:29)ಾಹನಗಳನು(cid:26) ತ-ೆcSದು, Aಂ@ಾಮ! ಾ;#ಾಂತರ 19ೕ] dಾ(cid:18)ೆಯ ಸುಪ(cid:8)eಯ9B G9B(cid:21)ರುವLMಾ(cid:30) #ಾc% %E(cid:21)ರುವLMಾ(cid:30) O;ೕ. (cid:30)/ೕP Qಾಬು, #ಾನN ತಹ(cid:21)*ಾ’J ರವರು (cid:8)(cid:16)ಾಂಕ.25/03/2023 ರಂದು ನನ ೆ ಪ/Oೕಲ(cid:16)ೆ #ಾS ವರ(cid:8) #ಾಡಲು ಸೂA(cid:21)ದು’, ಅವರ #ೌgಕ ಆMೇಶದಂ@ೆ (cid:16)ಾನು Aಂ@ಾಮ! ಾ;#ಾಂತರ dಾ(cid:18)ೆಯ ಬE ಬಂದು ಪಂಚರನು(cid:26) ಬರ#ಾS"ೊಂಡು ಪಂಚರ ಸಮHಮ ಪ/ೕOೕ9(cid:21)Mಾಗ KA.07.A.8547 ನಂಬ/ನ 407 0ೆಂ1ೕ ಇದು’, ಅದರ 7ಾಲಕನ Dೆಸರು (cid:1)iಾಸ "ೇಳ*ಾ(cid:30) ಆJ.jರk ಕು#ಾJ lR ರ)ೕP.W. 27 ವಷe, ಹEmಗರು, ನಂ.114, 4(cid:16)ೇ "ಾ;], (cid:29)ಾಟJ 0ಾNಂo ಹ%&ರ, (cid:29)ೈp qೕrs, QೆಂಗಳYರು ಎಂದು %E(cid:21)ರು@ಾ&(cid:16)ೆ. ಸದ/ (cid:29)ಾಹನ 7ಾಲಕನನು(cid:26) (cid:29)ಾಹನದ9B ಏGMೆ ಎಂದು ಪ;O(cid:26)(cid:21)Mಾಗ 51 ರuvನ Qಾo\ ಗಳ9B ಒಂದರ9B 100 (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) ತುಂlರುವLMಾ(cid:30) %E(cid:21)ದು’ ಒಟುv 5100 (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗEರುವLMಾ(cid:30) %E(cid:21)ರು@ಾ&(cid:16)ೆ. ಮ@ೊ&ಂದು KA.12.C.0969 0ಾ0ಾ ಎ(cid:21)ಇ ಗೂ[\ (cid:29)ಾಹನ ಇದು’, ಅದರ 7ಾಲಕನ Dೆಸರು (cid:1)iಾಸ "ೇಳ*ಾ(cid:30) S.jರk lR "ೆ.q.Mೇವಪx, 32 ವಷe, ಪ.Uಾ%, "ೆಂಚಮK Qಾ(cid:16)ೆ, ಕುಸುಬೂರು, "ೊಡುಗು W*ೆB ಎಂದು %E(cid:21)ರು@ಾ&(cid:16)ೆ. ಸದ/ (cid:29)ಾಹನದ9B 16 ರuvನ Qಾo\ ಗEದು’, ಒಂದರ9B 100 (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗEದು’, ಒಟುv - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:22646 CRL.P No. 6696 of 2024 HC-KAR 1600 (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗEರುವLMಾ(cid:30) %E(cid:21)ರು@ಾ&(cid:16)ೆ. ಸದ/ (cid:29)ಾಹನಗಳ9B (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) (cid:31)ಾ ಾ!"ೆ #ಾಡಲು lr ಗಳ5 ಇ(cid:29)ೆbೕ? ಎಂದು ಪ;O(cid:26)(cid:21)Mಾಗ ತಮK ಬE lr ಇದು’, ಅವLಗಳನು(cid:26) DಾಜರುಪS(cid:21)ದು’, ಪ/ೕOಲಸ*ಾ(cid:30) (cid:23)ಾಮಚಂದ; ೌಡ (cid:21)ೕಕr Aಂ@ಾಮ! ಎಂಬುವರು Dೆಸ/ನ9Bದು’, lr ನಂ.3788 ರ9B 5100 (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳ5 ನಮೂ(cid:8)(cid:21)ದು’, ಒಂದರ Qೆ*ೆ 400/-ರೂ ಆ(cid:30)ದು’, W.ಎ].u (cid:31)ೇ/ ಒಟುv 21,42,000/-ರೂ Qೆ*ೆ Qಾಳ5ವLMಾ(cid:30) ಮ@ೊ&ಂದು lr ನಂ.3789 ರ9B 1600 (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗEದು’, ಒಂದರ Qೆ*ೆ 400/- ರೂ ಆ(cid:30)ದು’, W.ಎ].u (cid:31)ೇ/ ಒಟುv 6,72,000/- ರೂ Qೆ*ೆ Qಾಳ5ವLMಾ(cid:30) ನಮೂ(cid:8)(cid:21)ರು@ಾ&(cid:23)ೆ. ಇವLಗಳ (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳ ಒಟುv #ೌಲN 28,14,000/-ರೂ ಆ(cid:30)ರು@ೆ&. 