- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:22644 CRL.P No. 6195 of 2024 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.6195 OF 2024 (482(Cr.PC)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI RAMACHANDREGOWDA S.V. S/O VENKATASWAMYGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, R/AT NO 3, 'CHANDRU NIVASA', 13TH MAIN, RMV EXTENSION, SADASHIVANAGAR, BENGALURU-560080 CHARGE SHEET ADDRESS: SRI SEEKAL RAMACHANDREGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, CANDIDATE OF BJP PARTY, SIDLAGHATTA ASSEMBLY, CON CHIKKABALLAPURA - 562105. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. R V SHIVANANDA REDDY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY NANGALI POLICE STATION, KOLAR DISTRICT, REPTD: BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, DR. B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001. Digitally signed by GEETHA P G Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:22644 CRL.P No. 6195 of 2024 2. SRI SHIVAKUMAR S/O SHANKARAPPA, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, ASST. HORTICULTURE OFFICER, HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT, MULABAGALU-563135. REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, DR. B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B.N. JAGADEESH, ADDL. SPP.) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF CR.P.C., PRAYING TO QUASH ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PETITIONER IN C.C.NO.3784/2023 (CRIME NO.58/2023) NANGLI POLICE, FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 171(E) AND 171(H) OF IPC, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HON'BLE ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT AT MULABAGALU, KOLAR DISTRICT, ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR ORAL ORDER In this petition, the petitioner has sought for the following reliefs: "(a) Call for Trial Court records in C.C.No.3784/2023 (Crime No.58/2023) Nangali police, for the offence punishable under Section 171(E) & 171(H) of IPC pending - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:22644 CRL.P No. 6195 of 2024 on the file of the Hon'ble Addl. Civil Judge and JMFC court at Mulabagalu, Kolar District; (b) Quash entire proceedings against Petitioner in C.C.No.3784/2023 (Crime No.58/2023) Nangli police, for the offence punishable under Section 171(E) & 171(H) of IPC pending on the file of the Hon'ble Addl. Civil Judge and JMFC court Mulabagalu, Kolar District. (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 the respondents 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 02.04.2023 against the petitioner/accused No.3 and others for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 171E and 171H of 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.3784/2023 before the trial court, in which the petitioner is arraigned as accused No.3. In this context, the impugned complaint reads as under: - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:22644 CRL.P No. 6195 of 2024 "ಷಯ:-ನಂಗ ೆ.ಎ.ಆ.ೋ ೆ ೕನ ಚುಾವಾ ೆ ೆ ಅಕ#ಮ%ಾ& 'ಾ&(ರು*+ದ- .ೕೊಗಳನು ವಶಪ2(3ೊಂ2ರುವ ಬ5ೆ6. 9ೕಲ;ಂಡ ಷಯ3ೆ; ಸಂಬಂ>(ದಂ?ೆ. ತಮA ದೂರು BೕಡುವCDೇೆಂದEೆ, ಾನು ಮುಳFಾ&ಲು ?ೋಟ5ಾH3ೆ ಇ ಾJೆಯ ಸKಾಯಕ ?ೋಟ5ಾH3ಾ ಅ>3ಾHLಾ& ಕತMವN BವMಸು*+ದು-, ನನ5ೆ 2023ೇ 'ಾನ 'ಾವM*#ಕ ಚುಾವಾ ಪ#ಯುಕ+ ನನ5ೆ ಚುಾವಾ ಅ>3ಾHಗಳO, ಎ.ಎ.P ('ಾ ಸ%ೆM ೆQR PೕS) 5ೆ ಅ>3ಾHLಾ& ೇಮಕ Tಾ2ದು-, ನೊಂU5ೆ ಎ.V.(. 472 ಅWೆXೕ V.(. 503 ಸುಮQ, ಅಬ3ಾH (ಬYಂU ಮಂಜುಾಥರವರು ಇದು-, ನಮ5ೆ Uಾಂಕ: 01/4/2023 ರಂದು Eಾ*# 8-00 ಗಂೆ5ೆ ನಂಗ 5ಾ#ಮದ ೆ.ಎ.ಆ.ೋ 5ೇ\ ಬ] ೇ ಕತMವN3ೆ; ೇಮಕ Tಾ2ದು-, ಅದರಂ?ೆ ಕತMವN3ೆ; KಾಜEಾ& ಕತMವN BವMಸು*+Dಾ-ಗ Uಾಂಕ: 2/4/2023 ರಂದು Fೆಳ&ನ ಾವ 1-30 ಗಂೆ ಸಮಯದ ^ತೂ+ರು TಾಗM%ಾ& ಒಂದು 3ಾರು ಬಂUದು-, ಅದನು B( ೆ Tಾಡ ಾ& ಅದರ ನಂಬ ಎ.V. 28 (.`.7007 ಆ&ದು-, ಅದರ 3ೆಲವC 3ಾಟQ FಾRಗ]ದು- ಅದರ ೆ Tಾಡ ಾ& Dೇವರ .