Research › Search › Judgment

High Court of Karnataka · body

2025 DAILYLAW 65235 (KAR)

BRANCH MANAGER, BRANCH OFFICE, ESI v. SRI.RAJ GOPAL REDDY AND ANR

CRL.A/200006/2018 · 2025-07-10

V Srishananda

body2025

Judgment text

Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.

- 1 - ! "#!$ #%% & '&(%)*+,&)) - !" #$# % " $$ & $$ ' ( $" ) $ & $ ($" ) $ $ !$# * $ $)#&$$+% Digitally signed by RENUKA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - $ $ ,! % ) $ $ "$ $ $ $ ,&' $$ $ $ "$ $ $ , #$ - $ # $ $ "$ )$ # $ $ . " #$ !# ! . " #$% /01213045//6789010:3;;/014/2<=84>/;?=1 :@/ 0AA/;;04: 042 13 @03:04B078901 @0421373 ;/014/2 <=84>/;?=11/>A=42/4:= @/ 104<@ 040C/1 9A;=B//>D :0:/ 4>8104</ =1A=10:3=4 0;0E810C3 3> :@/ 0AA/;;04: E/34C :@/<=9A;03404: - 3 - @/ A1=>/<8:3=4 F0> ;084<@/2 0C034>: :@/ 1/>A=42/4:>842/1:@/A1=63>3=4>=?:@/ 9A;=B//>.:0:/ 4>8104</ <: + 0;;/C34C :@/ <=993>>3=4 =? =??/4</> 842/1/<:3=4>!3%!E%042!33%=?:@/ 9A;=B//>.:0:/ 4>8104</<:+ ?=1<=4:106/4:3=4=?/<:3=4>+ !0% 042 !/% 042 /C8;0:3=4> + 042 =? :@/ 9A;=B//>D:0:/4>8104</! /4/10;%/C8;0:3=4>+ @/ C1=842> ?=1 ;084<@34C :@/ A1=>/<8:3=4 0> <=8;2E/>//4?1=9:@/90:/130;=41/<=123>:@0:0<<8>/2 = 409/;B &> 0A40 012/4 />:08104: 3> <=6/1/2 842/1 :@/ 9A;=B//>. :0:/ 4>8104</ <: + 042 0 <=2/ = 042 4/F , 23C3: <=2/ =,F0>0;;=::/2:=:@//>:0E;3>@9/4: <<8>/2 = E/34C :@/ A134<3A0; /9A;=B/1 =? 0<<8>/2 = 34 :/19> =? /<:3=4 !,% =? :@/ 9A;=B//>. :0:/ 4>8104</<:+ F0>34<@01C/=?0<<8>/2= :3>?81:@/1<=4:/42/2:@0:0<<8>/2=>042 @06/ 4=: A032 :@/ A134<3A0; /9A;=B/1>D <=4:13E8:3=4 ?=1 - 4 - :@/ A/13=2 ?1=9 "84/ := 01<@ =:3</ F0> <08>/2=4 +842/1:@/A1/><13E/2=19= :@1=8C@1/C3>:/1/2A=>:0<74=F;/2C9/4:28/>@=F34C:@/ <08>/0>:=F@B:@/<=4:13E8:3=4F0>4=:A032A/1>=40; @/0134CF0>0;>=0<<=12/2EB?3G34C:@/20:/=?@/0134C0> ++ ' $/>A3:/ :@/ >/163</ =? 4=:3</ 0<<8>/2 => 042?03;/2:=0603;04=AA=1:843:B?