- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:53012 CRL.P No. 16874 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 16874 OF 2025 BETWEEN: 1. RAKSHITH S/O KEMPAIAH, NOW AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, R/AT NO.13, 1ST MAIN, 1ST CROSS, D SOUZA NAGAR, RAJARAJESHWARI NAGARA BENGALURU-560098 2. SATISH S/O BOJAIAH, NOW AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, R/AT NO.49, 1ST MAIN, 1ST CROSS, D SOUZA NAGAR, RAJARAJESHWARI NAGARA BENGALURU-560098. 3. KIRAN S/O THIMMEGOWDA, NOW AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, R/AT NO.69, 6TH CROSS, VEERABHADRA NAGAR, HOSAKEREHALLI BENGALURU-560085 4. LOKESH, S/O SRINIVASAMURTHY, NOW AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/AT NO.202, 1ST MAIN, 2ND CROSS, Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:53012 CRL.P No. 16874 of 2025 VEERABHADRA NAGAR, HOSAKEREHALLI, NEAR P.E.S.COLLEGE, BENGALURU-560098 5. GUNDAPPA, S/O SABANNA, NOW AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/AT DWARAKANAGARA, 4TH CROSS, BSK 3RD STAGE, BENGALURU-560085. 6. PREMSAGARA H.M. S/O MASTHIGOWDA, NOW AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS, R/AT NO.4, D SERVICE STATION, VEERABHADRA NAGAR SIGNAL, BENGALURU-560098 7. MANJU @ MANJUNATHA, S/O MUNIYAPPA NOW AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, R/AT NO.06, 1ST CROSS, 1ST MAIN, KARIYAPPA BADAVANE, JAVAREGOWDA NAGARA, RAJARAJESHWARI NAGARA BENGALURU-560098. 8. PRASANNA.K. S/O KRISHNA, NOW AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, R/AT NO.04, 6 TH CROSS, DURGAPARAMESHWARI NAGARA, KRISHNAPPA LAYOUT, RAJARAJESHWARI NAGARA BENGALURU-560098. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:53012 CRL.P No. 16874 of 2025 9. MUNIVENKATAPPA @ KULLA MAVA S/O KARIYAPPA, NOW AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/AT NO.34, 1ST CROSS, 1ST MAIN, KARIYAPPA LAYOUT, RAJARAJESHWARI NAGARA BENGALURU-560098. 10. ANILKUMAR S/O NARAYANAGOWDA, NOW AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, R/AT NO.04, 6TH CROSS, DURGAPARAMESHWARI NAGARA, KEREKODI, HOSAKEREHALLI, BSK 3RD STAGE, BENGALURU-560098. 11. NAVEEN @ NAVEENYADAV @ BULLI S/O G.M.MAHESH, NOW AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, R/AT NO.17/A, 6 CROSS, KARIYAPPA BHAVI, NEAR DARSHAN FARM HOUSE, HOSAKEREHALLI ROAD, R.R.NAGARA, BENGALURU-560098. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. K.A. CHANDRASHEKARA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY RAJARAJESHWARI NAGARA POLICE STATION, BENGALURU-560098 REPRESENTED BY SPP - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:53012 CRL.P No. 16874 of 2025 HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU-560001. 2. VENKATACHALAM S/O. LATE CHINNATHAMBI, AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, R/AT NO.51, MITTAPALLI VILLAGE, UTHANGARAI TALUK, KRISHNAGIRI, TAMILNADU-635001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. M.R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1; NOTICE TO R2 IS D/W) THIS CRL.P. IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN SC.NO.758/2019 NOW PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE LD. CCH-67 LXVI ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S. 143, 147, 148, 435, 427, 324 AND 307 R/W 149 OF IPC AND SEC. 2(a) P.D. P.P. ACT, IN SO FAR AS THE PETITIONERS HEREIN IS CONCERNED. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR ORAL ORDER In this petition, the petitioners seek the following reliefs: "WHEREFORE, the petitioners named above pray that, this Hon'ble court be pleased to call for records and quash the entire proceedings in SC No 758/2019 now pending on the file of the learned CCH-67 LXVI Addl City - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:53012 CRL.P No. 16874 of 2025 Civil and Sessions Judge Bengaluru for the offence punishable under sections 143, 147, 148, 435, 427, 324 and 307 R/w 149 of IPC and Sections 2(a) P.D.P Act., in so far as the petitioners herein is concerned, to meet the ends of justice." 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, learned HCGP for respondent No.1 and perused the material on record. For the order proposed, notice to respondent No.2 is dispensed with. 3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that the petitioners are accused Nos.1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 21, and 26 in the impugned proceedings in S.C.No.758/2019 instituted by respondent No.1 pursuant to the complaint given by respondent No.2 for offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148, 435, 427, 324 and 307 read with Section 149 of the IPC and Sections 2(a) of the Prevention of Destruction and Loss of property Act, 1984. 