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High Court of Karnataka · body

2025 DAILYLAW 63647 (KAR)

SHAKUNTALA v. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

CRL.RP/200105/2025 · 2025-10-09

Sachin Shankar Magadum

body2025

Judgment text

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" # &( $ ( % )* % # $ ) + % # $ &(!+!++!+ & & & ( '*+!+) %( Digitally signed by RENUKA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - &(%% +)!+!+) &&(% &*+ )+!++%%% % #(($+!++ ( % ( ( , (&(( #, (&(($ -./ 012.2.34 ./ 5.617 8//8.6.49 2-1 :;79<142 35 =34>.=2.34 847 3?71? 34 /14214=1 78217 +)!+!+) ?1471?17@A2-1618?41777.2.3486.>.6&;791847&(% .:8A80;?#53?/-3?2B?.863;?2C$.43*+ )+!++847 =345.?<17 @A 2-1 618?417 77.2.3486 ./2?.=2 847 1//.34/ &;791 .:8A80;? #53? /-3?2 B00166821 3;?2C$ .4 ?.<.486 00186 3'*+!+) 53? 2-1 35514=1/ 0;4./-8@61 ;471? 1=2.34 35 2-1 8?4828D8 ?./34/ #<147<142$ =2+!++#53?/-3?2B=2+!++C$ + -3;9- 2-./ <8221? ./ 6./217 53? 3?71?/ -18?7 618?417=3;4/1653?2-1012.2.341?34<1?.2/ - 3 - ) -158=2/6187.49232-1=8/18?18/;471? -1 012.2.341?8==;/17 3 E-3 E8/ ;471?93.49 /14214=1 ;034 -1? =34>.=2.34 .4 8 =8/1 ?19./21?17 ;471? 2-1 0?3>./.34/ 35 2-1 ?321=2.34 35 -.67?14 5?3< 1F;86 5514=1/=2+! +#=2$-878006.1753?9?84235 08?361 -1 =3<012142 8;2-3?.2A 34 7;1 =34/.71?82.34 E8/ 0618/17 23 9?842 08?361 23 2-1 012.2.341? 34 !*!)+!++53?801?.3735)!78A/;@/1G;1426A2-1/8.7 08?361E8/5;?2-1?1F21471753?84877.2.348601?.3735'! 78A/ 034 1F0.?A 35 2-1 1F214717 08?361 01?.37 2-1 012.2.341?8==;/17 3 E8/ ;471? 8 61986 3@6.982.34 23 >36;428?.6A/;??1471?@153?12-1142?86?./34.:8A80;? 343?@153?1!!'+!++3E1>1?2-1012.2.341?58.61723 /;??1471? E.2-.4 2-1 /2.0;68217 2.<1 34/1G;1426A 2-1 0?./34 8;2-3?.2.1/ .4.2.8217 0?3=117.49/ 898.4/2 -1? ;471? 1=2.34 35 2-1 =2 +!++ 53? >.3682.34 35 08?361 =347.2.34/847;48;2-3?.H178@/14=15?3<68E5;6=;/237A -1 618?417 ?.86 3;?2 8521? 14/;?.49 =3<06.84=1 E.2- 2-1 <847823?A ?1G;.?1<142/ 35 1=2.34 - 4 - +! 35 2-1 371 35 ?.<.486 ?3=17;?1 *) 5?8<17 =-8?91/ 898.4/2 2-1 012.2.341?8==;/17 3 53? 2-1 35514=1 0;4./-8@61 ;471? 1=2.34 35 2-1 =2 +!++ ;?.492-1=3;?/1352?.862-10?3/1=;2.341F8<.417.4866 214 E.241//1/ 847 0?37;=17 2-.?2A2E3 73=;<1428?A 1F-.@.2/ .4 /;003?2 35 .2/ =8/1 23 1/28@6./- 2-82 2-1 012.2.341?