- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 9576 OF 2023 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. SURANAIK S/O MALLANAIK AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS OCC SECRETARY SATYNARAYAN VIDYA SAMSTHE R/O NERALKUNTE VILLAGE TQ CHALLAKERE DIST CHITRADURGA 2. SRI. TIPPESWAMY S/O MALLANAIK AGED ABOUT 71 YEARS, R/O NERALKUNTE VILLAGE TQ CHALLAKERE DIST CHITRADURGA 3. SRI. TIPPESWAMY @ G. TIPPESH KUMAR S/O M. JAYANNA AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/O NERALKUNTE VILLAGE TQ CHALLAKERE DIST CHITRADURGA 4. K. TIPPESWAMY S/O BADAGI KATAYYA Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS OCC PRESIDENT, VALMIKI VIDYA SAMSTHE R/O BATHAYANHATTI, TQ CHALLAKERE, DIST CHITRADURGA. 5. KARIYAPPA @ KATIHALLI KARIYAPPA AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS, R/O KATIHALLI TQ CHALLAKERE DIST CHITRADURGA …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. PRAVEEN KUMAR RAIKOTE, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY EXTENSION POLICE STATION, CHITRADURGA THROUGH POLICE INSPECTOR REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, BANGALORE-1 2. SRI. BORANNA S/O LATE PUTTAPPA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS OCC STUDENT NAYANAHATTI VILLAGE CHELLAKERE TALUK CHITRADURGA …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B.N. JAGADEESHA, ADDL. SPP FOR R1. SRI. THRIBHUVAN K., ADVOCATE FOR R2) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF THE CR.P.C. PRAYING TO QUASH THE PROCEEDINGS ON THE FILE IN CR.NO.116/2021 NOW NUMBERED AS C.C.NO.1465/2022 ON THE FILE OF THE EXTENSION POLICE STATION, CHITRADURGA DATED 09.09.2021 FOR OFFENCE U/S 143, 147, 148, 323, 326, 504, 506 R/W 149 IPC (C.C.NO.1465/2022 ON THE FILE OF THE PRL. SR. CIVIL JUDGE AND CJM AT CHITRADURGA). THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioners are accused Nos.1 to 5 are at the doors of this Court calling in question the proceedings in C.C.No.1465/2022 registered for offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148, 323, 326, 504 and 506 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('the IPC' for short). 