- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:51849 CRL.P No. 7715 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 7715 OF 2023 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. MANJUNATHAIAH B. S/O VEERABHADRAPPA, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, R/AT (ADDRESS AS SHOWN IN CHARGE SHEET) 5TH CROSS, JANNATH NAGAR, SAGAR, SHIVAMOGGA. PRESENTLY RESIDING AT OPPOSITE TO BELALMAKKI SCHOOL, GANDHINAGAR, SAGAR TOWN, SAGAR-577 401, SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. PRUTHVI WODEYAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SAGAR TOWN POLICE STATION, SAGAR SUB-DIVISION, SAGAR - 577 401. SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT. REPRESENTED BY S.P.P. Digitally signed by GEETHA P G Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:51849 CRL.P No. 7715 of 2023 HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. SMT. LALITHAMBIKE B W/O I.V HEGDE AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GANAPATHI URBAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD., SAGAR - 577 401, SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.MOHAMMED AYUB ALI, ADDITIONAL SPP FOR R1; SRI. PRABHUGOUD B.TUMBIGI, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRL.P. IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF CR.P.C. PRAYING TO QUASH THE CHARGE SHEET NO.128/2021 (CR.NO.171/2020) FILED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT PENDING ON THE FILE OF PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE AND J.M.F.C., SAGARA, SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT IN C.C.NO.719/2022 FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 408 OF IPC IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ADMISSION THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING/VIDEO CONFERENCING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:51849 CRL.P No. 7715 of 2023 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN ORAL ORDER The petitioner is alleged to have committed the following offences: "zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæzÀ PÁ®A £ÀA§gï 12 gÀ°è PÀAqÀ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ¸ÁUÀgÀ mË£ï ZÁªÀÄgÁd¥ÉÃmÉAiÀÄ°ègÀĪÀ ²æà UÀt¥Àw C§ð£ï PÉÆà D¥ÀgÉÃnÃªï ¨ÁåAPï £À°è QjAiÀÄ ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ ºÀÄzÉÝUÉ £ÉêÀÄPÀUÉÆAqÀÄ PÉ®¸À ªÀiÁqÀÄwÛzÀÄÝ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 03-09-2018 jAzÀ £ÀUÀzÀÄ UÀĪÀiÁ¸ÀÛ PËAlgï UÉ £ÉëĹzÀÄÝ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 02-09-2020 gÀAzÀÄ ªÀÄzsÁåºÀß ¸ÀĪÀiÁgÀÄ 1-42 UÀAmÉUÉ ¸ÁQë 02 gÀªÀgÀÄ 1,35,000/- gÀÆUÀ¼À£ÀÄß £ÀUÀzÀÄ dªÀiÁ ªÀiÁrzÁUÀ DgÉÆæ ¸ÁQë 01 gÀªÀgÀ UÀªÀÄ£ÀPÉÌ ¨ÁgÀzÉà 500/- gÀÆ MAzÀÄ £ÉÆÃl£ÀÄß ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 01-09-2020 gÀAzÀÄ ªÀÄzsÁåºÀß 3-50 UÀAmÉUÉ ¸ÁQë 03 gÀªÀgÀÄ 7,00,000/- gÀÆ £ÀUÀzÀÄ dªÀiÁ ªÀiÁrzÁUÀ 500/- gÀÆ ªÀÄÄR¨ÉIÉAiÀÄ JgÀqÀÄ £ÉÆÃlÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß CªÀgÀ UÀªÀÄ£ÀPÉÌ ¨ÁgÀzÉà ºÀt Jt¸ÀĪÀ PËAnAUï «ÄµÀ£ï ¤AzÀ ªÉÄÃIÉ ºÁj¹ CªÀjUÉ ¤ÃªÀÅ PÉÆnÖgÀĪÀÅzÉà PÀrªÉÄ ºÀt EzÉ JAzÀÄ ºÉý ªÉÆøÀ ªÀiÁrgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ EzÀĪÀgÉUÉ £ÀqɹzÀ vÀ¤SɬÄAzÀ zÀÈqsÀ¥ÀnÖgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. DzÀÝjAzÀ DgÉÆæ «gÀÄzÀÞ PÀ®A 408 L¦¹ jÃvÁå zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæ ¸À°è¹gÀÄvÉÛ." And a Police report is filed against the petitioner and he has been accused of committing the offence under Section 408 of IPC. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:51849 CRL.P No. 7715 of 2023 2. The contention of the petitioner is that there is a three months delay in filing of the complaint against him and the same has been filed because the petitioner was forced to resign from his post and thereafter he has raised a dispute in respect to the same. He further submits that he is innocent of the offence alleged against him. He also contends that the allegations made in the complaint and the accusations made in the charge sheet do not amount to criminal breach of trust, and it may amount to theft. 3. Be the case as it may, the allegations made against the petitioner is serious in nature, and if he is found guilty of the act alleged against him, then in that event, he is liable to be convicted. In respect of the charge, the trial Court is also at liberty to modify the same, if required. 4. Further in these matters, delay is not fatal to the case. Whether the petitioner is guilty of the allegations alleged against him or not is a matter of trial. The same cannot be decided by this Court in exercise of its inherent powers. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:51849 CRL.P No. 7715 of 2023 For the aforementioned reasons, the petition is hereby dismissed. SD/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE PGG List No.: 1 Sl No.: 56