- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1099 CRL.P No. 102169 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 102169 OF 2024 (482(Cr.PC)/528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SURESH S/O. SHANMUKAPPA SINGANAL, AGE: 40 YEARS, OCC: BUSINESS, R/O: BANNIGIDAD CAMP CBC NAGAR, GANGAVATI, TQ: GANGAVATI, DIST: KOPPAL – 583 231. 2. SHANKRAPPA, AGE: 47 YEARS, OCC: COOLIE, R/O: BANNIGIDAD CAMP CBC NAGAR, GANGAVATI, TQ: GANGAVATI, DIST: KOPPAL – 583 231. 3. DEVENDRAPPA, AGE: 32 YEARS, OCC: COOLIE, R/O: BANNIGIDAD CAMP CBC NAGAR, GANGAVATI, TQ: GANGAVATI, DIST: KOPPAL – 583 231. 4. SHREEDEVI, AGE: 34 YEARS, OCC: COOLIE, R/O: BANNIGIDAD CAMP CBC NAGAR, GANGAVATI, TQ: GANGAVATI, DIST: KOPPAL – 583 231. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI MALLIKARJUNSWAMY B. HIREMATH, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1099 CRL.P No. 102169 of 2024 AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, GANGAVATHI PS BY ITS POLICE SUB INSPECTOR GANGAVATHI, DIST: KOPPAL – 583 231, ALSO R/BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENCH AT DHARWAD. 2. PAVAN KUMAR S/O. VEERESH, AGE: 25 YEARS, OCC: LABOURER, R/O: AMBEDKAR NAGAR, GANGAVATHI, TQ: GANGAVATHI, DIST: KOPPAL KARNATAKA – 583 231. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI SHARAD V. MAGADUM, AGA FOR R1; SRI R. A. PUROHIT, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.P.C., 1973, SEEKING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN SPL. C.C. (AC) NO.34/2022 PENDING ON THE FILE OF COURT OF PRL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT KOPPAL FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE U/S 323, 341, 354, 504, 506, R/W 34 OF IPC AND SECTION 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) OF SC AND ST (PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES) AMENDMENT ACT 2015 AGAINST THE ACCUSED NO.1 TO 4/ PETITIONER NO.1 TO 4, ARISING OUT OF CRIME NO.0143/2022 REGISTERED BY TOWN P.S. GANGAVATHI AND ETC., THIS CRIMINAL PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THERIEN AS UNDER: - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1099 CRL.P No. 102169 of 2024 ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) 1. The petitioners - accused Nos. 1 to 4 are at the doors of this Court calling in question the proceedings in SPL. C.C. (AC) NO.34 of 2022 registered for offences punishable under Sections 323, 341, 354, 505, 506 read with Section 34 of IPC and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) of SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 2. Heard the learned counsel Shri Mallikarjunswamy B. Hiremath appearing for petitioners, learned AGA Shri Sharad V.Magadum appearing for respondent No.1 and the learned counsel Smt. Vaibhavi Inamdar appearing for respondent No.2. 