4. Accused No.15 - Venkatesh approached this Court in Crl.P.No.10613/2024, which was allowed and disposed of vide final order dated 02.07.2025 quashing the impugned proceedings qua - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:53012 CRL.P No. 16874 of 2025 the said petitioner - Venkatesh, accused No.15, by holding as under: "In this petition, petitioner seeks the following reliefs: “ WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prays that, this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to call for records in S.C.No.758/2019 ( in crime No.165/2016) on the file of LXVI Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge at Bangalore of respondent Rajarajeshwari Nagar police and quash the proceedings in S.C.No.758/2019 (in crime No. 165/2016) on the file of LXVI Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge at Bangalore Police station for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 148, 147, 435, 427, 324, 307 R/w 149 of IPC and Section 2(a) of P.D.PP Act, and pass such necessary order as this Hon’ble Court deems fit, in the interest of justice and equity.” 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned HCGP for respondent No.1 and perused the material on record. Both counsel jointly submit that for the purpose of disposal of the present petition, notice to respondent No.2 may be dispensed with. Submission is placed on record and accordingly, notice to respondent No.2 is dispensed with at the risk of the petitioner. 3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that on 12.09.2016, the respondent No.2-defacto complainant filed a complaint stating that on that day there - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:53012 CRL.P No. 16874 of 2025 were riots resulting in about 40-45 unknown persons committing vandalism against buses, vehicles etc., near KPN Travels, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bengaluru. In pursuance of the same, investigation was conducted and the respondent No.1 filed a charge sheet which is currently pending in S.C.No.758/2019 before the Trial Court for alleged offences punishable under Sections 143, 148, 149, 324, 427 and 435 of IPC and Section 2(a) of Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Property Act, 1981. The petitioner who is arraigned as accused No.15 in the impugned charge sheet and proceedings is before this Court by way of the present petition seeking quashing of the impugned proceedings and for other reliefs. 4. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that as stated supra, the name of the petitioner is not forthcoming in the impugned complaint and FIR which was lodged and registered against 40-45 unknown persons; it is only after investigation that the petitioner is sought to be arraigned as accused No.15 in the impugned proceedings. In this context, it is relevant to state that a perusal of the charge sheet material including statements of witnesses at CW-1 to CW-67 and the documents produced along with the charge sheet is sufficient to come to the conclusion that there is absolutely no material to incriminate the petitioner – accused No.15 for the alleged offences; in fact, neither the alleged test identification parade nor the statements of witnesses establish the presence of the petitioner – accused No.15 at the spot on the date of the alleged incident. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:53012 CRL.P No. 16874 of 2025 5. Under these circumstances, in the absence of any material which would disclose the commission of the alleged offences by the petitioner, I am of the considered opinion that continuation of the impugned proceedings qua the petitioner would amount to abuse of process of law warranting interference by this Court in the present petition. 6. In the result, I pass the following: ORDER i) The petition is hereby allowed. ii) The impugned proceedings in S.C.No.758/2019 arising out of Crime No.165/2016 on the file of LXVI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 148, 147, 435, 427, 324, 307 r/w 149 of IPC and Section 2(a) of Prevention of Destruction and Loss of property Act, insofar as the petitioner is concerned, are hereby quashed." 5. A perusal of the complaint, FIR, charge sheet materials, statement of witnesses, documents, etc., will indicate that the allegations made against the said accused No.15 - Venkatesh, who was the petitioner in Crl.P.No.10613/2024 and the present petitioners, who are the other accused as stated supra are common and consequently, by applying / invoking the doctrine of - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:53012 CRL.P No. 16874 of 2025 parity, I deem it just and appropriate to quash the impugned proceedings for the present petitioners also. 6. In the result, I pass the following: ORDER i) The petition is hereby allowed. ii) The impugned proceedings in S.C.No.758/2019 arising out of Crime No.165/2016 on the file of LXVI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 148, 147, 435, 427, 324, 307 read with Section 149 of IPC and Section 2(a) of Prevention of Destruction and Loss of property Act, 1984, insofar as the petitioners are concerned, are hereby quashed. Sd/- (S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE SJK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 2