7ಾಲಕರನು(cid:26) (cid:29)ಾಹನಗಳ9Bದ’ (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) ಎ9Bಂದ ಎ9B ೆ ? ^ಾವ ಅಂಗS ೆ (cid:31)ಾ(cid:30)ಸು%&ರುವLMಾ(cid:30), ಅಂಗS #ಾ9ೕಕರು ^ಾರು? ಎಂಬುದರ ಬ ೆ= ಪ;O(cid:26)(cid:21)Mಾಗ ಸಮಂಜಸ(cid:29)ಾದ ಉತ&ರ GೕSರುವL(cid:8)ಲB. ನಂತರ ಸದ/ (cid:29)ಾಹನಗಳ9Bದ’ (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) ಪಂಚರ ಸಮHಮ ಸಂUೆ 4-00 ಗಂ0ೆZಂದ 5-30 ಗಂ0ೆಯವ(cid:23)ೆ ೆ ಮಹಜJ #ಾS ವಶ"ೆ+ ಪ-ೆದು"ೊಂSರು@ೆ&. )ೕಲ+ಂಡ (cid:29)ಾಹನಗಳ 7ಾಲಕರು ಮತು& ಸರಕು #ಾ9ೕಕ(cid:23)ಾದ (cid:23)ಾಮಚಂದ; ೌಡ ರವರು (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) ಮುಂ(cid:8)ನ (cid:1)(cid:10)ಾನಸ(cid:13)ೆ ಚು(cid:16)ಾವ(cid:18)ೆ ಪ;ಯುಕ& ಮತMಾರ/ ೆ ಹಂಚಲು (cid:31)ಾ ಾ!"ೆ #ಾಡು%&ರಬಹುMೆಂದು ಅನು#ಾನ ಕಂಡು ಬಂ(cid:8)ರು@ೆ&. ಈ (cid:1)7ಾರವನು(cid:26) ನಮK )ೕ*ಾV"ಾ/ಗE ೆ %E(cid:21) (cid:29)ಾಹನ 7ಾಲಕರನು(cid:26) Dಾಗೂ ಅ#ಾನತು& ಪS(cid:21)ದ (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) dಾ(cid:18)ೆ ೆ ಮಹಜJ (cid:16)ೊಂ(cid:8) ೆ ಒqx(cid:21) (cid:23)ಾ%; ದೂರು GೕSರು@ೆ&ೕ(cid:16)ೆ. ಆದ’/ಂದ ಸಮಂಜಸ ಉತ&ರ GೕಡMೆ "ಾನೂನು Qಾcರ(cid:29)ಾ(cid:30) (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) (cid:31)ಾ ಾ!"ೆ #ಾಡು%&ದ’ ಸರಕು #ಾ9ೕಕ(cid:23)ಾದ (cid:23)ಾಮಚಂದ; ೌಡ (cid:21)ೕಕr ಾ;ಮ, Aಂ@ಾಮ! @ಾಲೂBಕು ಮತು& (cid:29)ಾಹನ 7ಾಲಕರ (cid:1)ರುದz "ಾನೂನು ಕ;ಮ ಜರು(cid:30)ಸಲು "ೋರು@ೆ&ೕ(cid:16)ೆ." 5. The summary of the charge sheet reads as under: ""ೇ(cid:21)ನ ಸಂ{ಪ& (cid:31)ಾ(cid:23)ಾಂಶ G(cid:29)ೇದ(cid:16)ೆ, ಕಲ೦ 171 (E) IPC - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC:22646 CRL.P No. 6696 of 2024 HC-KAR ಈ ಪ;ಕರಣದ9Bನ ಅಂಕಣ-12 ರ9B ನಮೂದು #ಾSರುವ ಆ(cid:23)ೋq-01 ರವರು 2023 (cid:16)ೇ (cid:31)ಾ9ನ (cid:1)(cid:10)ಾನ ಸ(cid:13)ಾ ಚು(cid:16)ಾವ(cid:18)ೆಯ9B ಮತMಾರ/ ೆ ಲಂಚದ ರೂಪದ9B ಹಂಚಲು 28,14,000/- ರೂ #ೌಲNದ ಒಟುv 6700 ರೂ (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) QೆಂಗಳYರು O;ೕ(cid:29)ಾರು (cid:21)ೕr+ 0ೆo\ 0ೈr ಅಂಗSZಂದ ಖ/ೕ(cid:8) #ಾS, ಸದ/ (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) ಆ(cid:23)ೋq-2 ರವರ KA.07.A.8547 ನಂಬ/ನ 407 0ೆಂ1ೕ ಗೂ[\ (cid:29)ಾಹನದ9B ಮತು& ಆ(cid:23)ೋq-03 ರವರ Qಾಬತು& KA.12.C.0969 ನಂಬ/ನ ಮDೇಂದ; Wೕ0ೋ ಪB] ಗೂ[\ (cid:29)ಾಹನದ9B ತುಂl(cid:21)"ೊಂಡು (cid:31)ಾ(cid:30)(cid:21)"ೊಂಡು ಬರು%&Mಾ’ಗ (cid:8)(cid:16)ಾಂಕ:25/03/2023 ರಂದು Qೆಳ(cid:30)ನ Uಾವ 1-30 ಗಂ0ೆಯ ಸಮಯದ9B, Aಂ@ಾಮ! ಾ;#ಾಂತರ 19ೕ] dಾ(cid:18)ಾ ಸರಹ(cid:8)’ನ QೆಂಗಳYರು–ಕಡಪ ರ(cid:31)ೆ&ಯ9B ಬರುವ "ೈ(cid:29)ಾರ "ಾ;] ನ Dೆ}.q. Xೆ0ೊ;ೕr ಬಂo ಪಕ+ದ ರ(cid:31)ೆ&ಯ9B (cid:31)ಾ{-02 /ಂದ (cid:31)ಾ{-04 ರವರು (cid:29)ಾಹನಗಳನು(cid:26) ವಶ"ೆ+ ಪ-ೆದು"ೊಂSರು@ಾ&(cid:23)ೆ. ಈ ಪ;ಕರಣದ ಆ(cid:23)ೋq-01 /ಂದ ಆ(cid:23)ೋq-03 ರವರು 6100 (cid:21)ೕ(cid:23)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) (cid:1)(cid:10)ಾನ ಸ(cid:13)ಾ ಚು(cid:16)ಾವ(cid:18)ೆಯ9B ಮತMಾರ/ ೆ ಲಂಚದ ರೂಪದ9B Gೕಡಲು (cid:31)ಾ ಾ!"ೆ #ಾSರುವLದು ಇದುವ(cid:23)ೆ(cid:29)ೆ(cid:30)ನ ತG~ೆZಂದ, (cid:31)ಾ{Mಾರರ DೇE"ೆಗEಂದ ಆ(cid:23)ೋಪ ದೃಡಪuvರು@ೆ&. ಆದ’/ಂದ )ೕಲ+ಂಡ ಕಲಂ ಅನFಯ Mೋ(cid:128)ಾ(cid:23)ೋಪ(cid:18)ಾ ಪತ;." 