-87E.665;66A58.61723/;??1471?;0342-11F0.?A 352-108?36101?.37034<12.=;63;/800?1=.82.34352-1 3?86 847 73=;<1428?A 1>.714=1 2-1 618?417 ?.86 &;791 =8<1 23 2-1 =82193?.=86 =34=6;/.34 2-82 2-1 0?3/1=;2.34 -87/;==1//5;66A0?3>172-19;.62352-1012.2.341?@1A347 ?18/348@6173;@253?2-135514=10;4./-8@61;471?1=2.34 35 2-1 =2 +!++ ==3?7.496A 2-1 012.2.341? E8/ =34>.=217 847 /14214=17 23 ;471?93 ?.93?3;/ .<0?./34<14253?801?.37352E3A18?/8472308A85.41 35/ !!!847.47158;623508A<142355.41235;?2-1? ;471?93/.<061.<0?./34<14253?801?.37352-.?2A78A/ 1.49 899?.1>17 @A 2-1 /8.7 :;79<142 35 =34>.=2.348473?71?35/14214=12-1012.2.341?0?151??17 - 5 - ?.<.486 00186 3'*+!+) @153?1 2-1 00166821 3;?2 -1 618?417 00166821 &;791 ;034 84 .4710147142 847 =3<0?1-14/.>1 ?1800?1=.82.34 35 2-1 142.?1 1>.714=1 34 ?1=3?7 =34=;??17 E.2- 2-1 5.47.49/ ?1=3?717 @A 2-1 ?.86 3;?2 -1 00166821 3;?2 3@/1?>17 2-82 4341 35 2-1 9?3;47/ ;?917 .4 2-1 800186 E8??84217 .421?51?14=1 E.2- 2-1 E166?18/3417 :;79<142 35 2-1 ?.86 3;?2 -1 00166821 3;?2 86/3 41982.>17 2-1 =342142.34 2-82 2-1 ?.863;?2-8758.617231F21472-1@1415.2351=2.34+ 352-137135?.<.486?3=17;?1 *)-367.492-82/;=- 8 @1415.2 E8/ 432 822?8=217 .4 2-1 58=2/ 35 2-1 0?1/142 =8/1 34/1G;1426A 2-1 800186 =8<1 23 @1 7./<.//17 855.?<.49@32-2-1=34>.=2.348472-1/14214=1.<03/17@A 2-1?.863;?2 ' -1 618?417 .9- 3;?2 3>1?4<142 61871? /;003?2.49 2-1 =34=;??142 5.47.49/ ?1471?17 @A @32- 2-1 3;?2/@163E=342147172-822-10?3/1=;2.341>.714=1./ ;4.<018=-8@61 847 =618?6A 1/28@6./-1/ 2-1 =;608@.6.2A 35 2-1 012.2.341? @1A347 ?18/348@61 73;@2 2 E8/ 5;?2-1? - 6 - /;@<.22172-82@32-2-13;?2/-8>1<12.=;63;/6A8486AH17 2-1 1>.714=1 34 ?1=3?7 847 -8>1 8//.9417 =39142 847 =34>.4=.49 ?18/34/ 23 /;/28.4 2-1 =34>.=2.34 2 E8/ 2-;/ ;?917 2-82 2-1?1 8?1 43 >86.7 9?3;47/ <871 3;2 .4 2-1 ?1>./.34 012.2.34 23 E8??842 .421?51?14=1 847 =34/1G;1426A 2-1 ?1>./.34 012.2.34 71/1?>1/ 23 @1 7./<.//17.46.<.418/@1.4971>3.735<1?.2 8>.49 -18?7 2-1 618?417 =3;4/16 53? 2-1 012.2.341?8472-1618?417.9-3;?23>1?4<14261871? 847;03401?;/86352-1?1=3?7/35@32-2-13;?2/@163E 2-./ 3;?2 -8/ @1/23E17 .2/ 84F.3;/ =34/.71?82.34 23 2-1 ?.>86 /;@<.//.34/ -1 0?.4=.086 =342142.34 87>84=17 34 @1-865 35 2-1 012.2.341? ./ 2-82 -1? 58.6;?1 23 /;??1471? @153?1 2-1 0?./34 8;2-3?.2.1/ E8/ 41.2-1? 