- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2136 CRL.P No. 103317 of 2024 C/W CRL.P No. 102198 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 103317 OF 2024 (482(Cr.PC)/528(BNSS)) C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 102198 OF 2024 IN CRL.P. NO.103317 OF 2024: BETWEEN: 1. SRI. NARAYAN HALAPPA AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 50 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, 2. SRI. KIRAN NARAYAN AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 27 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, 3. SRI. PAVAN NARAYAN AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 29 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, 4. SRI. MAYAPPA HALAPPA AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 62 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, 5. SRI. SIDDAPPA MAYAPPA AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 33 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, 6. SRI. MOHANRAJ MAYAPPA AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 31 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, 7. SRI. ANAND MAYAPPA AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 28 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, 8. SRI. SOMESH MAYAPPA AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 29 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, 9. SRI. MARUTI HALAPPA AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 48 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, 10. SRI. VITTAL MARUTI AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 20 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, 11. SRI. SHIVACHANDRA VENKAPPA UPPAR B K MAHENDRAKUMAR Digitally signed by B K MAHENDRAKUMAR Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench Date: 2025.02.07 11:09:29 +0530 - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2136 CRL.P No. 103317 of 2024 C/W CRL.P No. 102198 of 2024 AGE. 51 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, (ALL ABOVE ARE R/O. KANKANAWADI VILLAGE, TAL. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591222). …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SANTOSH B.MALAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH PSI RAIBAG POLICE STATION, REPTD BY ADDL STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, SPP OFFICE, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH, DHARWAD. 2. SMT. SUKAVANTI W/O. SIDRAM AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 55 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEWIFE, R/O. KANKANVADI VILLAGE, AGNEPPAGOL THOT, TAL. RAIBAG, AND DIST. BELAGAVI-591222. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ASHOK T.KATTIMANI, AGA FOR R1; SRI. DEEPAK S.KULKARNI, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/SEC. 482 OF CR.P.C. (U/S 528 OF BNS, 2023) SEEKING TO, QUASH THE FIR AND COMLAINT DATED 13.03.2024 REGISTERED IN RAIBAG P.S. CRIME NO 77/2024 FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/SEC. 143, 147, 323, 324, 341, 354(B), 504, 506 R/W SEC. 149 OF IPC WHICH IS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE PRL. CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT RAIBAG, IN SO FAR AS PRESENT PETITIONERS/ACCUSED NOS. 1 TO 11 ARE CONCERNED. IN CRL.P. NO.102198 OF 2024: BETWEEN: 1. SHRI. SANJU S/O. SIDRAM AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 34 YEARS, OCC. SERVICE, R/O. KANKANWADI VILLAGE, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591222. - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2136 CRL.P No. 103317 of 2024 C/W CRL.P No. 102198 of 2024 2. SHRI. HALAPPA S/O. BHIMAPPA ANTARGATTI AGE. 41 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. DURADUNDI VILLAGE, TQ. MUDALAGI, DIST. BELAGAVI-591310. 3. SHRI. SIDRAM S/O. HALASIDDAPPA AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 70 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. KANKANWADI VILLAGE, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591222. 4. SMT. SARASWATI W/O. SANJU AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 26 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. KANKANWADI VILLAGE, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591222. 5. SMT. SUKAMANTI W/O. SIDRAM AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 54 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. KANKANWADI VILLAGE, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591222. 6. SMT. RANJITA W/O. MUTTAPPA BHANGI AGE. 23 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. C/O. MUTTEPPA MALADINNI, KHANDRATTI, TQ. GOKAK, DIST. BELAGAVI-591233. 