=1A/1>=40;@/0134C=1 >/42 04B 1/A;B := :@/ >@=F <08>/ 4=:3</ @/1/?=1/ 04 =12/1 <09/ := E/ A0>>/2 842/1 /<:3=4 =? :@/ 9A;=B//>.:0:/4>8104</<:+ 0>F0>A1=A=>/234 :@/4=:3</3>>8/2842/1=19=0422/:/1934/2:@/ <=4:13E8:3=409=84::=:@/:84/=?>&<=6/134C :@/A/13=2=?"84/:=01<@@/=12/1A0>>/2 EB :@/ 9A;=B//>D :0:/ 4>8104</ =1A=10:3=4 F0> 0;>= <=99843<0:/2:=:@/0<<8>/2A/1>=4>:@1=8C@1/C3>:/1/2 A=>: 0<74=F;/2C/9/4: 28/ 042 0263>/2 :@/9 := A0B :@/ <=4:13E8:3=4 09=84: =? >& F3:@34 0 A/13=2 =? ?3?://420B>@/=12/1=?:@/ 9A;=B//>D:0:/4>8104</ - 5 - =1A=10:3=4 F0> >/16/2 =4 + 042 /6/4 0?:/1 >/163</=?4=:3</0<<8>/2=?03;/2:=A0B>& :=F012><=4:13E8:3=4 , =4A0B9/4: =? :@/ ?34/ F0> 34:390:/2 042 A/193>>3=4 F0> >=8C@: ?1=9 :@/ "=34: $31/<:=1 $363>3=40; ??3</ :@/ 9A;=B//>D :0:/ 4>8104</ =1A=10:3=4 0;0E810C3 @/ =12/1 <09/ := E/ A0>>/2 =4 + 231/<:34C:@/104<@040C/1:=?3;/0<=9A;034:E/?=1/:@/ =81: @/1/0?:/1 <=9A;034: <09/ := E/ ?3;/2 042 <=C43H04</ F0>:07/4 =?:@/=??/4</> 0;;/C/2 0C034>: :@/ 0<<8>/2 A/1>=4> 042 0 <0>/ <09/ := E/ 1/C3>:/1/2 34 =& ;/0 F0> 1/<=12/2 EB :@/ 130; 0C3>:10:/ 0?:/1 >/<8134C :@/ A1/>/4</ =? :@/ 0<<8>/2 A/1>=4> <<8>/2 A;/02/2 4=: C83;:B 042 :@/1/?=1/ :130; F0>@/;2 + 4=12/1:=A1=6/:@/<0>/=?:@/<=9A;03404: :@/ 040C/1 C=:/G0934/2 @39>/;? 0> ) 042 9017/2 - 6 - :F/;6/ 2=<89/4:> F@3<@ F/1/ /G@3E3:/2 042 9017/2 0> G>:= @/1/0?:/1 0<<8>/2 >:0:/9/4: 0> 3> <=4:/9A;0:/2 842/1 /<:3=4 =? =2/ =? 139340; 1=</281/<09/:=E/?3;/2F@/1/34:@/0<<8>/2A/1>=4> @06/2/43/2:@/34<139340:=1B<31<89>:04</> 8E>/I8/4: :@/1/:= ;/014/2 130; 0C3>:10:/ @/012 :@/ 01C89/4:> =? :@/ A01:3/> 042 EB 0 <=4>32/1/2 582C9/4: 20:/2 ' <=463<:/2 042 >/4:/4</2 :@/0<<8>/2A/1>=4>0>842/1 ! " # $%& " ' ! " # $% & ($# %) * $ ( "+ * $) - 7 - , ' ! ! , & ' ! " # $% & ($#%) * $ ( "+* $) " ! - !*#)))., " ! # , "! / # , "# , ! ' *#)#)., 0 !! !1 ' ! 2 ,)) 3,)) " !# 4' 0 ) 5 # 0 ! ' ! '!60 0 7 ' ' @/ ;/014/2 130; 0C3>:10:/ 34 A010C10A@ =>:=@/;20>842/1 8 0 ' 0 - 8 - 3. !