- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44813 CRL.P No. 13127 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13127 OF 2023 BETWEEN: 1. MR A SOMASHEKAR, S/O ANNAYAPPA, AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS, R/AT NO.22/24, SOMESWARA NILAYA, JAKKUR MAIN ROAD, NEAR MSV, AMRUTHAHALLI, BANGALORE - 560092. 2. MR. C.B. NARAYANASWAMY, S/O C MUNISWAMAPPA, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, R/AT NO.213, THIRUMENAHALLI MAIN ROAD, NEAR WATER TANK, AGRAHARA LAYOUT, BANGALORE - 560064. 3. MR. BALAKRISHNA, S/O BYYAPPA, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, R/AT NO. 611, 8TH MAIN, 8TH CROSS, NEAR LAKSHMI COMMUNICATION, KN EXTENSION, YASWANTHPUR, BANGALORE - 560022. 4. NANJEGOWDA JAYAPRAKASH, S/O NANJEGOWDA A., AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, R/AT NO.3, MATHAPEETHA NILAYA, KOTE LAYOUT, KODIGEHALLI, BANGALORE - 560092. …PETITIONERS Digitally signed by GEETHA P G Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44813 CRL.P No. 13127 of 2023 (BY SRI RAJESH A, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, REP. BY AMRUTHAHALLI POLICE STATION, REP. STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560001. 2. SRI UPENDRA NAMDEO JALGAONKAR, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, OCCUPATION - CONSULTANT, R/AT 25/D-3 RATNADEEP SOCIETY, MHADA COLONY ROAD, NO.2 KANDIVALI (EAST), MUMBAI - 400101, ALSO AT: M/S CULVER MAX ENTERTAINMENT PRIVATE LTD., (FORMERLY SONY PICTURES NETWORKS INDIA PVT. LTD.,) REGISTERED OFFICE ADDRESS. INTERFACE, BUILDING NO.7,. 4TH FLOOR, OFF MALAD LINK ROAD, MALAD (WEST), MUMBAI - 400 064, REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI RAJAT SUBRAMANYAM, HCGP FOR R1, R2 NOTICE DISPENSED WITH) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 CR.P.C PRAYING TO QUASH THE CR.NO.28/2018 AND CHARGE SHEET FILED FOR AN OFFENCE P/U/S 37, 51, 63, 69 OF COPY RIGHT ACT. OF THE ABOVE OFFICE OBJECTION AT SL.NO.4UR050224 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44813 CRL.P No. 13127 of 2023 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN ORAL ORDER The petitioners submit that C.C.No.7982/2019 has been registered based on the complaint of respondent No.2 alleging violation of the copyright of Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited by the petitioners. It is further submitted that the dispute is civil in nature and the parties have settled their dispute amicably. It is also submitted that respondent No.2- Company is not in existence anymore. In this regard, reliance is placed on the letter said to have been issued by respondent No.2, which is dated 04.04.2023 (vide Annexure-E) to the Writ Petition. 2. Learned High Court Government Pleader upon instructions submits that the complainant is not in existence any more and hence, Police have not been able to serve respondent No.2, the notice issued by this Court. For that reason, notice to respondent No.2 is dispensed with. 3. Learned High Court Government Pleader is also not in a position to contravene the submission of the petitioners. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44813 CRL.P No. 13127 of 2023 4. Hence, based on the aforementioned submissions, one has to conclude that the dispute between the petitioners and respondent No.2 is essentially civil in nature, and that the same has been resolved amicably and that respondent No.2 is not in existence any more. 5. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is allowed. 6. The proceedings against the petitioners in C.C.No.7982/2019 on the file of IX Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru stands quashed. Sd/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE GVP List No.: 1 Sl No.: 3