3. The second respondent is the complainant. It is the case of the prosecution that on 20th July 2022, the Police received an information that ration being illegally transported in the lorries of the warehouse belonging to the first petitioner. Therefore, the complainant along with - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1099 CRL.P No. 102169 of 2024 others is said to have gone to the warehouse where the products were allegedly kept being photographed. At that point in time, the petitioners are said to have assaulted or committed the offences, which would become the ingredients of what is alleged against the petitioners. The Police conduct investigation and filed the charge sheet. Filing of the charge sheet is what is driven the petitioners to this Court in the subject petition. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would take this Court through the complaint or the summary of the charge sheet to contend that at every stage the complainant has improved the case and there is no offence made out of assault or the provisions of the Atrocities Act. He would seek quashment of the entire proceedings. 5. Per contra, learned counsel Smt. Vaibhavi Inamdar would contend that, the Police after investigation have filed a charge sheet, it is for the petitioners to come out clean in a full blown trial. Insofar as the offences under - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1099 CRL.P No. 102169 of 2024 the Atrocities Act is concerned, learned counsel would submit that, the hurling of abuses against these petitioners have happened in a public place as the warehouse according to the learned counsel is a public place and therefore, it is a matter of evidence that the petitioners face and come out clean thereafter. She would seek dismissal of the petition. 6. Learned AGA would also toe the lines of the learned counsel representing the second respondent in seeking dismissal of the petition. 7. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the material on record. 8. The afore narrated facts are not in dispute. What led the registration of the complaint is an alleged assault or an attempt to outrage the modesty of a woman i.e., the sister of the complainant that led the complainant to register the complaint. Since the entire issue has now - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1099 CRL.P No. 102169 of 2024 triggered from the registration of the complaint, I deem it appropriate to notice the complaint. The complaint reads as follows: “UÉ, ªÀiÁ£Àå DgÀPÀëPÀ ¤jÃPÀëgÀÄ,, £ÀUÀgÀ ¥ÉÇð¸ï