- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:24806 CRL.P No. 1150 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 6490 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 1150 OF 2025 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 6490 OF 2025 IN CRL.P No. 1150/2025 BETWEEN: 1. M/S WILSON INTERNATIONAL TRADING (INDIA) PVT LTD HAVING OFFICE AT: SPIC HOUSE, NO. 88, MOUNT ROAD, GUINDY, CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU - 600 032 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR SRI. ALAGU SUNDARAM. 2. SRI. NARAYANAN LETCHUMANAN S/O. L NARAYANAN, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, PASSPORT NO. K1922290D OCI CARD NO. A574987 RESIDING AT BLOCK 207, PETIR ROAD, 05-561, SINGAPORE 670 207. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. MURTHY DAYANAND NAIK SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. JAYSHAM JAYASIMHA RAO.,ADVOCATE) AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM (SIT) Digitally signed by CHANDANA B M Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:24806 CRL.P No. 1150 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 6490 of 2025 KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA. REP BY SPL.PP HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. B.S. PRASAD.,ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF THE CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) PRAYING TO A. SET ASIDE THE ORDER TAKING COGNIZANCE DATED 21.09.2022 PASSED BY THE LEARNED XXIII ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND SPECIAL JUDGE FOR PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT, BENGALURU (CCH-24) AGAINST THE PETITIONERS IN SPL.C.C NO. 2116/2022 FOR ALLEGED OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 379 OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860 AND SECTIONS 21 AND 23 READ WITH SECTIONS 4(1) AND 4(1-A) OF THE MMDR ACT, 1957 AT ANNEXURE-A AND ETC. IN CRL.P NO. 6490/2025 BETWEEN: MR BHAMIDIPATING BHUSHAN RAO AGED AROUND 72 YEARS, S/O BHAMINDIPATI BHASKAR RAO, R/O 110, TANJONG RHU ROAD, UNIT 03-03 CAMELOT BY THE WATER, SINGAPORE - 436 928 ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHODHAN BABU A M., AND SMT. AMULYA ANIL, ADVOCATES) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:24806 CRL.P No. 1150 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 6490 of 2025 AND: STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM (SIT) LOKAYUKTA, REPRESENTED BY SPECIAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. B.S. PRASAD.,ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF THE CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) PRAYING TO A) QUASH THE COMPLAINT, DATED 06.09.2022, FILED BY POLICE INSPECTOR, SIT, LOKAYUKTA UNDER SECTION 200 OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE, 1973 