ೕೋಗ]ದು-, ಅದರ 9ೕ ೆ (ೕಕ Eಾಮಚಂದ#5ೌಡ ಉದNc Kಾಗೂ d ೆV ಮುಖಂಡರು fಡಘಟ hಾನಸiಾ jೇತ# ಎಂಬುDಾ& ಬEೆUದು-, 3ಾHನ ಾಲಕನ Kೆಸರು kಾಸ 3ೇಳ ಾ& Eೆ2l mರn dQ ಈಶpರಯN fಡಘಟ ಎಂದು *](ದು-, ಸದH .ೕೋಗಳ ಬ5ೆ6 ಾರ Tಾಡ ಾ& fಡಘಟ hಾನಸiಾ ಚುಾವಾ Bcತ+ ಹಂ^3ೆ Tಾಡಲು ?ೆ5ೆದು3ೊಂಡು Kೋಗು*+ರುವCDಾ& *](ರು?ಾ+Eೆ. .ೕೋಗಳನು ಎr3ೆ Tಾಡ ಾ& 1337 .ೕೋಗ]ದು-, ಇವCಗಳ ಅಂDಾಜು TೌಲN 41,700 'ಾರ ಸದH ರವರುಗಳO fಡಘಟ hಾನ ಸiಾ Bcತ+ ಜನH5ೆ ಓ ೈ3ೆ Tಾಡುವ ಉDೆ-ೕಶUಂದ ಹಂ^3ೆ Tಾಡಲು ?ೆ5ೆದು3ೊಂಡು Kೋಗು*+ರುವCದು ಕಂಡುಬಂUರು?ೆ+. DzÀÝjAzÀ, ¸ÀzÀjgÀªÀgÀÄUÀ¼À «gÀÄzÀÞ PÁ£ÀÆ£ÀÄ PÀæªÀÄ dgÀÄV¸À®Ä PÉÆÃgÀÄvÉÛãÉ." - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:22644 CRL.P No. 6195 of 2024 5. The summary of the charge sheet reads as under: "3ೇ(ನ ಸಂuಪ+ 'ಾEಾಂಶ ಈ 3ೇ(ನ 'ಾu 1 Hಂದ 3 ರವರುಗಳನು 2023 ೇ 'ಾನ 'ಾವM*#ಕ ಚುಾವಾ ಪ#ಯುಕ+ ಎv.ಎ.P. ತಂಡ3ೆ; ೇಮಕ Tಾ2ದು- ಅದರಂ?ೆ Uಾಂಕ : 01/05/2023 ರಂದು ೆ.ಎ.ಆ. ೋ 5ೇ\ ಬ] ೆ ೕ ಕತMವNವನು BವMಸು*+DಾAಗ ಈ DೋwಾEೋಪಾ ಪP: ಅಂಕಣ 12 ರ ಕಂಡ ಆEೋV 3 ರವರು ಆEೋV 1 ಮತು+ 2 ರವರುಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಮತDಾರH5ೆ ಹಂ^3ೆ Tಾಡುವ ಉDೆ-ೕಶUಂದ Dೇವರ ೕೋಗಳ (ೕಕ Eಾಮಚಂದ#5ೌಡ fಡಘಟ Dಾನಸiಾ jೇತ# ಎಂದು V#ಂ\ Tಾ2( %ೆಂಕಟರವಣ 'ಾpc ಕ ಾNೋತRವ ದ 1337 ೊಗಳನು ಎ.V. 28 (.`, 7007 3ಾHನ ತುಂd3ೊಂಡು fಡಘಟ Dಾನಸiಾ jೇತ#ದ ಮತDಾರH5ೆ ಹಂ^3ೆ Tಾಡಲು Uಾಂಕ : 02/05/2023 ರಂದು Eಾ*# 1- 30 ಗಂೆ ಸಮಯದ ೆ.ಎ.ಆ. ೋ 5ೇ\ ಬ] Kೋಗು*+Dಾ-ಗ ಈ 3ೇ(ನ 'ಾu 1 ರವರು %ಾಹನವನು ತyೆದ ಅTಾನತು+ ಪyೆ(3ೊಂ2ರುವCDಾ&ರು?ೆ+. ಆEೋVಗಳO ಚುಾವೆ ಸಂಬಂದ ಮತDಾರರ ಓ ೈ3ೆ ಸಲು%ಾ& Dೇವರ ೋಗಳನು ಹಂ^3ೆ Tಾ2 ಆcಷ3ೆ; ಒಳಪyೆಸಲು Dೇವರ ೋಗಳನು 'ಾ5ಾಟ Tಾ2 ಚುಾವಾ Bೕ* ಸಂ?ೆಯನು ಉಲಂಘೆ Tಾ2ರುವCದು ತBJೆzಂದ ದೃಡಪPರು?ೆ+. ಆದ-Hಂದ ಈ DೋwಾEೋಪಾ ಪP." 6. A perusal of the complaint, FIR and the charge sheet will indicate that photographs of God were seized from the vehicle mentioned therein in which the petitioner was not traveling when the same was seized in violation of the offences punishable under Sections 171E and 171H, which reads as under: - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:22644 CRL.P No. 6195 of 2024 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. Explanation.—“Treating” means that form of bribery where the gratification consists in food, drink, entertainment, or provision. 171H. Illegal payments in connection with an election.—Whoever without the general or special authority in writing of a candidate incurs or authorises expenses on account of the holding of any public meeting, or upon any advertisement, circular or publication, or in any other way whatsoever for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of such candidate, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees: Provided that if any person having incurred any such expenses not exceeding the amount of ten rupees without authority obtains within ten days from the date on which such expenses were incurred the approval in writing of the candidate, he shall be deemed to have incurred such expenses with the authority of the candidate. 7. A perusal of the material on record will also indicate that so long as the petitioner/accused No.3 was not an inmate or passenger traveling in the Car containing the incriminating material, - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:22644 CRL.P No. 6195 of 2024 the petitioner cannot be prosecuted for the offences punishable under Sections 171E and 171H of 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 these facts and circumstances obtaining in the instant 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. In the result, I pass the following: ORDER (i) The petition is hereby allowed; (ii) The impugned proceedings in C.C.No.3784/2023 arising out of Crime No.58/2023, which is pending on the file of the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Mulabagalu, Kolar 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; - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:22644 CRL.P No. 6195 of 2024 (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