+ * 0 & # ' ! ' 9,( !1 / # 0 03. ! + * # : 8 # 20* #4' 0 ' 3 & # / 9,% # 3. !+ * 0& " ! ' / & 9,% ! 0 *5! * # 0 9, 0 ' ;6 ' 3. ! + * # & & !2< *=> ', ),)) & ! > ? % ! " 60 !, ,)@, )) / ! # ! ! ,),)) 0 ! 0 0 ' 2<# ! " !# > '# 0 ! + * - 9 - 5 0 ! 0 !0 ! 0 ! ! + ! !& ? & !6 # 0 6' ! ! ! 06# ! ! " ? &0 '& ' ! &0 " ? ! ! 8 ,),)) , 6 9 A,# ' 0 & ! !! 0 ! 8! 9,( 6 ,),)) 0 !! ! ! @ " 8 ' 0 0 $ 8 # ? (( # ! & ' ' 8 ! ! > - 10 - 0 !1 0 ' '& ) 0# 9 ? 0 ! & !& ,'!! !,#& ! % ! ' ! ' 8 ' # 0 ! ! ' ! 2 ,)) 3 )) " !& # ! 6 9,(# 0 ! 06,1' # ! ' 3 , % ! 9,( # 6' & 06 ' ! 0 0 " 0 & ! ' 2 ,)) ))# 9,$ ! '<! < "9!0 %, "# ! ' 0 *#)#)., '& ! & " 0 # & ! ' ! !9,) ! - 11 - 60 & ' B # ! & !' ! ' '& ($#%) " * $ ( ! " + * #$)! ' ' " " ", ' ', # !.! ! 0 ' & & ' A ' / # " !! ' ' ' ' ' & & & ! ' *#)#)., ! 2 ,)) 3,)) ! !& 0 #"0! & &C - 12 - /34C0CC13/6/2EB:@/>09/0<<8>/2A/1>=4> 0AA1=0<@/2 E/?=1/ :@/ 31>: AA/;;0:/ =81: 34 0AA/0; =,&' /014/2"82C/34:@/31>:AA/;;0:/=81:0?:/1 >/<8134C :@/ 1/<=12> @/012 :@/ 01C89/4:> =?:@/A01:3/> 34 2/:03; 042 EB ?=;;=F34C :@/ 23<:89 =? :@/ ==12340:/ /4<@ =? :@3> =81: 34 :@/ <0>/ =? 1/A=1:/2 34 0;;=F/2:@/0AA/0;@=;234C34A010C10A@=> 042 0>842/1 ( 8 !! ! 0 ' 0 >1' > 46 "D*, 46,) " ! ; '' A#>1'> 46 E FF ! !! ' ""! & ' # 0 !& " # #1 # ! 0 ! # - 13 - # &# ' ! !# '# ! !!# # 0 0 !! 3 ! , ' ' ' ! 0' ' G % " # ! !! ' "! & ' 0!& " !9( #1 # # . ' " ! ! 3 & 3 ' 8 !! ' "! !# & ? "= # ""! ? 0 9 ' ! . ! A ! 60 ' - 14 - ' ! & ' 06 ' &A 600 !! !8& A ! 8 ! & ! !' & ! 0 ' !! ! 0 !! 0 ! ! 8 & !& !! ! B. @ 8/ #! . ! !& ' B. 8 $%" !!0 !& 8 0 ' !!' / / "9 8"!#0 & ' !! ! !& !# 0 9( ! ' 0 ! 0 0 ! ' !! ! ! ? "'& & ' - 15 - 3 &03 & 0 ! !! ! 0 0 !' !& & ' D6 # ! . ! !&! ! ' ' ' 8 '0 0 !! & ! !!!!& 0 8 0 0 &!& # ! 2 & ' ''' >#"0!& ! &C /34C 0CC13/6/2 EB :@/ >09/ :@/ 9A;=B//>D :0:/4>8104</=1A=10:3=43>340AA/0; ' 13 045//678901 0:3; ;/014/2 <=84>/; 0AA/0134C?