2. Heard Sri. Praveen Kumar Raikote, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners; Sri. B.N. Jagadeesha, learned Additional Special Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent No.1 and Sri. Thribhuvan K., learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 3. Facts adumbrated are as follows: Respondent No.2 is the complainant. The petitioners are said to be running the schools under the Satyanarayan Vidya Samsthe and Valmiki Vidya Samsthe. The complainant and the petitioners have a squabble with regard to the running of the schools or constitution of the Committee of Management in the school. The issue in the lis does not pertain to the dispute between the two with regard to the constitution of the Committee of the Management. On a particular day, i.e., 09.09.2021, it transpires that the petitioners together assault the complainant. The act of alleged assault becomes the fulcrum of the complaint so registered by the complainant on the same day on 09.09.2021 for the afore-quoted offences. The Police conduct investigation and file a charge sheet again for the afore-quoted offences against these petitioners owing to the fact that the complainant was found to have been assaulted. The concerned Court frames charges against the petitioners for the afore-quoted offences on 17.04.2023. Long thereafter, the subject petition is preferred and the Co-ordinate Bench had granted an interim order of stay and the interim order of stay was subsisting till another Co-ordinate Bench - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 would vacate it on the score that investigation must ensue. It is therefore, notwithstanding the fact that the charges are framed in the case at hand, this Court is entertaining the subject petition and answering it on its merit. 4. Sri. Praveen Kumar Raikote, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would vehemently contend that the petitioners and the complainant have a dispute with regard to the constitution of the committee of the management of the schools that are run by the petitioner. Therefore, the squabble is projected to become a crime, as an act of arm twisting by the complainant against these petitioners. Therefore, would submit that if this proceeding would be permitted to be continued, it would become an abuse of the process of the law and fall foul of several judgments rendered by the Apex Court. 5. Per contra, the learned Additional Special Public Prosecutor taking this Court through the documents appended to the petition would clearly submit that there are wounds inflicted upon the complainant, one of which is grievous in nature. Therefore, it was a clear case of assault with a wooden - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 stick or a club, as the case would be and the petitioner should come out clean in a full blown trial. 