7. SHRI. GOPALKRISHNA S/O. SIDRAM JETTENNAVAR, AGE. 26 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O.KANKANWADI VILLAGE, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591222. 8. SHRI. MARUTI S/O. SIDRAM JETTENNAVAR AGE. 24 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. KANKANWADI VILLAGE, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591222. 9. SMT. SONAVVA W/O. SIDRAM JETTENNAVAR AGE. 54 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O.KANKANWADI VILLAGE, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591222. 10. SHRI. KALLAPPA S/O. HALASIDDA AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 38 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2136 CRL.P No. 103317 of 2024 C/W CRL.P No. 102198 of 2024 R/O. KANKANWADI VILLAGE, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591222. 11. SHRI. RANGAPPA S/O. BHIMAPPA MELAVANKI AGE. 53 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. DURADUNDI VILLAGE, TQ. GOKAK, DIST. BELAGAVI-591310. 12. SMT. YELLAVVA D/O. BHIMAPPA MELAVANKI AGE. 48 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. DURADUNDI VILLAGE, TQ. GOKAK, DIST. BELAGAVI-591310. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. DEEPAK S. KULKARNI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ASSISTANT SUB-INSPECTOR RAIBAG POLICE STATION, RAIBAG-591317, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH, DHARWAD-590011. 2. SMT. SUSHILAVVA W/O. NARAYAN AGNEPPAGOL AGE. 52 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. KANKANWADI VILLAGE, TQ. RAIBAG DIST. BELAGAVI-591222. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ASHOK T.KATTIMANI, AGA FOR R1; SRI. SANTOSH B.MALAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/SE. 482 OF CR.P.. SEEKING TO, QUASH ALL THE PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING THE COMPLAINT AND FIR IN RAIBAG POLICE STATION CRIME NO. 78/2024, IN RESPECT OF THE OFFENCE P/U/SEC. 143, 147, 148, 323, 324, 341, 354(B), 504, 506, 149 OF IPC BEFORE THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDG AND J.M.F.C. COURT, RAIBAG. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2136 CRL.P No. 103317 of 2024 C/W CRL.P No. 102198 of 2024 ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioners in Crl.P No.103317/2024 have been charge-sheeted for offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 323, 324, 354(B), 504, and 506 read with Section 149 of the IPC. 2. The prosecution’s case is that when the de facto complainant went to the land on a tractor for ploughing, the petitioners/accused allegedly formed an unlawful assembly, abused and threatened the complainant with dire consequences, and outraged the modesty of respondent No.2. 3. Similarly, in Crl.P No.102198/2024, the petitioners have been charge-sheeted for offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148, 323, 324, 354(B), 504, and 506 read with Section 149 of the IPC. 4. The prosecution alleges that when respondent No.2 went to the subject land on a tractor for ploughing, the petitioners/accused formed an unlawful assembly, abused and threatened the complainant with dire consequences, and outraged the modesty of respondent No.2. 5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Additional Government Advocate for the respondent-State. 6. Admittedly, a civil suit in O.S. No.435/2022, filed by petitioner No.3 for partition and separate possession, is pending consideration. In the said suit, the petitioners in Crl.P No.102198/2024 have been arrayed as parties. The dispute - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2136 CRL.P No. 103317 of 2024 C/W CRL.P No. 102198 of 2024 regarding the sale of the subject land, which is the basis of the present criminal proceedings, is also the subject matter of the pending civil suit. 7. The dispute between the parties is purely civil in nature, as evidenced by the pending suit. The filing of these criminal cases and counter-cases appears to be motivated by a desire for vengeance. Consequently, the continuation of the criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of the process of law. Accordingly, I pass the following: ORDER i) The petitions are allowed. Crl.P No.103317/2024: The impugned proceedings in Crime No.77/2024 pending on the file of the learned Principal Civil Judge and JMFC Court, Raibag, insofar as it relates to the petitioners – accused Nos.1 to 11 is hereby quashed. Crl.P No.102198 of 2024: The impugned proceedings in Crime No.78/2024 pending on the file of the learned Principal Civil Judge and JMFC Court, Raibag, insofar as it relates to the petitioners – accused Nos.1 to 12 is hereby quashed insofar as it relates to the petitioners – accused Nos.1 and 3 is hereby quashed. Sd/- (HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR) JUDGE BKM Ct:vh