6. A perusal of the complaint, FIR and the charge sheet material will indicate that sarees were seized from the vehicle mentioned therein, in which the petitioner was not traveling when the same was seized in violation of the offence punishable under Section 171E of IPC, which reads as under: 171E. Punishment for bribery.—Whoever commits the offence of bribery shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both: Provided that bribery by treating shall be punished with fine only. - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC:22646 CRL.P No. 6696 of 2024 HC-KAR Explanation.—“Treating” means that form of bribery where the gratification consists in food, drink, entertainment, or provision. 7. A perusal of the material on record will also indicate that so long as the petitioner/accused No.1 was not an inmate or passenger traveling in the Car containing the incriminating materials, the petitioner cannot be prosecuted for the offence punishable under Section 171E of the IPC. 8. It is also relevant to state that a perusal of the charge sheet material comprising of the statement of witnesses and the documents etc., do not reveal that the petitioner is guilty of the alleged offence especially when he was not an inmate or passenger traveling in the Car where the incriminating material was found at the time of seizure. Under the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the considered opinion that continuation of the impugned proceedings would amount to abuse of process of law warranting interference in the present petition. 9.
Decision
In the result, I pass the following: ORDER (i) The petition is hereby allowed; - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC:22646 CRL.P No. 6696 of 2024 HC-KAR (ii) The impugned proceedings in C.C.No.1819/2023 arising out of Crime No.108/2023, which is pending on the file of the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Chintamani, Chikkaballapur District, insofar as the petitioner is concerned, are hereby quashed; (iii) Liberty is reserved in favour of the respondents to proceed against the remaining accused; (iv) It is made clear that quashment of the impugned proceedings is restricted only in favour of the petitioner and not against the remaining accused and the trial court shall proceed further in the matter. Sd/- (S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE Hkh/Srl. List No.: 1 Sl No.: 0