6. The learned counsel appearing for the complainant would also toe the lines of the learned Additional Special Public Prosecutor in seeking dismissal of the petition. 7. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the respective learned counsel and have perused the available material on record. 8. The afore-narrated facts are a matter of record. The subsisting dispute with regard to the constitution of the committee of the management in the schools, as aforesaid, is again a matter of record. On 09.09.2021, the complainant is said to have been assaulted by the petitioners. The assault leads the complainant to register a complaint. The complaint reads as follows: "ೕ. ೋರಣ ೇ ಪಟಪ 53 ವಷ, ಾಯಕ ಜಾಂಗ ಾ ಾ  !ಾಸ: ಾಯಕನಹ% &ಾಮ ಚಳ*ಕ+ೆ ,ಾ: -ತದುಗ 1 ೆ2 3.ನಂ.9742513184. 4ಾಂಕ: 9.09.2021 ಾನು 5ೕಲ7ಂಡ 9ಾಸದ:2 !ಾಸ!ಾ;ರು,ೆ<ೕೆ. ಾನು -ತದುಗ ನಗರದ =ೋ;ಮ% ರ>ೆ<ಯ:2ರುವ ೕ. ಸತಾ+ಾಯಣ ಎಜು@ೇಶ >ೊ>ೈ%ಯ - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 ನೕಕರಣವನುC ತDೆEFಯುವಂ,ೆ 1 ಾ2 ಸಂಘಗಳ ೊಂದHಾI@ಾJಗಳ ಕKೇJ&ೆ ಸುLಾರು 3 Mಂಗಳ EಂNೆ ದೂJನ:2 @ೊ%ದುO ಸದJ ದೂರು ಅ1 ಸಂಬಂಧ ನನ&ೆ SಾರHೆ&ೆ ಈ 4ನ Uಾಜ+ಾಗುವಂ,ೆ 1 ಾ2 ಉಪ Wಬಂಧಕರ ಕKೇJXಂದ ೋ%ೕY ಬಂ4ರು,ೆ<. ಅದರಂ,ೆ ಾನು ಈ 4ನ 4ಾಂಕ: 09.09.2021 ರಂದು ಾಯಕನಹ%Xಂದ ೆZ&ೆ[ Uೊರಟು -ತದುಗ ನಗರದ .ಎ\.&ೌಡ ೇ^ =ಾ_ನ:2ರುವ 1 ಾ2 ಸಹ@ಾರ ಉಪWಬಂಧಕರ ಕKೇJ&ೆ ಈ 4ನ ಬಎZ&ೆ[ ಸುLಾರು 11-00 ಗಂ`ೆ&ೆ ಬಂNೆನು. ಆಗ ಕKೇJಯ:2ದO ಪೕ ಎಂಬ ೌಕರರು ಉಪWಬಂಧಕರು ಇಲ2Nೇ ಇರುವದJಂದ ಈ 4ನ SಾರHೆ ಇರುವ4ಲ2 ನಂತರದ 4ಾಂಕ: MZಸು!ೆಉ ಎಂತ UೇZNಾಗ ಾನು ಕKೇJ&ೆ ಬಂದು ೆZ&ೆ[ ಸುLಾರು 11-10ರ !ೇ9ೆ&ೆ Uೊರಡ ಾ; ಎಂತ 3ೕ`ಾc >ೈಕ:2ನ:2 ಹM<@ೊಳd*ತ<ರುವಗ ಆNೆ !ೇ9ೆ&ೆ ಅ:2eೕ ಇದO Uಾಗೂ ¹æ ಾನು WೕFರುವ ದೂರು ಅ1ಯ ಚರHೆ&ೆ ಬಂ4ದO ಕKೇJ Uೊರ&ೆ WೕFರುವ ದೂರು ಅ1ಯ SಾರHೆ&ೆ ಬಂ4ದO ಕKೇJ Uೊರ&ೆ ಇದO 1)ಸೂರಾಯಕ  ಮಲ2ಾಯಕ (2) Mfೇ>ಾgh ಮ:2ಾಯಕ (3) ಸಂ4ೕಪ  ಸೂರ ಾಯಕ (4) >ಾಗರ  ಸೂರಾಯಕ (5) @ಾ`ೇಹZ* ಕJಯಪ (6)ಕJಯಣ (7) ನ&ೇಶ  ಜಯಣ (8) Mfೇ>ಾgh ಚಯಣ (9) ಪಸನCಕುLಾರ  ೈಯಣ (9) .%. ಪ@ಾಶ  Mfೇ>ಾgh (10)@ೆ.Mfೇ>ಾgh  ಬಡ; @ಾಟಯ ರವರುಗಳd ಆಕಮ ಗುಂಪ ಕ%@ೊಂಡು ಎಲ2ರೂ ನನC ಬZ ಬಂದವ+ೇ ನನ&ೆ ಸೂ9ೆ ಮಗೇ ೋZಮಗೇ ಎಂತ ೈNಾಡು,ಾ< @ೈಗಳ:2 ಕಲವರು LಾರುದOದ iೕಲ2ಗಳನುC EFದು@ೊಂಡು ಬಂದು ಅವರ:2 ಸೂರಾಯಕನು ನನC fಾಣ ,ೆ&ೆಯೇ@ೆಂಬ ಉNೆOೕಶ4ಂದ ತನC @ೈಯ:2ದO ಟೂ\j ಕ%&ೆXಂದ ನನ&ೆ UೊDೆಯಲು ಬಂNಾಗ ಾನು ತkl@ೊಳd*ವಷರ:2 iೕ:Wಂದ ನನC ತ ೆಯ Eಂಾಗ@ೆ7 UೊJದನು. ಇದJಂದ ನನC ತ ೆ&ೆ fೆ`ಾ; ದುO ರಕ<&ಾಯ!ಾXತು. ನಂತರ ಸಂ4ೕಪ, ಸಂ&ೇಶರವರುಗಳd ತಮm @ೈ:2ದO LಾರುದOದ iೕ\j ಕ%&ೆXಂದ ನನC ೆWCನ Eಂಾಗ@ೆ7 UೊDೆದರು. ಸಂ4ೕಪನು ನನC ಬಲ&ೈ&ೆ UೊDೆದು ೋವಂಟು LಾFದರು. Mfೆ>ಾgh  ಮ:2ಾಯಕರು ಕnಣದ ಸ ಾ@ೆXಂದ ನನC ಎಡಮುಂ&ೈ ಬZ UೊDೆದನು. @ಾ`ೇಹZ* ಕರಮಣ ಹಆಗೂ ಇತ+ೆ ಉZದ ಾ&ೇಶ ಪಸನC Mfೆ>ಾgh ಬಇ ಚಯಣ ಬಇ.