=1:@/0AA/;;04:1/3:/10:34C:@/C1=842>81C/2 34:@/0AA/0;9/9=F=8;2<=4:/42:@0::@/;/014/2"82C/ 34:@/31>:AA/;;0:/=81:2324=:0AA1/<30:/:@/90:/130; - 16 - /632/4</34A1=A/19044/1042F1=4C;B1/6/1>/2:@/=12/1 =? <=463<:3=4 EB :@/ 39A8C4/2 582C9/4: 1/>8;:34C 34 93><01130C/=?58>:3</042>=8C@:?=10;;=F34C:@/0AA/0; , 13 @03:04B078901 @0421373 ;/014/2 <=84>/; ?=1 1/>A=42/4: = >8AA=1:> :@/ 39A8C4/2 582C9/4: EB <=4:/4234C :@0: 4= ;3>: F0> A1/A01/2 EB :@/ 9A;=B//>D :0:/ 4>8104</ =1A=10:3=4 042 :@/1/?=1/ I8/>:3=4 =? A0B34C :@/ <=4:13E8:3=4 F=8;2 4=: 013>/ F@3<@ @0> E//4 13C@:;B 0AA1/<30:/2 EB :@/ ;/014/2 "82C/ 34 :@/ 31>: AA/;;0:/ =81: 042 :@/1/?=1/ >=8C@:?=123>93>>0;=?:@/0AA/0; 0634C@/012:@/01C89/4:>=4E=:@>32/>:@3> =81:A/18>/2:@/90:/130;=41/<=129/:3<8;=8>;B + 4>8<@A/18>0;=?:@/90:/130;=41/<=12:@/ ?=;;=F34CA=34:>F=8;2013>/?=1<=4>32/10:3=4 !3% )@/:@/1:@/90:/130;/632/4</A;0</2=41/<=12 EB:@/0AA/;;04:34:@/?=19=?=10;/632/4</=? - 17 - ) <=8A;/2 F3:@ :@/ 2=<89/4:01B /632/4</ A;0</2 =4 1/<=12 632/ /G@3E3:> := 907/> =8: :@/ <0>/ ?=1 :@/ 9A;=B//>D :0:/ 4>8104</ =1A=10:3=4 := >//7 04 =12/1 =? <=463<:3=40C034>::@/1/>A=42/4:>J !33% )@/:@/1 :@/ 582C9/4: =? :@/ 31>: AA/;;0:/ =81: 1/6/1>34C :@/ =12/1 =? <=463<:3=4 3> >8??/134C ?1=9 ;/C0; 34?3193:B =? A/16/1>3:B 042 :@8><0;;?=134:/1?/1/4</J !333% ? 04>F/1> := A=34: => 042 01/ 34 :@/ 0??3190:36/F@0:3>:@/0AA1=A130:/>/4:/4</J !36% )@0:=12/1J ./0(123/%2345031 <<8>/2=&>0A40 012/4/>:08104:3> />:0E;3>@/2 34 =;2 "/F01C3 =02 0;0E810C3 =? F@3<@ 0<<8>/2=05 =A0;/22BE/34C:@/A134<3A0;=??3</1 3>4=:3423>A8:/ = 2=8E: ?1=9 :@/ 90:/130; =4 1/<=12 :@/ 9A;=B//>D:0:/4>8104</=1A=10:3=4@020<<=12/2:@/ - 18 - <=2/ = 042 4/F , 23C3: <=2/ =,:=0<<8>/2= @/ <=4:13E8:3=4 09=84: :@0: F0> >=8C@: ?=1 3>?=1:@/A/13=2?1=9"84/:=01<@ 293::/2;B :@/ 4=:3</ =? 