oÁuÉ, UÀAUÁªÀw. ªÀiÁ£ÀågÉÃ, «µÀAiÀÄ:- £À£ÀUÉ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ £À£Àß CPÀÌ£ÀªÀgÁzÀ ¸ÀgÀ¸Àéw EªÀjUÉ CªÁZÀå ±À§âzÀ½AzÀ ¤AzÀ¹, eÁw ¤AzÀ£É ªÀiÁr ºÉÆr §r ªÀiÁr fêÀ ¨ÉzÀjPÉ ºÁQzÀªÀgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ ¦AiÀiÁð¢. ---- F PɼÀUÉ ¸À» ªÀiÁrzÀ £Á£ÀÄ CAzÀgÉ ¥ÀªÀ£ÀPÀĪÀiÁgÀB vÀAzÉ «ÃgÉñÀ, ªÀAiÀĸÀÄì 25 ªÀµÀð, eÁwÀB ªÀiÁ¢UÉ GzÉÆåÃUÀB PÀÆ° ¸Á: CA¨ÉÃqÀÌgï £ÀUÀgÀ, UÀAUÁªÀw EzÀÄÝ vÀªÀÄä°è ¸À°è¸ÀĪÀ zÀÆgÀÄ K£ÉAzÀgÉ:- EAzÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ 20.07.2022 gÀAzÀÄ gÁwæ 09.35 PÉÌ ¹©J¸ï PÁ¯ÉÆä E¸ÁèA¥ÀÅgÀ UÀAUÁªÀw UÉÆÃzÁ«Ä£À°è Dgïf 19 fºÉZï 5949 ¯ÁjAiÀÄ°è CPÀæªÀĪÁV ¥ÀrvÀgÀ «vÀgÀuÉAiÀÄ CQÌAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¸ÁV¸ÀÄwÛzÁÝgÉ. CAvÁ ªÀiÁ»w §A¢zÀÝjAzÀ £Á£ÀÄ ¸ÀgÀ¸Àéw EªÀgÀÄ 2 ¸ÉÊPÀ¯ïUÀ¼ÉÆA¢UÉ ¸ÀܼÀPÉÌ ºÉÆÃV UÁrAiÀÄ ¥ÉÇÃmÉÆà ªÀÄvÀÄÛ UÉÆÃzÁ«Ä£À°ègÀĪÀ CQÌAiÀÄ zÁ¸ÁÛ¤£À°ègÀĪÀ ¥sÉÇÃmÉÆêÀ£ÀÄß vÉUÉzÀÄ PÉƼÀÄîwÛgÀĪÁUÀ ¹AUÀ£Á¼À ¸ÀÄgÉñÀ, ±ÀAPÀæ¥Àà zÉêÉÃAzÀæ¥Àà E£ÀÆß EvÀgÀgÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ E§âgÀÄ ºÉtÄÚ ªÀÄPÀ̼ÀÄ EªÀgÀÄ £ÀªÀÄä UÉÆÃzÁ«Ä£À°è ¤ÃªÀÅ KPÉ ¥sÉÇÃmÉÆà vÉUÉAiÀÄÄwÛÃj JAzÀÄ ¸ÀÄgÉñÀ ¹AUÀ£Á¼À FvÀ£ÀÄ ¸ÀgÀ¸Àéw CPÀ̽UÉ ªÉÄÊ ªÉÄðgÀĪÀ zÀÄ¥ÀàlªÀ£ÀÄß QvÀÄÛ J¸ÉzÀ §AUÁgÀzÀ vÁ½ ¸ÀgÀ ºÀjzÀÄ ºÁQ PÉÊAiÀÄ£ÀÄß J¼ÉzÁr £É®PÉÌ £ÀÆQzÀ£ÀÄ. ±ÀAPÀæ¥Àà ªÀÄvÀÄÛ zÉêÉÃAzÀæ¥Àà EªÀgÀÄ £À£Àß CPÀ̽UÉ ªÉÄÊ PÉÊ ªÀÄÄnÖ PÉʬÄAzÀ PÀ¥Á¼ÀPÉÌ ºÉÆqÉzÀgÀÄ. CªÀgÀÄ £À£ÀUÉ ZÀ¥Àà° ºÁgÀ ºÁPÀĪÀÅzÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¨ÉvÀÛ¯É CxÀªÁ ¨ÉvÀÛ¯É ªÉÄgÀªÀtÂUÉ ªÀiÁqÀÄvÉÛÃªÉ JAzÀgÀÄ. C°èAiÉÄà EzÀÝ £Á£ÀÄ CªÀjAzÀ £À£Àß CPÀ̼À£ÀÄß ©r¹PÉƼÀî®Ä ºÉÆÃzÁUÀ F ªÀÄƪÀgÀÄ ¯Éà ªÀiÁ¢UÉ ¸ÀƼÉà ªÀÄUÀ£Éà ¤ªÀÄä E§âgÀ£ÀÄß EªÀvÀÄÛ fêÀAvÀ ©qÀĪÀÅ¢®è. £ÀªÀÄä ªÀåªÀºÁgÀPÉÌ ¤ÃªÀÅ CrØ ªÀiÁqÀÄwÛ¢ÝÃj JAzÀÄ - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1099 CRL.P No. 102169 of 2024 £À£Àß ªÉÆèÉʯï£ÀÄß QvÉÛ¸ÉzÀÄ £É®PÉÌÉ ºÉÆqÉzÀÄ ºÁQ PÉʬÄAzÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ PÀnÖUɬÄAzÀ £À£Àß PÀÆqÀ ºÉÆr §r ªÀiÁrzÀgÀÄ. ºÁUÀÆ EªÀgÀ£ÀÄß E°èAiÉÄà ¯ÁjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ºÀvÀÛ¹ ¸Á¬Ä¹ ©r JAzÀÄ ¯Áj ZÁ®PÀ¤UÉ ºÉüÀÄwÛgÀzÁÝV ºÉýzÀgÀÄ. ¨ÁªÀÅ fêÀ ¨sÀAiÀÄ¢AzÀ C°èAzÀ vÀ¦à¹PÉÆAqÀÄ E¸ÁèA¥ÀÇgÀzÀ°ègÀĪÀ ªÀĹâ ºÀwÛgÀ ªÁ¥À¸ÀÄì §gÀÄwÛgÀĪÁUÀ gÁwæ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄ 09.55PÉÌ £ÀªÀÄä£ÀÄß ¨É£ÀßwÛ ±ÀAPÀæ¥Àà ªÀÄvÀÄÛ zÉêÉÃAzÀæ¥Àà ªÀÄvÀÄÛ E§âgÀÄ ºÉtÄÚ ªÀÄPÀ̼ÀÄ £ÀªÀÄä ¸ÉÊPÀ¯ï£ÀÄß PÀ¹zÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ £É®PÉÌ ªÀÄvÉÛ ºÉÆr §r ªÀiÁrzÀgÀÄ. ¸ÀzÀj §qÀªÀjUÉ ¥ÀrvÀgÀ aÃnAiÀÄ ªÀÄÆ®PÀ GavÀªÁV «vÀgÀuÉ ªÀiÁqÀĪÀ CQÌAiÀÄ£ÀÄß CPÀæªÀĪÁV ¯ÁjAiÀÄ ªÀÄÆ®PÀ ¸ÁV¸ÀÄwÛgÀĪÀÅzÀ£ÀÄß ªÀÄvÀÄÛ CPÀæªÀĪÁV ¸ÀAUÀ滹zÀ UÉÆÃzÁ«Ä£À ¥sÉÇÃmÉÆêÀ£ÀÄß vÉUÉ¢zÀÝPÉÌ £À£ÀUÉ eÁw ¤AzÀ£É ªÀiÁr £À«Ää§âjUÉ ºÉÆr §r ªÀiÁr ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¸ÀgÀ¸Àéw