716.@1?821 43? .42142.3486 @;2 E8/ 3==8/.3417 7;1 23 /1?.3;/ -1862- =3<06.=82.34/ 8?./.49 7;?.49 2-1 3>.7 * 08471<.= 01?.37 2 ./ =34214717 2-82 2-1 012.2.341? E8/ ;471? <17.=86 2?182<142 847 E8/ ?1/.7.49 .4 -1? /34C/ -3;/1 - 7 - 7;?.492-822.<18472-1?153?1=3;67432/;??1471?E.2-.4 2-1/2.0;6821701?.37 -./3;?2 5.47/2-82 2-3;9- /;=-8 =342142.34 ./ 87>84=17 2-1 012.2.341? -8/ 432 068=17 34 ?1=3?7 84A =?17.@613?=39142<821?.861.2-1?@153?12-1?.863;?23? @153?12-100166821 3;?223 /;@/2842.8212-1/8.7 0618 3 <17.=86 ?1=3?7/ 0?1/=?.02.34/ 3? 84A 53?< 35 =3??3@3?82.>11>.714=1E1?10?37;=17231/28@6./-2-822-1 012.2.341? E8/ .4=808=.28217 3? <17.=866A ;45.2 23 ?103?2 @8=D 23 2-1 0?./34 8;2-3?.2.1/ 34 2-1 7;1 7821 4 2-1 8@/14=1 35 84A ?1@;2286 3? <.2.982.49 1>.714=1 2-1 0?3/1=;2.34 >1?/.34 2-82 2-1 012.2.341? -87 716.@1?8216A 58.61723/;??1471?;0341F0.?A352-108?36101?.37/2847/ 5.?<6A1/28@6./-174=12-1012.2.341?-878>8.61708?361 847 /;@/1G;1426A /1=;?17 84 1F214/.34 35 '! 78A/ /-1 E8/@3;47@A2-1=347.2.34/.<03/17.42-108?3613?71? -1 58.6;?1 23 >36;428?.6A /;??1471? E.2-.4 2-1 /2.0;68217 2.<1 71/0.21 8>8.6.49 /;=- @1415.2 71<34/2?821/ =618? 434=3<06.84=1 847 822?8=2/ 2-1 01486 =34/1G;14=1/ - 8 - 0?1/=?.@17;471?1=2.34352-1=2+!++-158=22-82 2-1012.2.341?E8//;@/1G;1426A800?1-14717847@?3;9-2 @8=D 23 =;/237A 5;?2-1? /;@/2842.821/ 2-1 0?3/1=;2.34 =8/1 * 32-2-13;?2/@163E;034800?1=.82.34352-1 142.?11>.714=1-8>1?1=3?717=34=;??1425.47.49/3558=2 @8/17 34 ?16.8@61 847 =6.4=-.49 1>.714=1 877;=17 @A 2-1 0?3/1=;2.34 -1 5.47.49/ ?1=3?717 @A 2-1 3;?2/ 8?1 41.2-1?01?>1?/143?=342?8?A232-1<821?.8634?1=3?74 1F1?=./1 35 ?1>./.3486 :;?./7.=2.34 ;471? 1=2.34/ )847 +352-1 -8?82.A8898?.D;?8D/-884-.28+!+)2-./ 3;?2./4321F01=21723?1800?1=.8212-1142.?11>.714=1 8/.5.2E1?183;?235800186;461//2-1?1./8<84.51/2 .661986.2A 9?3// <./=8??.891 35 :;/2.=1 3? 01?>1?/.2A .4 800?1=.82.34351>.714=13/;=-.45.?<.2A./<8713;2.4 2-1 0?1/142 =8/1 E8??842.49 .421?51?14=1 E.2- 2-1 =34=;??142:;79<142/?1471?17@A2-13;?2/@163E ! 4>.1E352-18@3>17./=;//.342-./3;?2./35 2-1=34/.71?1730.4.342-822-1?1>./.34012.2.34./71>3.7 - 9 - 35 84A <1?.2 847 731/ 432 =866 53? 84A .421?51?14=1 ==3?7.496A 2-1 ?.<.486 1>./.34 12.2.34 /2847/ 153?108?2.49E.2-2-1=8/12-./3;?2711</ .2 800?30?.821 23 3@/1?