- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:2873 CRL.P No. 11251 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11251 OF 2024 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: SRI BASANAGOUDA R. PATIL (YATNAL) S/O. RAMANAGOUDA B. PATIL, AGED 61 YEARS, OCC: MLA VIJAYPURA CONSTITUENCY SINDAGI ROAD, MAHAL AINAPUR, AINAPUR, BIJAPUR, KARNATAKA - 586 104. …PETITIONER (BY SRI VENKATESH P DALWAI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY GANDHI NAGAR POLICE STATION, DEVANAGERE, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE – 560 001. 2. SRI. MANOHAR S., S/O. SUSAINATHAN, AGE: 52 YEARS, OCC: NOT KNOWN, NO. 764, 12TH CROSS, WEST OF CHORD ROAD INDIRANAGAR RAJAJINAGAR BANGALORE CITY – 560 010. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI JAGADEESHA B.N., SPL. PP FOR R1; NOTICE TO R2 IS SERVED) Digitally signed by NAGAVENI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:2873 CRL.P No. 11251 of 2024 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.P.C (U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO, QUASH FIRST INFORMATION REPORT IN CR.NO.113/2024 REGISTERED BY THE GANDHI NAGAR P.S., PENDING ON 4TH ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT DAVANAGERE, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 192 OF BNS, 2023 PRODUCED AT DOCUMENT NO.1 AND ETC., THIS CRIMINAL PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER The petitioner is before this Court calling in question registration of a crime in Crime No.113 of 2024 registered for offence punishable under Section 192 of the BNS. 2. Heard Sri Venkatesh P Dalwai, learned counsel appearing for petitioner and Sri Jagadeesha B.N., learned Special Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent No.1. 3. Facts in brief, germane, are as follows: The petitioner is a member of the legislative assembly. The 2nd respondent is the complainant. It is the case of the complainant that on 29-09-2024, the petitioner along with other leaders while discussing about a particular political issue, after the meeting addresses a press meet and had made a statement that a leader who belongs to the Congress party has collected Rs.1000 crores and is using this money to purchase - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:2873 CRL.P No. 11251 of 2024 other MLAs and bring down the present Government. The said statement of the petitioner is said to have published in the newspaper on 26-09-24 and 30-09-24, both in electronic and print media. Based upon the said statement, a complaint comes to be made by the 2nd respondent - General Secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee before the jurisdictional police alleging that the statement made was capable of bringing communal disharmony between two religious entities. Based upon the said complaint, the aforesaid crime comes to be registered. Registration of the crime, drives the petitioner to this Court in the subject petition. 4. Learned counsel Sri Venkatesh P Dalwai appearing for the petitioner would vehemently contend that the statement nowhere indicated or indicative of any particular person. It does not meet the ingredients of Section 192 of the BNS, which is Section 153 of the earlier regime - the IPC. He would submit the statement nowhere indicates any of the ingredients. Therefore, seeks quashment of the same. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:2873 CRL.P No. 11251 of 2024 5. The complainant though served remains unrepresented. 6. Learned Special Public Prosecutor seeks to defend the action of the 2nd respondent in registering the crime, but would admit that the ingredients of Section 192 of the BNS are not met. 7. The afore-narrated facts are not in dispute. Since the entire issue has now triggered from the complaint, I deem it appropriate to notice the complaint and it reads as follows: “ಾಂಕ:01.10.2024 “UÉ oÁuÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ ೈೌಂqïì ೕ ಾೆ ೆಂಗಳರು ನಗರ. ಾಂಕ: 29-09-2024 ರಂದು ಾರ ೕಯ ಜನ#ಾ $ಾ%&ಯ '(ಯ ಾಯಕರುಗ)ಾದ *+ೕ ಬಸನೌಡ $ಾ%ೕ/ ಯ#ಾ01, 2ಾಸಕರು, *+ೕ 3.ಎಂ. 56ೆ7ೕಶ9:, ;ಾ3 ಸಂಸದರು, *+ೕ 5.<ೆ. ಪ+#ಾ> 5ಂºÀ ;ಾ3 ಸಂಸದರು *+ೕ ?.@. ಹ(ೕB, 2ಾಸಕರು ಾಗೂ ಇE0ತರ '(ಯ ಮುಖಂಡರುಗಳI 6ಾವಣೆLೆಯ 3.ಎಂ.ಐ.% ವಸ ಗೃಹದ ಸೆ Oೇ(, LಾಜPದ ಅೇಕ LಾಜRೕಯ Sಷಯಗಳ ಬೆU ಚWೆ& ;ಾXರು#ಾYLೆ, ಸೆಯ ನಂತರ ಸೆಯ ಚWೆ&Zಾದ Sಷಯಗಳ ಬೆU *+ೕ ಬಸನೌಡ $ಾ%ೕ/ ಯ#ಾ01 ಾಗೂ ಇತರರು ಪ +<ಾೋ[\ಯನು0 ಉ6ೆ7ೕ*5 ಆೇಕ LಾಜRೕಯ SWಾರಗಳ ಬೆU ;ಾತಾXರು#ಾYLೆ, *+ೕ ಬಸನೌಡ $ಾ%ೕ/ ಯ#ಾ01 ಅವರು - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:2873 CRL.P No. 11251 of 2024 ;ಾತಾXರುವ ಪ+ಮುಖ SWಾರ_ೆಂದLೆ, LಾಜPದ ನಮ` ಪaದ <ೆಲವc ಾಯಕರು 1000 <ೋ% ಹಣವನು0 ಸಂಗ+'5 ಇಟುe<ೊಂX6ಾ7Lೆ, ಆ ಹಣವನು0 ಬಳ5 ಾ ಇರುವ <ಾಂೆ+ ೇತೃತ9ದ LಾಜP ಸ<ಾ&ರವನು0 ಪತನೊf5 #ಾವc ಮುಖPಮಂ +Zಾಗಲು ಸಂಚು ರೂ@56ಾ7Lೆ. ಸದ( ಹಣವನು0 ಬಳ5 <ಾಂೆ+ ಪaದ 2ಾಸಕರುಗಳನು0 ಖ(ೕ5 ಸ<ಾ&ರವನು0 ಪತನೊf5 ಸಂಚು ರೂ@ಸು Y6ಾ7Lೆ ಎಂದು ಸಹ ೇf6ಾ7Lೆ. ಈ 'ನ0hೆಯi 2024ರ XOೆಂಬ: ಂಗfನi, LಾಜPದi, LಾಜRೕಯ <ಾ+ಂ ಉಂjಾk <ಾಂೆ+ ಸ<ಾ&ರ ಪತನ_ಾಗುತY6ೆ ಎಂದು ೇfರು#ಾYLೆ, OಾSರ <ೋ% ರೂ$ಾl ಹಣ ಸಂಗ+'5 ಇಟುe<ೊಂXರುವವರು Zಾರು ಎಂದು ;ಾಧPಮದವರು ಪ+2ೆ0 ;ಾX6ಾಗ, ಅವರು Eೕ_ೇ ಊೆ ;ಾX ಎಂದು ಉತYರ EೕXರು#ಾYLೆ, ಅoೆeೕ ಅಲi6ೆ ಹಣ ಸಂಗ+'5ರುವ ಾಯಕರ ಮೆಯi ೋಟು ಎpಸುವ q[r ಪ#ೆYZಾkತುY ಎಂದು ಸಹ ೇfರು#ಾYLೆ. ಅವರ ಸೆಯ ನಂತರ ಇಂತಹ ೇf<ೆಯನು0 *+ೕ ಬಸನೌಡ $ಾ%ೕ/ ಯ#ಾ01 EೕXರುವcದನು0 ೋXದLೆ ಈ SWಾರ_ಾk ಸೆಯi ಇದ7ಂತಹ ಎ®è ಾಯಕರುಗfಗೂ ೊ Yದು7 ಚWೆ& ;ಾX ;ಾಧPಮಗfೆ fಸಲು ಸಹಮತ ವPಕYಪX5ರುವcದು <ಾಣು Y6ೆ, ಸದ( Sಷಯವನು0 ಾಂಕ 26-09-2024 ರಂದು ಾಗೂ 30-09-2024 ರಂದು ದೃ±Àå ;ಾಧPಮ, ನಪ +<ೆಗಳI, Oಾ;ಾ3ಕ ;ಾಧPಮಗಳI ಪ+Wಾರ ;ಾXರುತY6ೆ, ಸದ( SWಾರವನು0 ಪ+ಕ%5ರುವ ನಪ +<ೆಗಳ ತುಣುಕುಗಳನು0 ಾಗೂ ನೂP೧೮ ರi, ಪ+WಾರಪX5ರುವ SೕXvೕ ಇರುವ $ೆr wೆxy'ನು0 ತಮ` ;ಾ' ಾk ಈ ದೂ(ೊಂೆ ಲಗ Yಸhಾk6ೆ. LಾಜPದ ಜನ#ೆ <ಾಂೆ+ ಪa<ೆz 135 Oಾ{ನಗಳನು0 EೕX 5 ವಷ&ಗಳ <ಾಲ ಸ<ಾ&ರ ನwೆಸಲು ಜಾ6ೇಶ_ಾkರುತY6ೆ. ಅದರಂ#ೆ LಾಜPದi ಜನಪರ_ಾದಂತಹ ಸ<ಾ&ರವನು0 <ಾಂೆ+ ಪa ನwೆಸು Yದ7ರೂ, ಅ}<ಾರSಲi6ೆ ಹ#ಾಶLಾkರುವ <ೆಲವc ?~ೆ@ ಾಯಕರುಗಳI OಾSರ <ೋ% ಭ+ಷe ಹಣವನು0 ಅಕ+ಮ_ಾk ಸಂಗ+'5 <ಾಂೆ+ ೇತೃತ9ದ <ಾಂೆ+ ಸ<ಾ&ರವನು0 ಪತನೊfಸಲು ಸಂಚು ರೂ@5ರುವcದು ಬಸನೌಡ $ಾ%ೕ/ ಯ#ಾ01 ಅವರ ೇf<ೆlಂದ ಸ€ಷe_ಾkರುತY_ೆ. ಇದ(ಂದ ಒಂದು ಕwೆ ಜಾ6ೇಶ<ೆz ಅಪWಾರ ಮ#ೊYಂದು ಕwೆ ಭ+‚ಟ ಾಗೂ ಅಕ+ಮ ಹಣ ವಾ&ವೆ ನwೆಯು Y6ೆ. ಸ;ಾಜದi ಈ (ೕ Zಾk ೇf<ೆ EೕX ಪa-ಪaಗಳ <ಾZಾ&ಕತ&ರುಗಳ ನಡು_ೆ <ೋಮು ಸೃ[e5 ಸ;ಾಜದi ಗಲೆಗಳI ಉಂjಾಗುವಂ#ೆ ;ಾಡುವ ೇf<ೆಗಳನು0 Eೕಡು Yರುವ ಸದ(ಯವರ Sರುದƒ ಸೂಕY <ಾನೂನು (ೕ#ಾP ಕ+ಮ <ೈೊಂಡು ಪ+~ಾಪ+ಭುತ9 ವPವOೆ{ ಉf5 ಮತುY <ಾನೂನು ಸುವPವOೆ{ <ಾಪಡೇ<ೆಂದು ತಮ`i <ೇf<ೊಳI„#ೆYೕೆ. ವಂದೆಗ)ೆಂೆ ತಮ` S2ಾ95 ¸À»/-” - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC:2873 CRL.P No. 11251 of 2024 This becomes a crime in Crime No.113 of 2024. The offence is the one punishable under Section 192 of the BNS. Section 192 of the BNS deals with punishment to a person who wantonly gives provocation with an intent to cause riot. I fail to understand where from the statement would meet the ingredients of wanton, malignant and provocation to cause a riot. Therefore, the crime is registered for the heck of registration. Permitting further investigation into such crimes without it having any of the ingredients, will be permitting a reckless registration of the crime to be investigated into. It would be apposite to refer to the judgment of the Apex Court, in the case of STATE OF HARYANA V. BHAJAN LAL1 wherein the Apex Court holds as follows: “102. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the various relevant provisions of the Code under Chapter XIV and of the principles of law enunciated by this Court in a series of decisions relating to the exercise of the extraordinary power under Article 226 or the inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code which we have extracted and reproduced above, we give the following categories of cases by way of illustration wherein such power could be exercised either to prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice, though it may not be possible to lay down any precise, clearly defined and sufficiently channelised and inflexible guidelines or rigid formulae and to give an exhaustive list of myriad kinds of cases wherein such power should be exercised. 1 1992 Supp. 1 SCC 335 - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC:2873 CRL.P No. 11251 of 2024 (1) Where the allegations made in the first information report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused. (2) Where the allegations in the first information report and other materials, if any, accompanying the FIR do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police officers under Section 156(1) of the Code except under an order of a Magistrate within the purview of Section 155(2) of the Code. (3) Where the uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR or complaint and the evidence collected in support of the same do not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a case against the accused. (4) Where, the allegations in the FIR do not constitute a cognizable offence but constitute only a noncognizable offence, no investigation is permitted by a police officer without an order of a Magistrate as contemplated under Section 155(2) of the Code. (5) Where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused. (6) Where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any of the provisions of the Code or the concerned Act (under which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or where there is a specific provision in the Code or the concerned Act, providing efficacious redress for the grievance of the aggrieved party. (7) Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge.” (Emphasis supplied) - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC:2873 CRL.P No. 11251 of 2024 8. In the light of the aforesaid complaint not meeting the ingredients of the offence alleged and the judgment of the Apex Court as afore-quoted, if further proceedings are permitted to be continued, it would become an abuse of the process of the law and result in miscarriage of justice. 9. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER (i) Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) Crime registered in Crime No.113 of 2024 and pending before the 4th Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Davanagere stands quashed qua the petitioner. Consequently, I.A.No.1 of 2024 also stands disposed. Sd/- ______________________ JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA bkp/CT-ASC List No.: 19 Sl No.: 6