- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44530 CRL.A No. 1524 of 2021 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1524 OF 2021 (A) BETWEEN: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY POLICE INSPECTOR, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA POLICE WING, CITY DIVISION, BENGALURU (REP. BY SPL. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR) HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. …APPELLANT (BY SRI. ASHWIN S. HALADY., ADV.) AND: H. V. VENKATARAMU SON OF VENKATAKRISHNAPPA AVADHANI, AGED 65 YEARS, JOINT DIRECTOR, TRAINING (ADMINISTRATION), DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING, KOUSHALYA BHAVAN, DAIRY CIRCLE, BANNERGHATTA ROAD, BENGALURU-560 029, RESIDING AT NO. 1066/1240, 8TH CROSS, 1ST 'F' MAIN, GIRINAGAR 2ND STAGE, BENGALURU-560 085. …RESPONDENT (NOTICE NOT ORDERED IN R/O RESPONDENT.) Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYAN N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44530 CRL.A No. 1524 of 2021 THIS CRL.A IS FILED U/S.378(1) AND (3) CR.P.C PRAYING TO GRANT LEAVE TO APPEAL AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER DATED 09.01.2019 PASSED BY THE LXXVI ADDITIONAL CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGLAURU (CCH-77) IN SPL.C.C.NO.336/2014, ACQUITTING THE RESPONDENT / ACCUSED FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 7, 13(1)(d) R/W 13(2) OF PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT AND ETC. THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR HEARING ON INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA ORAL JUDGMENT ORDER ON IA.I/2024 The appellant has filed IA.I/2024 under Section 5 of Limitation Act to condone the delay of 703 days in filing the appeal. 2. This Court has passed an order on 07.08.2024 that it is found that there is absolutely no reasonable grounds made out in the affidavit. At that stage, the appellant counsel sought time to file better affidavit. Till this day, better affidavit is not filed. Hence, I have perused the affidavit supporting the application under - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44530 CRL.A No. 1524 of 2021 Section 5 of Limitation Act, to condone the delay of 383 days. 3. This application is supported with the affidavit of Pradeep Kumar P.M, DYSP, Karnataka Lokayukta, Bengaluru, in which it is stated that the Government of Karnataka (Home Department) accorded its approval and authorization for filing an appeal before this Court. Thereafter, file pertaining to this case was entrusted to their panel advocate representing the Lokayukta and their panel advocate after receiving the file, sought for all the documents/evidence, exhibits etc., in Spl.C.C.No. 336/2014, on the file of the LXXVI Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru. It has taken time to collect the required documents. 4. Further, it is stated that, due to COVID-19 pandemic situation, the file could not be proceeded further for instituting this criminal appeal before this Court. On all these grounds sought for allowing this application. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44530 CRL.A No. 1524 of 2021 5. A perusal of the office note, it is clear that COVID-19 period is already excluded. The appellant has not produced the materials to support the averments made in the affidavit. Despite granting more than a year to file better affidavit, appellant has not complied with the order of this Court. Hence, I do not find any sufficient cause to condone the abnormal delay of 703 days in filing this appeal. Hence, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER IA.I/2024 filed under Section 5 of Limitation Act is dismissed. Consequently, appeal is dismissed. Sd/- (G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE KBM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30