- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14373 OF 2025 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12082 OF 2025 CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12739 OF 2025 CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14357 OF 2025 CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14394 OF 2025 CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 14402 OF 2025 IN CRL.P No. 14373/2025 BETWEEN: 1. SAI PACKAGES A PROPREIETORSHIPCONCERN OFFICE AT MADHAPUR SAMIL BHAIRABPUR PLOT NO.402 /705 KEONIJHAR ODISHA - 758 001 ALSO HAVING ITS REGISTERED ADDRESS AT PLOT NO.508, IN FRONT OF MIC-11/87 PATIA BHUBHANESHWAR KHURDA - 751 024 REP BY ITS PROPRIETOR MS. SUSMITA BEHERA 2. MS. SUSMITA BEHERA D/O DINABANDHU BEHERA AGED BOUT MAJOR KENDIJHARAGADA KENDUJHAR TOWN Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS KENDUJHAR ODISHA 758001 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. D.R. RVISHANKAR, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. ANIRUDH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. M/S MULURA LOGISTICS PRIVATE LIMITED A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANY ACT 2013 HAVING ITS REGISTERED ADDRESS AT NO.333, 3RD FLOOR THIMMAIAH ROAD VASANTH NAGAR BANGALORE - 560 054 REP BY ITS AUTHORISED SIGNATORY MR DHARAMVEER NIJAMKARI ABHIMANYU …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. SHIRISH KRISHNA, ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 01.07.2025 ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE XVII ADDL.JUDGE OF SMALL CAUSES (SCCH- 21) MAYO HALL AT BENGALURU IN C.C.NO.52523/2022 AND ALLOW THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER UNDER SEC.91 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 1973. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS IN CRL.P NO. 12082/2025 BETWEEN: 1. UTKAL STEEL AND POWER PVT LTD A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013. OFFICE AT DCB 718 AND 719 DLF CYBER CITY PATIA, BHABANESWAR ODISHA-751024 REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE MR. SAROJ KUMAR SAHOO ALSO HAVING ITS REGISTERED ADDRESS AT PLOT NO.404/612 AND 406/613 ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. D.R. RVISHANKAR, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. ANIRUDH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. M/S MULURA LOGISTICS PRIVATE LIMITED A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANY ACT, 2013 HAVING ITS REGISTERED ADDRESS AT NO.333, 3RD FLOOR THIMMAIAH ROAD VASANTH NAGAR BANGALORE-560054 REP BY ITS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY MR.DHARMVEER N. JANKARI ABHIMANYU ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. SHIRISH KRISHNA, ADVOCATE) - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 01.07.2025 ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE XVII ADDL.JUDGE OF SMALL CAUSES SCCH-21 MAYO HALL AND ACJM AT BENGALURU IN C.C.NO.51444/2022 AND ALLOW THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER UNDER SEC.91 OF CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 1973. IN CRL.P NO. 12739/2025 BETWEEN: 1. SSAB ENERGY AND MINERAL A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013. REGISTERED OFFICE AT PLOT NO. 404/612 AND 406/613, 2ND FLOOR, MADHAPUR INFRONT OF ANKITA HOTEL NEAR SUZUKI SHOWROOM, KEONJHAR ODISHA - 758 001 REP. BY ITS SAROJ KUMAR SAHOO. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. D.R. RVISHANKAR, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. ANIRUDH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. M/S MULURA LOGISTICS PRIVATE LIMITED A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANY ACT, 2013, HAVING ITS REGISTERED ADDRESS AT NO.333, 3RD FLOOR, THIMMAIAH ROAD VASANTH NAGAR BANGALORE - 560 054 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED SIGNATORY MR. DHARAMVEER NIJAMKARI ABHIMANYU ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. SHIRISH KRISHNA, ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.P.C. (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 01.07.2025 ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE XVII ADDL.JUDGE OF SMALL CAUSES (SCCH-21) MAYO HALL AT BENGALURU IN CC NO.51445/2022 AND ALLOW THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER U/S 91 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 1973. IN CRL.P NO. 14357/2025 BETWEEN: 1. M/S HEMALATHA TRANSPORT HAVING OFFICE AT KHATA NO.391/89 THANA NO.162 JHUMPURA KENDUJHA ODISHA - 758 031 REP BY ITS SOLE PROPRIETOR MR MANOJ KUMAR SAHOO 2. SRI MANOJ KUMAR SAHOO S/O KHYAMAKAR SAHOO AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS R/A JHUMPURA BHALUKAKENDUJHAR ODISHA - 758 032 ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. D.R. RVISHANKAR, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. ANIRUDH, ADVOCATE) - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS AND: 1. M/S MULURA LOGISTICS PRIVATE LIMITED A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDERJ THE COMPANYACT 2013 HAVING ITS REGISTERED ADDRESS AT NO333 3RD FLOOR THIMMAIAH ROAD VASANTH NAGAR BANGALORE 560054 REP BY ITS AUTHORISED SIGNATORY MR DHARAMVEER NIJAMKARI ABHIMANYU ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. SHIRISH KRISHNA, ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 (FILED U/S. 528 BNSS) CR.P.C BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 01.07.2025 ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE XVII ADDL JUDGE OF SMALL CAUSES (SCCH-21) MAYO HALL AT BENGALURU IN C.C.NO.54001/2022 AND ALLOW THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER U/S.91 OF CRPC 1973. IN CRL.P NO. 14394/2025 BETWEEN: 1. M/S S S SERVICES A PROPRIETORSHIP CONCERN OFFICE AT GROUND, KHATA NO.11, PLOT NO. 530, AT HUNDULA CHHAKA NH 215, PO PALASPANGA PS SADAR, HUNDUAL KEONJHAR ODISHA - 758 014 REPRESENTED BY ITS PROPRIETOR SRI. SAROJ KUMAR SAHOO - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS 2. SRI SAROJ KUMAR SAHOO S/O KHYAMKAR SAHOO AGED MAJOR KENJUJHAR MADHAPUR ODISHA - 78001 ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. D.R. RVISHANKAR, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. ANIRUDH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. M/S MULURA LOGISTICS PRIVATE LIMITED A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANY ACT, 2013 HAVING ITS REGISTERED ADDRESS AT NO.333, 3RD FLOOR, THIMMAIAH ROAD, VASANTH NAGAR BANGALORE - 560 054 REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED SIGNATORY MR. DHARAMVEER NIJAMKARI ABHIMANYU ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. SHIRISH KRISHNA, ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S. 482 (FILED U/S.528 BNSS) CR.P.C. BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 01.07.2025 ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE XVII ADDL JUDGE COURT OF SMALL CAUSES AND ACJM, MAYOHALL UNIT, BENGALURU IN C.C.NO.52508/2022 AND ALLOW THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER U/S.91 OF CRPC 1973. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS IN CRL.P NO. 14402/2025 BETWEEN: 1. M/S SOUNDAMINI ROADWAYS A PROPREITORSHIP CONCERN HAVING OFFICE AT SHOP NO.10, NEAR MOCHIBAND SCHOOL KEONJHAR KENDUJHAR ODISHA - 758 001 REP BY ITS PROPREITOR SRI ASHISH KUMAR BEHERA 2. SRI ASHISH KUMAR BEHERA AGED MAJOR OFFICE AT SHOP NO.10 NEAR MOCHIBANDH SCHOOL KEONJHAR KENDUJHAR ODISHA - 758 001 ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. D.R. RVISHANKAR, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. ANIRUDH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. M/S MULURA LOGISTICS PRIVATE LIMITED A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANY ACT 2013 HAVING ITS REGISTERED ADDRESS AT NO.333, 3RD FLOOR THIMMAIAH ROAD VASANTH NAGAR BANGALORE 560054 - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS REP BY ITS AUTHORISED SIGNATORY MR DHARAMVEER NIJAMKARI ABHIMANYU ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI. SHIRISH KRISHNA, ADVOCATE) 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 SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 01.07.2025 ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE XVII ADDL.JUDGE OF SMALL CAUSES (SCCH 21) MAYO HALL AT BENGALURU IN CC NO.54664/2022 AND ALLOW THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER U/S 91 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 1973. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The conglomeration of these cases are between the same parties while the transaction remains different. The petitioners are the accused. The respondent is the complainant in all these cases. The transaction between the two leads the complainant to invoke the jurisdiction of the concerned Court under Section 200 of Cr.P.C. for offence punishable under Section 138 of the - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 on account of a cheque getting dishonored. 2. Heard Sri. D.R. Ravishankar, learned Senior counsel for Sri. Anirudh, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Sri. Shirish Krishna, learned counsel appearing for the respondent. 3. The issue in the lis does not pertain to the merit of the claim of the complainant or the defence of the accused before the concerned Court. Before the concerned Court, an application is filed under Section 91 of the Cr.P.C. seeking production of a forensic audit report that is in the possession of the complainant and the Directors to depose qua the forensic audit report. The concerned Court rejects the application on the score that if the report is not produced, adverse inference could be drawn while the reasoning of the concerned Court on the face of it is contrary to law. 4. The learned Senior counsel appearing for the petitioners would at this juncture submit that if the forensic audit report is directed to be placed before the Court by the - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16994 CRL.P No. 14373 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 12082 of 2025 CRL.P No. 12739 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS complainant that would suffice and would not insist upon the Directors to be present. 5. The learned counsel appearing for the respondent submits that if it is only the case of forensic audit report to be produced, the complainant is ready and willing to produce it. 6. In that light, I deem it appropriate to dispose these petitions with a direction that the complainant shall place the forensic audit report before the concerned Court and the concerned Court to regulate its procedure and take the proceedings further to its logical conclusion. 7. On the production of the forensic audit report, the evidence shall continue in a manner known to law. 8. With the aforesaid observation, the petitions stand disposed. SD/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE JY List No.: 2 Sl No.: 2