CPÀ̽UÉ CªÁZÀå ±À§ÝUÀ½AzÀ ¤A¢¹ ªÀiÁ£ÀPÉÌ PÀÄAzÀÄ GAmÁUÀĪÀ ºÁUÉ ªÀiÁrzÀ F ªÉÄð£ÀªÀgÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ E£ÀÆß EvÀgÀgÀÄ «gÀÄzÀÞ ¸ÀÆPÀÛ PÁ£ÀÆ£ÀÄ PÀæªÀÄ vÉUÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ £ÀªÀÄUÉ gÀPÀëuÉ ¤ÃqÀ¨ÉÃPÁV vÀªÀÄä°è «£ÀAw. ¢£ÁAPÀ: 21.7.2022 ¦AiÀiÁð¢zÁgÀgÀÄ ¸ÀܼÀ:UÀAUÁªÀw ¥ÀªÀ£ÀPÀĪÀiÁgÀ vÀAzÉ «ÃgÉñÀ ¸Á:CA¨ÉÃqÀÌgï £ÀUÀgÀ UÀAUÁªÀw ªÉÆ:7337762019 EAzÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ 22.07.2022gÀAzÀÄ 2.00 PÉÌ ¦AiÀiÁð¢AiÀÄÄ oÁuÉUÉ ºÁdgÁV ¤ÃrzÀ °TvÀ ¦AiÀiÁ𢠸ÁgÁA±ÀzÀ ªÉÄðAzÀ UÀAUÁªÀw £ÀUÀgÀ oÁuÉ UÀÄ£Éß 20.143.2022 600 143, 147, 148, 323, 324, 354, 504 506, gÉqï«vï 149 L¦¹ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ PÀ®A 3(1) (Dgï) 3(1) (J¸ï) 3(2) («J) J¹ìJ¹Ö CAiÀÄPïÖ 2015 £ÉÃzÀÝgÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ¥ÀæPÀgÀt zÁR°¹PÉÆAqÀÄ vÀ¤SÉ PÉÊUÉÆAqÉ£ÀÄ.” 9. The complaint becomes a crime in Crime No.143 of 2022 for several offences. The Police conduct investigation and files a charge sheet restricting the offences to the ones punishable as afore quoted. The - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1099 CRL.P No. 102169 of 2024 summary of the charge sheet as obtaining in column No.17, which reads as follows: “17. PÉù£À ¸ÀAQë¥ÀÛ ¸ÁgÁA±À UÀAUÁªÀw £ÀUÀgÀ ¥Éǰøï oÁuÉ ªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ UÀAUÁªÀw £ÀUÀgÀzÀ E¸ÁèA¥ÀÅgÀ ºÀwÛgÀ«gÀĪÀ ¹©J¸ï PÁ¯ÉÆä, ºÁUÀÆ E¸ÁèA¥ÀÅgÀ ªÀĹÃzÉ ºÀwægÀ ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ gÀ¸ÉÛAiÀÄ°, F zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥Àt ¥ÀvÀæzÀ PÁ®A £ÀA.14 gÀ°è, £ÀªÀÄÆ¢¹zÀ ¸ÁQë £ÀA. 1 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 4 £ÉÃzÀݪÀjUÉ F zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥Àt ¥ÀvÀæzÀ PÁ®Ä, £ÀA.12 gÀ°è £ÀªÀÄÆ¢¹zÀ DgÉÆævÀgÉ®ègÀÆ ¸ÀªÀiÁ£À ªÀÄ£À¹ìAzÀ £ÀªÀÄä UÉÆÃzÁ«ÄUÉ KPÉ §A¢gÀÄ«j, KPÉ ¥sÉÇÃmÉÆÃUÀ¼À£ÀÄß vÉUÉAiÀÄÄwÛgÀÄ«j CAvÁ ¸ÁQë £ÀA 4 £ÉÃzÀÝÀgÀªÀgÀ ªÉÄÊ ªÉÄðgÀĪÀ zÀÄ¥ÀàlªÀ£ÀÄß QvÉÛ¸ÉzÀÄ, ªÉÄÊ PÉÊ ªÀÄÄnÖ J¼ÉzÁr PÉʬÄAzÀ ºÉÆr §r ªÀiÁrzÀÄÝ, ªÀiÁAUÀ®å ¸ÀgÀªÀ£ÀÄß QvÉÛ¸ÉzÀÄ, PÀ¥Á¼ÀPÉÌ ºÉÆqÉzÀÄ ¤£ÀUÉ a¥Àà° ºÁQ ¨ÉvÀÛ¯É ªÉÄgÀªÀtÂUÉ ªÀiÁqÀÄvÉÛÃªÉ CAvÁ ¨ÉÊzÁrzÀÄÝ, EªÀ£ÀÄß £ÉÆÃr ¸ÁQë £ÀA 1 £ÉÃzÀݪÀgÀÄ ©r¸À®Ä ºÉÆÃzÁUÀ CªÀjUÉ DgÉÆæ £ÀA.1 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 2 £ÉÃAiÀĪÀgÀÄ " ¯Éà ªÀiÁrUÀ ¸ÀÆ¼É ªÀÄUÀ£Éà “¤«Ää§âgÀ£ÀÄß EªÀvÀÄÛ fêÀAvÀ©qÀĪÀÅ¢®è, CAvÁ eÁw ¤AzÀ£É ªÀiÁr, CªÁZÀå ±À§ÝUÀ½AzÀ ¨ÉÊzÀÄ, fêÀzÀ ¨ÉzÀjPÉ ºÁQzÀÄÝ EgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. EµÀÖPÉ, ©qÀzÉà DgÉÆæ £ÀA.2, 3, ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 4 £ÉÃzÀݪÀgÀÄ E¸ÁèA¥ÀÅgÀ ªÀĹÃzÉ ºÀwÛgÀ ¸ÁQë £ÀA. 1 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 4 £ÉÃzÀݪÀgÀ£ÀÄß ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ gÀ¸ÉÛAiÀÄ° CqÀØ UÀnÖ, ¤°è¹ ¸ÁQë £ÀA.1 £ÉÃzÀݪÀgÀ ¸ÉÊPÀ®£ÀÄß £É®PÉÌ PÉqÀ« PÉʬÄAzÀ ºÉÆr§r ªÀiÁr CªÁZÀå ±À§ÝUÀ½AzÀ ¨ÉÊzÁrzÀÄÝ EgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. PÁgÀt ¸ÀzÀj DgÉÆævÀj PÀ®A, 323, 341, 354, 504, 506, ¸À»vÀ 34 L.