%. ಪ@ಾಶ, @ೆ. Mfೇ>ಾgh ಬಇ ಬಡ; @ಾಟಯ ರವರುಗಳd >ೇJ@ೊಂಡು ನನ&ೆ EFದು ಎ9ೆNಾF 5ೖ@ೈ&ೆ ಗು4O @ೆಳ&ೆ ೕZl ೋವಂಟುಪFlದರು. ಅಷರ:2 ಾನು oರುSಾF@ೊಳd*M<ರು!ಾಗ ಸMೕಶ Uಾಗೂ ಮಂಜಣ ಎಂಬುವವರು ಬಂದು ಗ ಾ`ೆ Flದರು. ಆಗ 5ೕಲ7ಂಡ ಎ ಾ2 ಆ>ಾhಗಳd Uೋಗು!ಾಗ ನನCನುC ಕುJತು Wೕನು - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 ಬದುo@ೊಂDೆ. ಮ,ೊ<5m l@ಾ7ಗ WನC fಾಣ ,ೆ&ೆಯುವNಾ; fಾಣ ೆದJ@ೆ Uಾo Uೊರಟು Uೋದರು. ನಂತರ &ಾಯ&ೊಂFದO ನನCನುC ಕJಯಣ ಹನುಮಪ ಎಂಬುವವರು -o,ೆj&ಾ; pಾವNೇ ಬಂದು ಆ`ೋದ:2 1 ಾ2 ಆಸ,ೆ&ೆ ,ೆ&ೆದು@ೊಂಡು ಬಂದರು. ಸದJ ನನC 5ೕ ೆ !ೆಂದ+ೆ ಹ ೆ2 ನDೆಸ4 @ೈ@ಾಲುಗZಂದ UೊDೆದು ೋವಂಟು ಪFlದ 5ೕಲ7ಂಡ ಆ>ಾhಗಳ 5ೕ ೆ ಸೂಕ< @ಾನೂನು ಕಮ ಜರು;l ಎಂತ ಆಸ,ೆಯ ಎq.Uೆr.111 ನ:2 ಈ ನನC UೇZ@ೆ WೕFರು,ೆ<ೕೆ." On the said complaint, the complaint was initially registered for offence punishable under Section 307 of the IPC, which would be attempt to murder. The Police conduct investigation, drop the offence under Section 307 of the IPC, include the offence under Section 326 of the IPC and file a charge sheet on 16.02.2022. The case was registered then as C.C.No.1465/2022. The concerned Court frames charges on 17.04.2023 and when the trial had commenced, the petitioner approaches this Court and the Co-ordinate Bench had granted an interim order which reads as follows: "Learned counsel submits that the dispute between the parties arises out of Constitution of Managing Committee of the School and the wound certificate indicates that respondent No.2 has sustained injury on the upper limb and the allegation in the complaint is that he was assaulted on his head and right hand. He further submits that the petitioners herein had lodged the FIR against respondent No.2 for interfering with the affairs of the School. Learned HCGP accepts notice for respondent No.1. Issue emergent notice to respondent No.2. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 Interim order, as prayed for, insofar as it relates to petitioners, till the next date of hearing." The police conduct investigation and file a charge sheet. The summary of the charge sheet reads as follows: 17. Nೋsಾ+ೋಪHೆಯ ಸಂtಪ< ವರ: PÀ®A,143, 147,148, 323, 324, 326, 504, 506 gÉ/« 149 L¦¹. 4ಾಂಕ:09.09.2021 ರಂದು >ಾt-1 ರವರು =ೋ;ಮ% ರ>ೆ<ಯ:2ರುವ ೕ ಸತಾ+ಾಯಣ ಎಜೂ@ೇಶ >ೊ>ೈ% ನೕಕರಣ ಸಂಬಂಧ WೕFದ ದೂJನ SಾರHೆ&ೆಂದು -ತದುಗ ನಗರದ ಎ\ &ೌಡ ೇ ಔ^ ನ:2ರುವ 1 ಾ2,, ಉಪ Wಬಂಧ ಕKೇJ&ೆ SಾರHೆ&ೆ ಬಂ4ದುO, SಾರHೆ ಮುಂದೂFದOJಂದ >ಾt-1 ರವರು !ಾfಾಸುj Uೋಗ ೆಂದು, ೆZ&ೆ[, 11.10 ಎಎಂ ಸುLಾJ&ೆ ಉಪ Wಬಂಧಕರ ಕKೇJXಂದ Uೊರ&ೆ ಬಂNಾಗ SಾರHೆ&ೆಂದು ಬಂದು ಕKೇJಯ Uೊರ&ೆ ಇದO @ಾಲಂ,ನಂ.12 ರ:2 ಕಂಡ ಆ+ೋkತರುಗಳd ಇದOo7ದOಂ,ೆ ಆಕಮ!