READ WITH SECTION 22 OF THE MINES AND MINERALS (DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION) ACT, 1957 AGAINST THE PETITIONER (ANNEXURE - A); THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR ORAL ORDER Both petitions arise out of the impugned proceedings in Spl.C.C.No.2116/2022 on the file of the XXIII Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge (for Prevention of Corruption Act, Bengaluru (CCH-24) for the offences punishable under Section 379 of - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:24806 CRL.P No. 1150 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 6490 of 2025 IPC and Sections 21 and 23 read with Sections 4(1) and 4(1-A) of the MMDR Act, 1957. The petitioners in Crl.P.No.1150/2025 are accused Nos.1 and 3 in the said proceedings, while petitioner in Crl.P.No.6490/2025 is arraigned as accused No.2 in the said proceedings. 2. Heard learned Senior counsel for the petitioners in Crl.P.No.1150/2025 as well as learned counsel for the petitioner in Crl.P.No.6490/2025 and learned HCGP for respondent and perused the material on record. 3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that in the aforesaid proceedings instituted by the respondent -Lokayukta against petitioner- Accused Nos. 1 to 3, the respondent -Lokayukta filed an application dated 07.12.2022 seeking discharge of the petitioners- accused Nos. 1 to 3 from the impugned proceedings. The said application reads as under; ೌರಾತ 23 ೇ ೆಚುವ & &, ೆಷ ಾಾಲಯದ ಾಾೕಶರು ಾಗೂ #ೇಷ ಾಾಲಯದ ಾಾೕಶರು, $ೆಂಗಳ'ರು ನಗರ. Spl.CC 2116/2022 ಕ ಾ*ಟಕ ,ೋ-ಾಯುಕ., #ೇಷ ತ/ಾ ತಂಡದ 12ೕ3 4ಾ5ೆ - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:24806 CRL.P No. 1150 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 6490 of 2025 ¦gÁåzÀÄzÁgÀgÀÄ ²æÃ. £ÀlgÁeï J.n. 12ೕ3 ಇ7ೆಕ89 & «±ÉõÁuÁ¢üPÁj #ೇಷ ತ/ಾ ತಂಡ, ಕ ಾ*ಟಕ ,ೋ-ಾಯುಕ. $ೆಂಗಳ'ರು. «gÀÄzÀÞ DgÉÆæUÀ¼ÀÄ 1. ;ಃ ಲ ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (EArAiÀiÁ) ¥ÉæöÊ.°. nJ£ïJ¸ïJAJ¸ï ಟ>38 A2Bಂ@, 3 ೇ ಮಹ?, 22 ಹAಬು,ಾF GೋH, ನಗರ, Iೆ ೆJೖ-600017 ಮತು. ಇತರರು. ೇದ ೆ ೇದ ೆ ೇದ ೆ ೇದ ೆ, ಷಯ ಷಯ ಷಯ ಷಯ: -Lಾನ ಾಾಲಯ-ೆM ಕ ಾ*ಟಕ ,ೋ-ಾಯುಕ., #ೇಷ ತ/ಾ ತಂಡದ2F ;ಃ ಲF ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆN2, ರವರು ಅPರು ರQ. Lಾ?ರುವ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಸ2Fದ ಪUೕಲ ಾ ವರPೆ ಪVರಕಾW ದಂಡ ಪ>X>ಯ ಸಂYZೆ-1973 ಕಲಂ 173(5) ರನಯ [ಾಖ,ಾ]ಗಳನುJ ೇP-ೊಳ^_].ರುವ ಬೆ`. ;ೕಲMಂಡ ಷಯ-ೆM ಸಂಬಂದಂZೆ Lಾನ ಾಾಲಯದ2F ¤ೇP-ೊಳ^_ವa[ೇ ೆಂದGೆ, ಕ ಾ*ಟಕ ,ೋ-ಾಯುಕ., #ೇಷ ತ/ಾ ತಂಡ 4ಾ5ೆಯ2F ಧ 1ೕb*ಗಳ2F ಆPರು ರQ. Lಾ?ರುವ ಬೆ` 7ಾ>ಥeಕ ತ/ೆಯನುJ -ೈೊಂ?ದುf ಇದರ2F ;|| ಎಲ ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆN.2. ರವರು -ಾರಾರ ಬಂದನ ಮೂಲಕ ಅPರು ರQ. Lಾ?ರುZಾ.Gೆ. ಈ ರQ. ವವಾರದ2F ಎಂಎಂ?ಆ9 -ಾif ಉಲFಂಘ ೆಾWರುವaದನುJ ಾlಾmಾರಗnಂದ ಖoತಪ?-ೊಂಡು Lಾನ ಾಾಲಯದ2F 200 ¹Dg惡 jÃvÁå zÀÆgÀ£ÀÄß ¤ªÉâ¹PÉÆArgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ಸದ ದೂನ2F ; ಲ ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆHರವರು -ಾರಾರ ಬಂದಂದ 24,500 ;.