>1 2-82 2-1 0?3>./.34/ =3428.417 ;471? 1=2.34 35 2-1 =2 +!++ 93>1?4.49 >.3682.34 35 08?361 =347.2.34/ 847 ;48;2-3?.H17 8@/14=1 5?3< 68E5;6 =;/237A 8?1 G;.21 /2?.49142 .4 482;?1 -1 /8.7 0?3>./.34 =3421<06821/ .<0?./34<142 E-.=- <8A 1F2147 ;0 23 5.>1 A18?/8475.4153?84A=34>.=2E-3-8>.49@114?1618/17 3408?36158.6/23/;??1471?E.2-.42-12.<1/2.0;68217.4 2-13?71?9?842.49/;=-?1618/1-1;471?6A.49619./682.>1 .42142 ./ 23 14/;?1 2-82 2-1 6.<.217 6.@1?2A 9?84217 23 =34>.=2/;471?08?361./4328@;/178472-822-1/84=2.2A 35:;7.=.863?71?/8470?./347./=.06.41./<8.428.417 + 2 -8/ =3<1 23 2-1 432.=1 35 2-./ 3;?2 .4 /1>1?86 =8/1/ 2-82 =34>.=2/ ?1618/17 34 08?361 35214 ?1<8.4;48E8?1352-1/2?.49142=34/1G;14=1/3558.6.4923 /;??1471?E.2-.42-10?1/=?.@172.<1847/;=-.943?84=1 - 10 - 5?1G;1426A ?1/;62/ .4 5;?2-1? =?.<.486 0?3/1=;2.34 ;471? 1=2.34352-1=2-.//.2;82.34E8??842/80?38=2.>1 800?38=- 34 2-1 08?2 35 2-1 0?./34 87<.4./2?82.34 23 17;=821 847 /14/.2.H1 =34>.=2/ ?198?7.49 2-1 61986 3@6.982.34/ 8228=-17 23 08?361 847 2-1 /1>1?1 01486 =34/1G;14=1/2-8253663E.4=8/135434=3<06.84=1 ) ==3?7.496A 2-./ 3;?2 .//;1/ 2-1 53663E.49 9;.716.41/23@13@/1?>17@A866;01?.42147142/35142?86 847 ./2?.=2 ?./34/ 8=?3// 2-1 2821 E-.61 9?842.49 847 1551=2;82.4908?361?1618/13?71?/ "./0.1(2(343/5 2 2-1 2.<1 35 ?1618/1 34 08?361 2-1 &8.6 ;01?.42147142 3? 2-1 71/.948217 08?361 355.=1? /-866 <847823?.6A@?.151>1?A=34>.=2.486849;891;471?/2337 @A2-1=34>.=2?198?7.492-1=347.2.34/35?1618/18472-1 /01=.5.= =34/1G;14=1 35 58.6;?1 23 /;??1471? E.2-.4 2-1 /2.0;68217 01?.37 .4=6;7.49 2-1 0;4./-<142 0?1/=?.@17 ;471?1=2.34352-1=2+!++ - 11 - -(3114//04(1.63/5 E?.2214 ;471?28D.49 /-866 @1 3@28.417 5?3< 2-1=34>.=28=D43E6179.492-82-13?/-1-8/;471?/2337 2-1=347.2.34/3508?3618472-161986=34/1G;14=1/3584A @?18=-2-1?135=30A352-108?3613?71?86349E.2-2-1 1F2?8=2 35 1=2.34 35 2-1 =2 /-866 @1 0?3>.717 23 2-1 =34>.=2847=3;421?/.9417@A2-1?1618/.49355.=1? 7.(4/488.9:;<41 ' -1108?2<14235?./34/.4=33?7.482.34E.2- 2-1 8?4828D8 2821 1986 1?>.=1/ ;2-3?.2A # $ /-866 0?108?1 84 .453?<82.>1 08<0-612 3? @33D612 .4 844878847496./-/;<<8?.H.492-1?.9-2/7;2.1/847 6.8@.6.2.1/ 35 08?3611/ .4=6;7.49 2-1 01486 0?3>./.34/ 93>1?4.49 >.3682.34 35 08?361 -1 /8<1 /-866 @1 7./2?.