- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:23590 WP No. 18154 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO. 18154 OF 2025 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: BOMANAHALLI BABU @ P.S. AYUB, S/O SYED BASHA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS R/AT NO.17, MARIAMMA APARTMENT T-3, COOKE TOWN, FRAZER TOWN, BANGALORE - 560 005. (WRONGLY MENTIONED AS) OWNER OF ATTICA GOLD COMPANY NO.224, 100 FEET RING ROAD, NEAR PARADISE PREMIUM HOTEL, 2ND MAIN ROAD, 7TH BLOCK, BANSHANKARI PHASE, BANGALORE - 560 085. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SADDAM R. MULLA, ADVOCATE) AND: SENIOR LABOUR INSPECTOR, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, 34TH CIRCLE, BANGALORE - 560 070. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA R/W 528 OF BNSS PRAYING TO Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:23590 WP No. 18154 of 2025 QUASH THE COMPLAINT DATED 21/01/2025 AT ANNEXURE A, PENDING AS CC NO. 3566/2025 ARISING OUT OF PCR NO. 300/2025 FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENSES UNDER SECTION 8 AND 6 OF EQUAL REMUNERATION ACT, 1976 NOW PENDING ON THE FILES OF HON BLE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS TRAFFIC COURT-III AT BANGALORE, WHEREIN THE PETITIONER IS ARRAIGNED AS ACCUSED, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND ETC., 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 seeks the following relief: "WHEREFORE, it is humbly prayed that this Hon'ble Court be pleased 1. To quash the complaint dated 21.01.2025 at Annexure A pending as CC no.3566/2025 arising out of PCR no.300/2025 for the alleged offences under section 8 & 6 of Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 now pending on the files of HON'BLE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS TRAFFIC COURT-III AT BANGALORE, wherein the Petitioner is arraigned as Accused, in the interest of justice and equity. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:23590 WP No. 18154 of 2025 2. To quash the cognizance order dated 28.04.2025 passed in CC no.3566/2025 arising out of PCR no.300/2025 for the alleged offences under section 8 and 6 of Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 by the HON'BLE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS TRAFFIC COURT-III AT BANGALORE, wherein the Petitioner is arraigned as Accused, in the interest of justice and equity." 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for the respondent – State and perused the material on record. 3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that the petitioner is arraigned as accused No.1 in the impugned proceedings in C.C.No.3566/2025, arising out of PCR No.300/2025 dated 15.08.2022, in which, the petitioner is shown to be the Owner of M/s.Attica Gold Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore. In this context, it is relevant to state that the petitioner was the Director of the said Company and had resigned from the status / position of a Director from the aforesaid M/s. Attica Gold Pvt. Ltd., on 01.01.2016 itself as can be seen from Form No.DIR-11 issued by the Registrar of Companies. The said fact has been recognised and confirmed by this Court in W.P.No.19063/2021 dated 09.06.2022 filed by the petitioner, in which, this Court quashed the proceedings impugned therein as - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:23590 WP No. 18154 of 2025 against the petitioner herein on the ground that he had resigned from the company on 01.01.2016 itself, much prior to the alleged commission of the offence and that no proceedings can be initiated or prosecuted against the resigned Director. In the aforesaid order of this Court in the aforesaid writ petition filed by the petitioner, it was held as under:- “ In this petition, the first information report was lodged alleging that the gold jewelleries belonging to the complainant were stolen by the accused and the said accused sold the same to the Attica Gold Pvt. Ltd in various branches. 2. The Police registered the FIR in Crime No.138/2020 and after investigation submitted the charge sheet against the petitioner alleging that he is the Director of the Attica Gold Pvt. Ltd and as such has committed an offence punishable under Sections 380 and 342 read with Section 34 of IPC. Taking exception to the same this petition is filed. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner ceased to be the Director of the company on 01.01.2016 which is evident from Form No.DIR-11 issued by the Registrar of Companies. Hence he submits that the alleged incident has taken place after the petitioner ceased to be Director of the said company and as such the FIR registered against the petitioner is impermissible. 4. Learned HCGP submits that the petitioner being the Director of the company has received stolen - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:23590 WP No. 18154 of 2025 property from the accused and as such has committed the offence alleged against him and at this stage, the FIR registered against the petitioner and the charge sheet submitted against the petitioner does not warrant any interference and sought for dismissal of the petition. 5. I have considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties. 6. To substantiate the claim that the petitioner ceased to be the Director of Attica Gold Pvt. Ltd. to which the stolen property was sold, Form No.DIR-11 issued by the Registrar of Companies is produced. The said document indicates that the petitioner/accused ceased to be the Director of the company with effect from 01.01.2016. The alleged incident has taken place after the petitioner ceased to be the Director of the company in question which is alleged to have received the stolen property. 7. The resignation of the petitioner as Director of the Attica Gold Pvt. Ltd. is evident from Form No.DIR-11. The same has remained uncontroverted and not disputed by the respondents. In the absence of any dispute to the said document, it is implied that the petitioner ceased to be the Director of the company in question as on the date of the alleged incident. Hence, in the absence of any corroborative material that the petitioner as director of the company in question has received the stolen property, the registration of FIR and also the filing of charge sheet is without any substance. 8. Accordingly, I pass the following: - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:23590 WP No. 18154 of 2025 ORDER i) The Writ petition is allowed. ii) The impugned FIR in Crime No.138/2020 is quashed. iii) Liberty is reserved with the respondent State to proceed against the company which is alleged to have received the stolen property in accordance with law, if so advised.” 4. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances and the undisputed fact that identical proceedings against the petitioner - accused No.1 have already been quashed by this Court in the aforesaid writ petition and in the light of the petitioner having resigned from the post of a Director as long back as on 01.01.2016, continuation of the proceedings insofar as the petitioner is concerned, would tantamount to an abuse of the process of law warranting interference by this Court. 5. In the result, I pass the following:- ORDER (i) Petition is hereby allowed. (ii) The impugned proceedings in C.C.No.3566/2025 arising out of PCR No.300/2025 - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:23590 WP No. 18154 of 2025 registered by the 1st respondent, pending on the file of JMFC-TRAFFIC COURT-III, Bangalore, are hereby quashed. Sd/- (S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE SD List No.: 1 Sl No.: 74 CT: BHK