ಟ ಕApಣ ಅPರನುJ Iೈ ಾ [ೇಶ-ೆM ರQ. Lಾ?ರುZಾ.Gೆ. ಈ ಅPರನುJ ;ಃ -ಾFಾ Lಾ-ೇ*ಂ@ ಸೕ*3 7ೆN2 ರವರು Zಾೇ -ಾರಾರ ಬಂದೆ ಾಾr-ೆ Lಾ?ರುZಾ.Gೆ. ಸದ ಆPರನುJ ; ಲ ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆHರವೆ ಾವa[ೇ ಪರಾೆ ಇಲF[ೇ - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:24806 CRL.P No. 1150 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 6490 of 2025 ಾಾr-ೆ Lಾ? LಾGಾಟ Lಾ?ರುZಾ.Gೆ. ಮಃ -ಾFಾ Lಾ-ೇ*ಂ@ ಸೕ*3 7ೆN.2 ರವರ ಇಾಯನ2F ನಮೂದು Lಾ?ರುವಂZೆ ಎsಓA ೕZಾ 24,500 ;.ಟ ಅPರನುJ LಾGಾಟ Lಾ?ದುf, ಅಂPನ Lಾರುಕ=ೆ8ಯ ದರದಂZೆ ಅPನ LೌಲವನುJ & ಾಾಟದ ೆಚವನುJ ೇ 1,735/- ರೂ ನಂZೆ ಇಾಯನ2F ನಮೂP ಮ। ಲ ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆH ರವೆ LಾGಾಟ Lಾ?ರುZಾ.Gೆ. ;ಃ -ಾFಾ Lಾ-ೇ*ಂ@ ಸೕ*3 7ೆN.2 ರವರು ಕApಣ ಅPರನುJ -ಾರಾರ ಬಂದೆ ತಲುvಸುವ ಸಂಪVಣ* ಜಾ$ಾfಯನುJ ವY-ೊಂ?ದುf, ಅದರಂZೆ ಾಾr-ೆ ದರವನುJ ಒಳೊಂಡಂZೆ ತಮy ಇ ಾz AಗಳನುJ ೕ?ರುZಾ.Gೆ. ಈ ವವಾರವa ಎs ಓA ಆmಾರದ ;ೕ,ೆ LಾGಾಟ ಮತು. ಖೕP ನ{ೆPರುತ.[ೆ. ಆದfಂದ ಮ ಎಲB ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆಡ>ವೆ ಖೕP Lಾ?ದ ಅPನ ಸಕ>ಮZೆಯ/ ೈಜZೆಯ ಬೆ` ಪVಣ* LಾY] ಇರುವaPಲF, ಸ|ಷ8ಾW ಮ।। -ಾFಾ Lಾ-ೇ*ಂ@ ಸೕ*3 7ೆN2 ಕಂಪ ಮತು. ಇದರ Lಾನ}ಂ@ {ೈGೆಕ89 U>ೕ. #ಾಜು -ೆ ಾಯ9ರವರು ಆಕ>ಮಾW ಅPರನುJ ಾಾr-ೆ Lಾ?ದುf. JA.JA.?.ಆ9 -ಾifಯ ಉಲFಂಘ ೆಯನುJ Lಾ?ರುZಾ.Gೆ. ಅಲF[ೇ ಸ-ಾ*ರದ $ೊಕMಸ-ೆM ನಷ8ವನುJಂಟು ªÀiÁrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ªÉÄÃ|| -ಾFಾ Lಾ-ೇ*ಂ@ ಸೕ*3 7ೆN.2 7ೆN.2. ರವರು ಮತು. ªÉÄÃ|| ಲ ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆH ರವGೊಂPೆ ೇ ಒಳಸಂಚು ರೂv ಎ2Fಂದ,ೋ ತಂದಂತಹ ಕApಣ ಅPರನುJ ಎಂಎಂ?ಆ9 -ಾif ಉಲFಂಘ ೆ Lಾ? ಪರಾೆ ಪ{ೆಯ[ೇ 24,500 ªÉÄ.l£ï ªÀiÁgÁl ªÀiÁrgÀĪÀÅzÀjAzÀ gÀÆ. 3,44,65,776/- (C¢j£À ªÀi˯ïå -31850000/-, gÁd zsÀ£À 2548000/-, n.¹.J¸ï-67776/-) £ÀµÀÄÖ Lಾ-ೇ*ಂ@ ಸೕ*3 7ೆN.2 ಸಂೆ•ಯು ಮತು. ಸದ ಸಂೆ•ಯ ವವಾ•ಪಕ [ೇ*ಶಕGಾದ U>ೕ ±ÁdÄ PÉ. £ÁAiÀÄgï gÀªÀgÀÄ JA.JA.r.Dgï DPïÖ 1957 PÀ®A: 21 & 23 gÉ/«. 4(1), 4(1J) G®èAWÀ£É Lಾ?ರುವaದು ಕಂಡುಬಂPರುತ.[ೆ. P ಾಂಕ:02/12/2022 ರಂದು ; ಲF ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆHರವರು ಖುದುf ಾಜGಾW -ೆಲವa [ಾಖ,ಾ]ಗಳನುJ ಸ2Fದುf, Iಾರ5ಾ - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:24806 CRL.P No. 1150 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 6490 of 2025 ಸಮಯದ2F Sales & Purchase Contract [ಾಖ,ಾ]ಗಳ 09 ಪaಟಗಳನುJ ಸ2Fಸಲು ಆWರುವaPಲF ಆದfಂದ ಸದ ಪ>ಕರಣದ2F ಆGೋಪ ಪ8€ಂದ -ೈAಡುವಂZೆ -ೋ-ೊಂ?ರುZಾ.Gೆ. ªÉÄÃ|| ಲF ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆHರವರು ಸ2Fದ [ಾಖ,ಾ]ಗಳನುJ ಪUೕ2[ಾಗ ; ಲ ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆHರವರು ;॥ -ಾFಾ Lಾ-ೇ*ಂ@ ಸೕ*3 7ೆN.2 ರವGೊಂPೆ Sales & Purchase Contract Lಾ?-ೊಂ?ದುf, ಸದ ಕGಾನಂZೆ ಅPೆ ಸಂಬಂದ [ಾಖ,ಾ]ಗಳ ಸಂಪVಣ* ಜಾ$ಾf ;ೕ॥ -ಾFಾ Lಾ-ೇ*ಂ@ ಸೕ*3 7ೆN.2 ರವರ[ಾfWರುತ.[ೆ. ಈ [ಾಖ,ಾ]ಗnಂದ ;| ಲ ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆH ರವರು ;ೕಲMಂಡ 24,500 ;.ಟ ಅPನ ಖೕP, ಾಾr-ೆ ಮತು. ರ•>ನ ವವಾರದ2F ಅಕ>ಮೆಸWರುವaದು ಕಂಡುಬಂPರುವaPಲF. ಆದfಂದ ;| ಲF ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆH ರವರು P ಾಂಕ:02/12/2022 ರಂದು Iಾರ5ಾ-ಾಯವೆ ಸ2Fದ Sales & Purchase Contract [ಾಖ,ಾ]ಗಳ 09 ಪaಟಗಳನುJ ದಂಡ ಪ>X>ಯ ಸಂYZೆ-1973 ಕಲಂ 173(5) ರನಯ Lಾನ ಾಾಲಯದ2F ೇP-ೊಳ^_].