- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45924 CRL.P No. 10574 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN CRIMINAL PETITION NO.10574 OF 2023 (482 (Cr.PC)/528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI SHANKAR S S/O SIDDARAJU, AGED 27 YEARS, R/O. GUMBALLI VILLAGE, YALANDUR TALUK CHAMARAJANAGAR. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. PRASAD VINOD GANAPATI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY YELANDUR POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001. 2. SRI RANJITHA S/O LATE VENKATARANGAIAH,, R/O GUMBALLI VILLAGE, YALANDUR TALUK CHAMARAJANAGAR. …RESPONDENTS Digitally signed by GEETHA P G Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45924 CRL.P No. 10574 of 2023 (BY SRI. K. NAGESHWARAPPA, HCGP FOR R.1; SRI. NAVEEN KUMAR S., ADVOCATE FOR R.2.) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, PRAYING TO ALLOW THE CRIMINAL PETITION AND QUASH THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS INITIATED BY YELANDUR POLICE STATION ON THE COMPLAINT OF 2ND RESPONDENT IN CRIME NO.83/2022 OF C.C.NO.277/2023 NOW NUMBERED AS S.C.NO.189/2023 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 376(2)(N), 417, 354(B), 323, 504 AND 506 OF IPC., ON THE FILE OF THE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC-1 (SPL. COURT FOR TRIAL OF CASES FILED UNDER POCSO ACT) AT CHAMARAJANAGARA, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FURTHER HEARING THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING/VIDEO CONFERENCING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45924 CRL.P No. 10574 of 2023 ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner is accused of the following in the police report filed in S.C.No.189/2023 pending on the file of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-I, Chamarajanagar: "17. ೇನ ಸಂಪ ವರ ( ಅವಶಕದ ಪೇಕ ಾೆ ಲಗ ). ಕಲಂ:-376 (2) (ಎ ), 417. 354(!), 323. 504, 506. ಐ.#. $ೕಾ, ಈ &ೋಷ)ೋಪ*ಾ ಪತದ ಾಲಂ:-14 ರ ಕಂಡ -ಾ-01, .ೕಮ ರಂ0ಾರವರು ಈ &ೋಷ)ೋಪ*ಾ ಪತದ ಾಲ0:-14 ರ ಕಂಡ -ಾ-12 ರವರನು3 ಈ4ೆ5 10 ವಷ6ದ 7ಂ&ೆ 8ಾ-ೊ9ೕತ :ಾ; ಮದು:ೆ<ಾ; ಇಬ?ರು ಮಕ@Aದು, -ಾ-01 ಮತು -ಾ-12 ರವ$4ೆ ಸಂ-ಾರದ Bಾರದ !Dಾ3EFಾಯ ಉಂIಾ; Jೇ)ೆ Jೇ)ೆ ಇದು, ಈ4ೆ5 04 ವಷ6ಗAಂದ ಈ &ೋಷ)ೋಪ*ಾ ಪತದ ಾಲಂ:12 ರ ಕಂಡ ಆ)ೋ#ತDಾದ ಶಂಕರ.ಎL. ರವರು -ಾ-01 ರವರನು3 #ೕ MಾಡುವN&ಾ; ಆೆಯನು3 ಮನO ಆೆಯ ಗಂಡನ Pೊೆಯ Jಾಳಲು ಅವಾಶವನು3 Rೕಡ&ೆ ಉ&ೇಶಪSವ6ಕ:ಾ; ಆೆಯನು3 ಮದು:ೆ<ಾಗುವN&ಾ; ಆೆ4ೆ Fೇ$# ಆೆಯ ಸಮTಯನು3 ಪUೆದುೊಂಡು ಯಳಂದೂರು VೕL Wಾ*ಾ ಸರಹದು ಗುಂಬAY 4ಾಮದ ಪ$.ಷZ ಜDಾಂಗದ .ೕ \ೇ] :ೆಂಕಟರಂಗಯರವರ ತಂ&ೆ \ೇ] ರಂಗಯರವರ Jಾಬು ಮDೆಯ ಾಗು Bಾ.ನಗರ ಪಟZಣದ Bಾ.ನಗರ 4ಾMಾಂತರ VೕL Wಾ*ಾ 7ಂJಾಗ ಇರುವ ಸುವಣ6ವ VೕL ವಸ ಗೃಹದ 02 ಹಂತ ನ 09Dೇ ೊಠcಯ -ಾ-01 ರವ)ೊಂd4ೆ \ೈಂ;ಕ ಸಂಬಂದವನು3 ೊಂdದು, ಆ)ೋ#ತನು -ಾ-01 ರವರ ಇBೆf4ೆ ರುದg:ಾ; ಸುMಾರು 04 ವಷ6ಗAಂದ \ೈಂ;ಕ ಸಂಬಂದವನು3 ೊಂdದು, ಈ BಾರವN -ಾ-01 ರವರ ಮDೆಯ ವ$4ೆ Aದು ಈ ಬ4ೆ5 4ಾಮದ -ಾ-02 $ಂದ -ಾ-04 ರವರುಗಳh d:24-05-2022 ರಂದು )ಾ 09:00 ಗಂIೆ ಸಮಯದ Dಾಯ ಪಂBಾiಯನು3 Mಾc&ಾಗ - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45924 CRL.P No. 10574 of 2023 ಆ)ೋ#ತನು -ಾ-01 ರವರ Pೊೆಯ ಅಕಮ ಸಂಬಂದವನು3 ೊಂdರುವN&ಾ; ಆೆಯನು3 ಮದು:ೆ<ಾಗುವN&ಾ; ಒ#kೊಂಡು ನಂತರ d:-11-06-2022 ರಂದು JೆA4ೆ5 10:00 ಗಂIೆ ಸಮಯದ ಮೆ 4ಾಮದ Dಾಯ ಪಂBಾiಯನು3 Mಾc&ಾಗ -ಾ-01ರವರನು3 ಮದು:ೆ<ಾಗಲು R)ಾಕ$ ತನ3 Jಾಬು ೆಎ-10- ಇc-0687 ಪಲlm nೕIಾmJೈo ನ ಅಂದ ೊರಡು:ಾಗ -ಾ-01 ರವರು ಸಹ ಆ)ೋ#ತನು nೕIಾm Jೈoನ ಹ ೊಂcದು, -ಾ-01ರವರನು3 ಆ)ೋ#ತನು nೕIಾm Jೈo ನ ಕ)ೆದುೊಂಡು ಅ&ೇ dವಸ ಮ&ಾಹ3 12:00 ಗಂIೆ ಸಮಯದ ಯಳಂದೂರು VೕL Wಾ*ಾ ಸರಹದು ಅಂಬೆ 4ಾಮದ ಎ\ೆ4ೆ -ೇ$ದ .