@;217 23 866 0?./34/ 847 <871 8>8.68@61 23 .4<821/ 8472-1.?58<.6A<1<@1?/ 2 ./ 86/3 41=1//8?A 23 1<0-8/.H1 2-82 8 =34>.=2.34 ?1=3?717 ;471? 1=2.34 35 2-1 =2 +!++ - 12 - =8??.1/7./2.4=2847.471014714201486=34/1G;14=1/-1 /282;23?A 5?8<1E3?D =618?6A .47.=821/ 2-82 2-1 /14214=1 .<03/1753?>.3682.343508?361=347.2.34/3?;48;2-3?.H17 8@/14=15?3<68E5;6=;/237A./23@1;471?9341346A;034 =3<0612.34 35 2-1 3?.9.486 /;@/2842.>1 /14214=1 53? E-.=- 2-1 =34>.=2 E8/ .4.2.866A .<0?./3417 -./ 61986 03/.2.34 0?1/;003/1/2-822-1/14214=1;471?1=2.34352-1=2 731/ 432 ?;4 =34=;??1426A E.2- 2-1 3?.9.486 /14214=1 @;2 301?821/=34/1=;2.>16A8/2-135514=1=34/2.2;21/85?1/- 847 7./2.4=2 8=2 35 .47./=.06.41 847 @?18=- 35 68E5;6 =;/237A -1?153?1 E-.61 ?1618/.49 84A =34>.=2 34 08?361 2-1 :8.6 8;2-3?.2.1/ <;/2 /01=.5.=866A 800?./1 2-1 =34>.=22-82.42-11>1423558.6;?123/;??1471?E.2-.42-1 0?1/=?.@172.<13?.4=8/135>.3682.343584A=347.2.3435 08?361432346AE.660?3/1=;2.34@1.4.2.8217;471?1=2.34 35 2-1 =2 +!++ @;2 84A /14214=1 8E8?717 ;034 =34>.=2.34 2-1?1;471? E.66 -8>1 23 @1 /1?>17 8521? =3<0612.34 35 2-1 3?.9.486 /14214=1 847 432 - 13 - /.<;628413;/6A E.2- .2 ;=- =3<<;4.=82.34 /-3;67 53?< 08?2 35 2-1 E?.2214 8=D43E6179<142 3@28.417 5?3< 2-1 =34>.=2822-12.<135?1618/1 4=(0".3/14/./=4 * -1 ?./34 8;2-3?.2.1/ /-866 <8.428.4 8 8?361 3<06.84=119./21??1=3?7.492-17128.6/351>1?A08?361 ?1618/1 7821 35 1F0.?A 7;1 7821 35 /;??1471? 847 E-12-1?/;??1471?E8/7;6A<8713?7168A1786349E.2- ?18/34/-1?19./21?/-866@101?.37.=866A?1>.1E17@A2-1 10;2A4/01=23?141?8635?./34/=34=1?417 (03/.13/731;<3=4 +! 4 =8/1/ E-1?1 2-1 =34>.=2 58.6/ 23 /;??1471? E.2-.42-1/2.0;682172.<12-1?./34;01?.42147142/-866 0?3<026A.453?<2-1:;?./7.=2.3486036.=1/282.34E.2-.4 -3;?/ 53? 41=1//8?A 8=2.34 .4 8==3?784=1 E.2- 1=2.34 352-1=2+!++ - 14 - 45.<>/84<<3/5 + -1 ./2?.=2 1986 1?>.=1/ ;2-3?.2A # $ /-86614/;?12-821>1?A=34>.=28006A.4953?08?361./<871 8E8?1 35 2-1 =347.2.34/ 847 032142.86 =34/1G;14=1/ 2-?3;9-619866.21?8=A/1//.34/=347;=217E.2-.42-10?./34 0?1<./1/82?19;68?.421?>86/ ++ -1 19./2?8? 141?86 35 2-./ 3;?2 ./ 7.?1=217 2353?E8?78=30A352-./:;79<14223 . -1 .?1=23? 141?86 35 ?./34/ 847 3??1=2.3486 1?>.=1/8?4828D8 .. -1 8?4828D8 2821 1986 1?>.=1/ ;2-3?.2A # $847 ... 66./2?.=2 19861?>.=1/;2-3?.2.1/# /$8=?3// 2-12821 0* %"") # ./23 63+!