ದುf, ಸದ [ಾಖ,ಾ]ಗಳನುJ ತ/ೆಯ2F ಪಗrಸುವaದಂದ ;| ಲ ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆH ಕಂಪ ಮತು. ಕಂಪಯ [ೇ*ಶಕರುಗಳ^ ( U>ೕ. ಭ«ÄqsÀಪಟ ಾ@ ಭೂಷ Gಾƒ, U>ೕ.ಎ.,ೆlÄë;ನ ) ಅಕ>ಮದ2F „ಾWಾWರುವaPಲF ಎಂಬುದು ಖoತಾಗುತ.[ೆ. ಆದfಂದ ;॥ ಲ ಇಂಟ9 ಾಷನ =ೆ>ೕ?ಂ@ (ಇಂ?ಾ) 7ೆNೇb 2e=ೆH ಕಂಪ ಮತು. ಕಂಪಯ [ೇ*ಶಕರುಗಳನುJ ಆGೋvತGಾW ಪಗrಸ$ಾರ[ೆಂದು ಾಗು ಈಾಗ,ೇ ಕಲಂ 200 ಆ9v ಸಯಂ ದೂರು ಸ2Fದುf, ಸದ ದೂನ Iಾರ5ೆ ೆ|ಷ ನಂ. 2116/2022 ರ2F ನ{ೆಯು].ದುf, ೆ|ಷ ನಂ 2116/2022 ರ2F ಆGೋvತ ಪ8€ಂದ -ೈAಡ$ೇ-ೆಂದು Lಾನ ಾಾಲಯದ2F ನಮ>ಾW -ೋರ,ಾW[ೆ. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:24806 CRL.P No. 1150 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 6490 of 2025 4. It is needless to state that the petitioners -accused Nos.1 to 3 stated that they had no objection for being discharged from the impugned proceedings. 5. After having heard both sides, the Trial Court proceeded to pass the impugned order rejecting the application only on the ground that once cognizance is taken, the procedure under Cr.PC has to be followed and the application filed by the investigating officer through the special prosecutor was not maintainable in law. In my considered opinion, perusal of the aforesaid averments made in the application for discharge filed by the respondent -prosecution is sufficient to come to the conclusion that they are of the unambiguous /unequivocal opinion that the proceedings qua petitioners -accused Nos. 1 to 3 should not be continued and that the petitioners-accused Nos. 1 to 3 should be discharged from the impugned proceedings as is clear from the application on the own showing of the respondent -prosecution. 6. Under these circumstances, in the light of the specific stance of the respondent -prosecution themselves that they do not intend to prosecute the proceedings any further as against the petitioners- accused Nos. 1 to 3, mere taking of cognizance would not come in the way of this Court exercising its jurisdiction under Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India read with Section 482 Cr.P.C and setting aside - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:24806 CRL.P No. 1150 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 6490 of 2025 the impugned order and allowing the discharge application filed by the respondent -prosecution and discharging the petitioners -accused Nos. 1 to 3 from the impugned proceedings. 7. In the result, I pass the following: ORDER (i) Petitions are hereby allowed. (ii) Impugned order 21.09.2022 passed by the XXIII Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge (PCA) (CCH-24) is hereby set aside. (iii) The application dated 07.12.2022 filed by the respondent-prosecution seeking discharge of the petitioners -accused Nos. 1 to 3 is allowed and petitioners- accused Nos. 1 to 3 are hereby discharged from the proceedings in Spl.C.C.No.2116/2022. Sd/- (S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE RU, List No.: 5 Sl No.: 8