- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14984 WP No. 103383 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 103383 OF 2025 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. SIDDAPPA S/O BASAPPA GADADAVAR, AGE. 30 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. 2. SRI. BASAPPA S/O YALLAPPA GADADAVAR, AGE. 53 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. 3. SRI. YALLAPPA S/O BASAPPA GADADAVAR, AGE. 34 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. 4. SRI. PUNDALIK S/O VENKAPPA BIRADI, AGE. 45 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. 5. SRI. MAHADEV S/O NINGAPPA NASLAPUR, AGE. 39 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. 6. SRI. SHIVANAND S/O BEERAPPA SANADI, AGE. 37 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. 7. SRI. SHANKARANAND S/O VEERUPAXAPPA KUDARI, AGE. 45 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. P1 TO P7 ARE R/O. CHIMMAD, TQ. RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI, DIST. BAGALKOT-587 312. 8. SRI. RAJUGOUDA S/O BABAGOUDA PATIL, AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. R/O. TAMADADDI, TQ. RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI, DIST. BAGALKOT-587 312. 9. SRI. BABU S/O RAMAPPA CHIGARI, AGE. 45 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. R/O. KHANDAL, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591235. 10. SRI. BASAPPA S/O. BHEERAPPA SANADI, AGE. 48 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. R/O. TAMADADDI, TQ. RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI, DIST. BAGALKOT-587 312. 11. SRI. RAVI S/O. MAHADEV DHARENNAVAR, AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. 12. SMT. BHARATI W/O RAJU KARPOORSHETTI, AGE. 32 YEARS, OCC. HOUSE HOLD, P11 & P12 ARE R/O. CHIMMAD, TQ. RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI, DIST. BAGALKOT-587 312. Corrected vide Court order dated 09.12.2025 Sd/- (MNPJ) Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench, Dharwad - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14984 WP No. 103383 of 2025 13. SRI. MAYAPPA S/O LAKXMAN CHIGARI, AGE. 48 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. R/O. KHANDAL, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591235.5 14. SRI. SHRISHAIL S/O KAREPPA DALAWAI, AGE. 52 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. R/O. BADABYKOD, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591235. 15. SRI. RAMAPPA S/O PANDU PUJERI, AGE. 48 YEARS, OCC. AGRI. R/O. BASTAVAD, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591235. 16. SRI. ANAND S/O. RAVINDRA GUBACHE, AGE: 54 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, R/O: CHIMMAD, TAL: RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI, DIST: BAGALKOT-587312. 17. SRI. NEMANNA S/O NINGAPPA BALAKAI, AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, R/O MUGALKHOD, TAL: RAIBAG, DIST: BELAGAVI-591235. 18. SMT. DEVAKI W/O. NEMANNA BALAKAI, AGE: 42 YEARS, OCC: HOUSE HOLD, R/O: MUGALKHOD, TAL: RAIBAG, DIST: BELAGAVI-591235. 19. SRI. BHEERAPPA S/O. BHIMA CHOUGALA, AGE: 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 20. SRI. CHIDANAND S/O. SHANKAR KARIGAR. AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 21. SMT. LAKKAVVA W/O. MAYAPPA KARIGAR, AGE: 58 YEAS, OCC; HOUSE HOLD, 22. SRI. SATTEPPA S/O. KAREPPA KARIGAR, AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 23. SMT. YALLAVVA W/O. KAREPPA KARIGAR, AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 24. SRI. KAREPPA S/O. VITTAL KARIGAR, AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 25. SMT. PUSPA W/O. CHIDANAND KARIGAR, AGE: 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 26. SMT. SATTEVVA W/O. RAMAPPA KARIGAR, AGE: 49 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 27. SMT. MALAVVA W/O. SHANKAR KARIGAR, AGE: 47 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 28. SRI. MURIGEPPA S/O. RAMAPPA KARIGAR, AGE: 42 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 29. SMT. SAVITA W/O. SURESH PUJARI, AGE: 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, Corrected vide Court order dated 09.12.2025 Sd/- (MNPJ) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14984 WP No. 103383 of 2025 30. SMT. NIMBEVVA W/O SIDAPPA HONNAHOSUR AGE: 47 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 31. SMT. GANGAVVA W/O. KAMANNA YALLATTI, AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, 32. SRI. RAMESH WS/O. PARAPPA JALAPURI, AGE: 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRL, P19 TO P32 ARE R/O ALAKANOOR, TAL; RAIBAG. DIST: BELAGAVI-591317. 