2/9042 F0> >/16/2 =4:@/0<<8>/2042:@/20:/=?A/1>=40;@/0134CF0>0;>= ?3G/20>++ > 0AA/;;04: ?03;/2 := 1/A;B := :@/ 4=:3</ :@/ 08:@=13:B2/:/1934/2:@/<=4:13E8:3=409=84:340>89=? >&042:@/>032=12/1F0>0;>=<=99843<0:/2 :@1=8C@ 1/C3>:/1/2 A=>: 0<74=F;/2C9/4: 28/ @/>/ 0>A/<:> =? :@/ 90::/1 01/ E=14/ =8: =4 1/<=12 :@1=8C@ 2=<89/4:01B/632/4</A;0</2=41/<=12 8: 34 A010C10A@ => 042 =? :@/ 582C9/4: :@/1/ 3> 0 <;/01 ?34234C :@0: 4/3:@/1 :@/ 4>A/<:=1 =? 9A;=B//>D :0:/ 4>8104</ =1A=10:3=4 4=1 - 19 - 04B 8:@=13H/2 ??3</1 F0> /G0934/2 E/?=1/ :@/ 130; =81: ' 293::/2;B ) 232 4=: @06/ 04B A/1>=40; 74=F;/2C/0E=8::@/0<<8>/2A/1>=4>E8:0;>=:@/489E/1 =? /9A;=B//> F@= F/1/ 0;;/C/2;B F=1734C 34 :@/ />:0E;3>@9/4: ) <0:/C=13<0;;B 0293::/2 34 @3> <1=>> /G09340:3=4 :@0: @/ 3> 4=: 0F01/ =? F@= 3> :@/ A134<3A0; /9A;=B/1 =? :@/ />:0E;3>@9/4: =? 0<<8>/2 = F@3<@ 3> 0293::/2;B0C012/41/>:08104: , 4 ?0<: :@/ =10; /632/4</ =? ) F0> 34 <=4:1023<:3=4 F3:@ :@/ 06/19/4:> 902/ 34 :@/ <=9A;034: @/1/ F0> 4= =:@/1 /632/4</ A;0</2 =4 1/<=12 := >@=F :@0:0<<8>/2=F0>:@/A134<3A0;/9A;=B/1=;3>:=? /9A;=B//> F/1/ 0;>= =E:034/2 E/?=1/ 3>>834C :@/ 4=:3</ 842/1:@/A1/><13E/2?=194=10:04BC36/4A=34:=?:39/ )63>3:/2:@//>:0E;3>@9/4::=6/13?B0>:=@=F904B /9A;=B//> F/1/ :@/1/ 042 F@/:@/1 :@/ <=4:13E8:3=4 F0> 4/</>>01BE/:F//4:@/A/13=2"84/:=01<@ - 20 - 81:@/1 :@/ 2/?343:3=4 =? A134<3A0; /9A;=B/1 3> ?=84234/<:3=4!,%=?:@/ 9A;=B//>.:0:/4>8104</ <:+ =11/02B1/?/1/4</:@/>032A1=63>3=43><8;;/2 =8:@/1/842/1 @ ! "#$"#C H #0 ! 0 !# !& 0 !# 0 ! ' I/ # $% -( $%J#! E ' ! +& " # !! ' +& ' 0 !! # <! E ' # ! !' !& ' EC - 21 - + 37/F3>/ F@0: 3> 04 K/>:0E;3>@9/4:D := <=6/1 :@/ 9A;=B//>. :0:/ 4>8104</ =1A=10:3=4 3> 2/?34/2 34 /<:3=4 !% =? :@/ 9A;=B//>. :0:/ 4>8104</ <: + =11/02B1/?/1/4</:@/>032A1=63>3=43>0;>=<8;;/2 =8:@/1/842/1 %& ! ' ! !0 ! ! 0 ! ! 0& # !0 ! ' #' '5 ! 3 # $ ( $ 0 EC 4 <=45=34: 1/0234C =? :@/ 0E=6/ A1=63>3=4> =? ;0F 3: 3> <1B>:0; <;/01 :@0: :@/ 4>A/<:=1 =? 