¦.¹ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 3(1)(Dgï), 3(1)(J¸ï), 3(1)(qÀ§Æè), 3(2)(«ªÀ) J¸ï.¹/J¸ï.n CªÉÄAqÀªÉÄgÀAl PÁAiÉÄÝ-2015 £ÉÃzÀÝgÀ Cr C¥ÀgÁgÀ ªÀiÁrzÀÄÝ ¸ÁQëzÁgÀgÀ ºÉýPÉUÀ½AzÀ ºÁUÀÆ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ vÀ¤SɬÄAzÀ ¸Á©ÃvÁVzÀÄÝ, PÁgÀt DgÉÆævÀgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ F zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥Àt ¥ÀvÀæªÀ£ÀÄß ¸À°è¹zÀÄÝ EgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. 18. ¦üAiÀiÁð¢üAiÀÄ ªÉÄÃ¯É £ÉÆÃnøï eÁj ªÀiÁqÀ¯ÁVzÉAiÉÄà : No 19. ªÀÈvÀÛ ¤jÃPÀëPÀgÀ / ªÉÄî¢üPÁjUÀ¼À µÀgÁ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ £ÁåAiÀiÁ¢üñÀjUÉ PÀ¼ÀÄ»¹zÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ :” - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1099 CRL.P No. 102169 of 2024 10. A perusal at the summary of the charge sheet would clearly indicate that the petitioners have indulged albeit prima facia in the ingredients of the offences except the offences under provisions of the Atrocities Act. The allegation under the Atrocities Act is for the ones punishable under Section 3(i)(r) & (s), for which the hurling of abuses against the member belonging to the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe should be in a public place or in a place of public view. Admittedly, the abuses have been heard inside warehouse, at the time when warehouse was being photographed from inside. Therefore, warehouse if it is a four walled warehouse would not become a public place or a place of public view and if further proceedings qua the Atrocities Act are permitted to be continued it would run foul of the judgment of Apex Court in the case of HITESH VERMA VS THE STATE OF UTTARAKHAND1. In that light, I deem it appropriate to obliterate the offences under the Atrocities Act. However, permit further trial qua all the 1 AIR 2020 SC 5584 - 10 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1099 CRL.P No. 102169 of 2024 other offences as those as the ingredients of all the offences are found in the summary of the charge sheet quoted supra. 11. For the aforesaid reason, the following: ORDER (i) The criminal petition is allowed in part. (ii) The offence under the Atrocities Act stands quashed. (iii) All other offences alleged against these petitioners are sustained. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE VNP/CT-ASC List No.: 1 Sl No.: 62