33. SRI. GIRIMALLAPPA S/O. RAMAPPA KAKAMARI, AGE: 38 YEARS, OCC; AGRL, R/O:SASALATTI, TAL: RAIBAG, DIST: BELAGAVI-591317. … PETITIONERS (BY SRI. M. S. HARAVI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ITS P.S.I, KAGAWAD POLICE STATION, KAGAWAD, TAL; KAGWAD, DIST: BELAGAVI-591223. 2. SRI. PARAMESHWARAPPA S/O. HANUMANTAPPA BHIMAKKANAVAR, AGE: 69 YEARS, OCC: MANAGER, SECURITY, IN UGAR SUGAR FACTORY, UGAR K.H, TOWN, KAGAWAD. TAL: KAGAWAD, DIST: BELAGAV-591317. … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. T. HANUMAREDDY, AGA FOR R1; SRI. SRINAND A. PACCHAPURE, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI TO QUASH THE POLICE NOTICE ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 15-03-2025 AND 18-05-2025 SEEKING INFORMATION FROM THE PETITIONERS IN CONNECTION WITH KAGAWAD P.S. CRIME NO, 183/2022 FOR THE OFFENSE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 408, 420, 465 AND 468 R/W SECTION 34 OF I.P.C. AS PER ANNEXURE-C AND C1 TO C24 RESPECTIVELY.IN SO FAR AS PETITIONERS ARE CONCERNED IN ANNEXURE-C23, SL Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 AND 214. ISSUE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE 1ST RESPONDENT NOT INVESTIGATE/ SEEK INFORMATION OR INTERROGATE THE PETITIONERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE KAGAWAD P.S. CRIME NO, 183/2022 FOR THE OFFENSE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 408, 420, 465 AND 468 R/W SECTION 34 OF I.P.C & ETC., THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Corrected vide Court order dated 09.12.2025 Sd/- (MNPJ) - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14984 WP No. 103383 of 2025 ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) 1. The petitioners are before this Court seeking the following prayer: “A.ISSUE Writ, order or direction in the nature of Certiorari to quash the Police Notice issued by the 1st respondent dated 15-03-2025 and 18-05-2025 seeking information from the petitioners in connection with Kagawad P.S. Crime No.183/2022 for the offense punishable under section 408, 420, 465 and 468 R/w section 34 of I.P.C. as per Annexure-C and C1 to C24 respectively in so far as petitioners are concerned in Annexure-C23, Sl.No.2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 and 14. B.ISSUE writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus directing the 1st respondent not investigate/seek information or interrogate the petitioners in connection with the Kagawad P.S. Crime No.183/2022 for the offense punishable under section 408, 420, 465 and 468 R/W section 34 of I.P.C. C.Pass any appropriate order or direction as deems fit by this Hon’ble Court under the facts and circumstances of the case by allowing this wri petition in the interest of justice and equity.” 2. The petitioners claim to be a farmer and have lodged a complaint against the sugar factory and its employees, alleging misappropriation of funds. Pursuant to the said complaint, Crime No.183/2022 has been registered for the offences punishable under Sections 408, 420, 465, and 468 read with Section 34 of the IPC. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14984 WP No. 103383 of 2025 3. Sri Srinanda A. Pachhapure, submits that the Coordinate Bench has already rejected the petition filed by the accused persons. The petitioners herein are not the accused; they are farmers who have been called by the police for the purpose of investigation. The investigation is in progress. It is trite law that a witness or any person summoned for the purpose of investigation cannot maintain a petition seeking to stall such investigation, more so when the criminal petition filed by the accused has already been dismissed. 4. In light of the aforesaid circumstances, while observing that the petitioners–farmers shall not be unnecessarily harassed, I deem it appropriate to dispose of this petition with a direction to the petitioners to cooperate with the investigation. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE AC List No.: 1 Sl No.: 15