ೕಮ .ೕತಮT ೋಂ pಕ@ತಮTDಾಯಕರವರ ಕ!?ನ ಗ&ೆ ಬA ರ-ೆ ಯ nೕIಾmJೈoನು3 R ಶಂಕರನು -ಾ-01 ರವರನು3 ಉ&ೇ. ಸೂೆ /ಮುಂUೆ, ಗುಡ8ೆqZ ಮುಂUೆ, Rನ3ನು3 Dಾನು ಮದು:ೆ<ಾಗJೇಕು \ೋಫm ಮುಂUೆ, ಎಂ&ೆ\ಾ Jಾi4ೆ ಬಂದಂೆ ಅ:ಾಚ ಶಬಗAಂದ Jೈಯು ಕ!?ನ ಜtೕRನ ಬA4ೆ ಎೆದುೊಂಡು ೋ; -ಾ-01 ರವರ ಬIೆZಯನು3 ಹ$ದು ಾu. ೆಳೆ@ ತನ3 ೈiಂದ ತAY, Dಾನು Rನ3ನು3 ಮದು:ೆ<ಾಗುವNdಲ, ಏನು MಾUೊ@ ೕ<ಾ MಾUೊ@ೕ, Dಾನು VೕL ಇ\ಾwೆಯ ಇರುವNದು Rೕನು ನನ3 Bಾರೆ@ ಬಂದ)ೆ Rನ3ನು3 ೊ\ೆ Mಾcಸುೆ ೕDೆಂದು -ಾ-01 ರವ$4ೆ ೊ\ೆ Jೆದ$ೆಯನು3 ಾuರುವNದು, ಆ)ೋ#ತ ಶಂಕರನು -ಾ-01ರವರನು3 ಮದು:ೆ<ಾಗುವN&ಾ; ನಂ! ಆೆxಂd4ೆ \ೈಂ;ಕ ಸಂಬಂದವನು3 ೊಂd, ನಂತರ ಮದು:ೆ<ಾಗಲು R)ಾಕ$ ಆೆ4ೆ MಾನಾR<ಾಗುವಂೆ ಆೆಯ ಬIೆZಯನು3 ಹ$ದು ಾu ಅ:ಾಚ ಶಬAಂದ Jೈಯು, ೊ\ೆ Jೆದ$ೆ ಾuರುವNದು ತRwೆiಂದ ದೃಡಪqZರುವNದ$ಂದ ಆ)ೋ# ರುದg ಕಲಂ:376(2)(ಎ ), 417. 354(!), 323. 504, 506, ಐ.#.. ಕಲಂಗಳ $ೕಾ &ೋಷ)ೋಪ*ೆಯನು3 Mಾಡ\ಾ;ರುತ &ೆ. ಆದ$ಂದ Dಾನು ಈ ವ)ೆ4ೆ ೈ4ೊಂಡ ತRwೆiಂದ. ಸಂಗ7ರುವ &ಾಖ\ೆಗAಂದ ಮತು -ಾz{ಗAಂದ ದೃಢಪಟZ }ೕ)ೆ4ೆ ಈ &ೋ~ಾ)ೋಪ*ಾಪqZಯ ಾಲಂ: 12 ರ ಕಂಡ ಆ)ೋ#ತನ ರುದg }ೕಲ@ಂಡ ಕಲಂಗಳ $ೕಾ &ೋಷ)ೊಪ*ೆಯನು3 ೊ$ಸ\ಾ;ರುತ &ೆ." 2. Respondent No.2 is the complainant. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45924 CRL.P No. 10574 of 2023 3. In short, respondent No.2 is a married woman having two children. She is a Hindu. She has neither divorced nor divorce proceedings are pending. According to her, she had an illicit affair with the petitioner who is a police constable and that he promised her to get married, but later on refused to marry her. Again, at the instance of certain village elders, he again agreed to marry her and took her on a motorbike to a field, where he tore her clothes, abused her verbally, threatened her and left her. 4. As aforementioned, the petitioner is accused of the offences punishable under Sections 376(2)(n), 417, 354B, 323, 504 and 506 of IPC. The same read as under: "376. Punishment for rape.—(2) Whoever,—(n) commits rape repeatedly on the same woman, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and shall also be liable to fine. 417. Punishment for cheating.—Whoever cheats shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45924 CRL.P No. 10574 of 2023 term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both. 354B. Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe.—Any man who assaults or uses criminal force to any woman or abets such act with the intention of disrobing or compelling her to be naked, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine. 323. Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt.— Whoever, except in the case provided for by section 334, voluntarily causes hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. 504. Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace.—Whoever intentionally insults, and thereby gives provocation to any person, intending or knowing it to be likely that such provocation will cause him to break the public peace, or to commit any other offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. 506. Punishment for criminal intimidation.—Whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45924 CRL.P No. 10574 of 2023 term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both;" 5. The facts reveal that the complainant after having married and having two children, without divorcing or initiating divorce proceedings, had an illicit affair with the petitioner who is an unmarried man. As the petitioner and the complainant had consensual sex, the question of the petitioner raping the complainant does not arise. 6. Further, the complainant being married and there being no divorce proceedings or divorce being granted to her and she being a Hindu, question of the petitioner getting married to her does not arise and therefore she cannot allege that the petitioner has cheated her by refusing to marry her. 7. In respect of the allegations pertaining to the petitioner taking the respondent on a motorbike to a vacant field, disrobing and pushing her and abusing her under the circumstances, cannot be believed as there are no witnesses to the same as per the submission of the - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45924 CRL.P No. 10574 of 2023 learned HCGP and that it is the word of the complainant against the word of the petitioner and the petitioner has categorically denied doing the said act. 8. Given the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case where the complainant being married and having two kids has an illicit affair with an unmarried man and thereafter blames him of cheating her from not marrying and there is no evidence to show that he has actually taken her to a field and disrobed and pushed her and verbally abused her, one has to believe the version of the petitioner and not respondent No.2. 9. As the circumstances as mentioned above goes to establish that the petitioner cannot be held liable for committing offences as aforementioned and that continuation of the trial can only harass the petitioner and the same is initiated by respondent No.2 by abusing the process of the Court, I am of the opinion that the proceedings against the petitioner deserves to be quashed. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:45924 CRL.P No. 10574 of 2023 10. Hence, the following: ORDER (i) The criminal petition is allowed; (ii) The proceedings in S.C.No.189/2023 pending on the file of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-1, Chamarajanagar, stands quashed. Sd/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE hkh. List No.: 1 Sl No.: 44