9A;=B//>. :0:/4>8104</=1A=10:3=4@0>:=63>3::@//>:0E;3>@9/4: 042 A1/A01/ :@/ ;3>: =? /9A;=B//> := A1=6/ :@/ <@01C/> ;/6/;/2 0C034>: :@/ 0<<8>/2 A/1>=4> :@0: :@/1/ F0> 4= - 22 - <=4:13E8:3=4 902/ EB :@/ A134<3A0; /9A;=B/1 :=F012> :@/ 9A;=B//>.:0:/4>8104</=1A=10:3=4 G 3> A1/>>/2 34:= >/163</ 0> ;3>: =? /9A;=B//> 042 9017/2 0> 2=<89/4: 34 ?06=81 =? :@/ A1=>/<8:3=4 4 A/18>0; =? G 3: 3> <1B>:0; <;/01 :@0: 3: 2=/> 4=: E/01 :@/ >3C40:81/> =? /9A;=B//> =F/6/1 04 044/G81/ 3> 902/ =4 0 F@3:/ A0A/1 0E=8: :@/ ;3>: =? A/1>=4>/F=?:@/9@06/>8E><13E/2:@/31>3C40:81/>042 ?/F =? :@/9 @06/ A8: :@/31 ;/?: :@89E 39A1/>>3=4> =E=2B@0></1:3?3/2:@/;/?::@89E39A1/>>3=4>0>:@0:=? :@//9A;=B//> 81:@/1 4= 2/:03;> 01/ ?=1:@<=934C 0> := :@/31 0221/>>/>/:<@/;3>:=?/9A;=B//>3>0293::/2;BA1=632/2 EB =4/ 0@02/6 0:3; :@/ 040C/1 =? 0A40 012/4 />:08104: / @0> 4=: E//4 /G0934/2 := >@=F :@0: :@/ A/1>=4>34:@/;3>:044/G/2:= G01/:@/A/1>=4>F@= 01/ F=1734C F@/4 :@/ 4>A/<:=1 =? 9A;=B//>. :0:/ - 23 - 4>8104</ =1A=10:3=4 @0> 63>3:/2 :@/ />:0E;3>@9/4: 293::/2;B ) 3> 4=: 0 A/1>=4 F@= @02 63>3:/2 0<<8>/2=042A1/A01/2:@/;3>: 0734C4=:/=?:@/>/0>A/<:>=?:@/90::/1:@/ ;/014/2 "82C/ 34 :@/ 31>: AA/;;0:/ =81: 0> 1/?/11/2 := >8A10 @0> 1/<=12/2 >=842 042 >0:3>?0<:=1B 1/0>=4> := 1/6/1>/:@/=12/1=?<=463<:3=4 6/4 0?:/1 1/0AA1/<30:3=4 =? :@/ 90:/130; /632/4</=41/<=1234:@/;3C@:=?:@/0AA/0;C1=842>:@3> =81:2=/>4=:?34204B;/C0;34?3193:B=1A/16/1>3:B34:@/ 0E>/4</=?E0>/290:/130;E/34CA;0</2=41/<=12EB:@/ 0AA/;;04::=8A@=;2:@/=12/1=?<=463<:3=41/<=12/2EB:@/ 130; 0C3>:10:/ EB 1/6/1>34C :@/ ?34234C 1/<=12/2 EB :@/ 31>:AA/;;0:/=81:34:@/39A8C4/2582C9/4: ' 463/F=?:@/?=1/C=34C23><8>>3=4=34:=> 04201/04>F/1/234:@//C0:36/ - 24 - ./0(123/%234 , 463/F=??34234C>=?:@3>=81:=4=34:=> 042:@3>=34:F=8;24=:013>/?=1<=4>32/10:3=4 ./0(123/%234+ 463/F=??34234C>=?:@3>=81:=4=34:=> :=:@/?=;;=F34C=12/13>A0>>/2 !0% @/ 139340; AA/0; 3> 9/13:;/>> 042 @/1/EB 23>93>>/2 !E% @/E03;E=42>3?04B>:04223><@01C/2 1* &$) ! 3>:=;=