ಾ; ಗುಂಪ ಕ%@ೊಂಡು @ೈಗಳ:2 NೊHೆ ಮತು< ಕnಣದ +ಾಡನುC EFದು@ೊಂಡು ಬಂದವ+ೇ >ಾt-1 ರವರನುC ಕುJತು ಸೂ9ೇ ಮಗೇ, ೋZಮಗೇ ಎಂತ ಅ!ಾಚ ಶಬOಗZಂದ ೈNಾಡು,ಾ< ಅವರ:,, ಎ1 ಅ>ಾhಯು @ೈಯ:2 EFದು ತಂ4ದO @ಾಲA, ನಂ.11 ರ:2 ಕಂಡ ಒಂದು iೕ:ನ ಕ%&ೆಯ ತುಂFWಂದ >ಾt1 ರವರ ತ ೆ&ೆ Uಾಗೂ kpಾ4ಯ ಬಲ&ೈ&ೆ UೊDೆದು ೋವಂಟುಪFlದುO ಇದJಂದ >ಾt-1 ರವರ ತ ೆ&ೆ >ಾLಾನ ಸgರೂಪದ &ಾಯಗ9ಾ;ದುO, ಬಲ&ೈ&ೆ Mೕವ ಸgರೂಪದ &ಾಯ!ಾ;ರುತ<Nೆ ಎಂತ Uಾಗೂ ಎ2 & ಎ3 ಆ+ೋkತರು ತಮm @ೈಗಳ:ದO iೕ\w, ಕ%&ೆಗZಂದ >ಾt-1 ರವರ 5ೖ @ೈ &ೆ UೊDೆದು ೋವಂಟುಪFlದರು. & ಎ4 ಆ+ೋkತನು ಕnಣದ ಸ ಾ@ೆXಂದ >ಾt-1 ರವರ 5ೖ @ೈ &ೆ UೊDೆದು ೋವಂಟು ಪFlದುO, ಎ5 ಆ+ೋkತನು >ಾt-1 ರವರನುC EFದು ಎ9ೆNಾF ತನC @ೈ @ಾಲುಗZಂದ ಆತನ 5ೖ @ೈ&ೆ ಗು4O ೊವಂಟುಪFlದರು. ಪJHಾಮ!ಾ; >ಾt-1 ರವJ&ೆ Mೕವ ಸgರೂಪದ &ಾಯಗ9ಾ; ೊವಂ`ಾ;ರುತ<Nೆ ಎಂತ Uಾಗೂ Uೋಗು!ಾಗ 5ೕಲ7ಂಡ ಎ ಾ, ಆ+ೋkತರು >ಾt-1 ರವರನುC ಕುJತು, Wೕನು ಮ,ೊ<5m lಕ7gÉ WನC fಾಣ ,ೆ&ೆಯುವNಾ; UೇZ fಾಣ ೆದJ@ೆ Uಾo Uೊರಟು Uೋದರು, ಎಂತ ತWxೆXಂದ - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 5ೕ ೊCೕಟ@ೆ7 ದೃಡಪಟ 5ೕ+ೆ&ೆ 5ೕಲ7ಂಡ ಆ+ೋkತರುಗಳ ರುದz 5ೕಲ7ಂಡ ಕಲಂಗಳ Jೕತ ಘನ ಾpಾಲಯ@ೆ7 Nೋsಾ+ೋಪHಾ ಪ%ಯನುC ಸ:2l@ೊಂFರುತ<Nೆ." A wound certificate is appended to the summary of the charge sheet. The wound certificate reads as follows: "Boranna S/o Puttappa ವo<ಯ 5ೕ ೆ ಕಂಡು ಬರು &ಾಯ ಅಥ!ಾ fೆಟುಗಳd ,ಾನು Nayakanahalli ವಯljನ ಇವ+ೊಡೆ ಕಳdEl@ೊಡಲ% Twenty three years ಕDೆXಂದ---- =ೊ,ೆಯ:2 -----@ೆಲವ ವರ4 H/O Assaudit on 9.9.21 at About ಇಂಥ ಸಂದಭದ:2 ಉಂ`ಾ;ರಬಹುNಾದ ಾo 11.10 by ಎ.ಎಂ.-----------ಗುರುMನ -UೆCಗಳd. &ಾಯ&ೊಂಡ ವo<ಯನುC @ೆಳ&ೆ ಸE LಾFದವರು 3ದಲ ಸಲ Suvaiah and others e wooden stick near DAR office CID ಸ~ಳದ:2 --- 4ನ ೋFದO+ೆ ಮತು< 4ನ 9.9.21 at 11.145 AM Mಂಗಳd ಪJೕ•ೆ ನDೆlNಾಗ ಈ @ೆಳಕಂಡ &ಾಯಗಳd ಕಂಡು ಬಂ4ಎ. ನನC ಅ€fಾಯದ:2 1. LW 2x1 cm over ® occvipital region 2. Tenders oer while of ® upper limb Xmy 1074 E/o Committed # of ® Xmy 1085/11.9.21 E/o Committed # of ® e subbixation of ® radious Of the opinion that the injury No.1 is simple and injury No.2 is grevius in nature. Place: CTA Date: 3.12/21 Sd/- EJಯ ತ•ರು 1 ಾ2 ಆಸ,ೆ -ತದುಗ" - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13195 CRL.P No. 9576 of 2023 The wound certificate depicts that a wound that is two and the wounds that are caused due to the assault of the petitioners leads to one simple injury and the other grievous injury. The wound certificate is the vindication of the stand of the complainant that he has been assaulted. In such a case of assault and the grave injuries that are inflicted upon the complainant, this Court would not lend its protective hands under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. and obliterate the crime on the ground that the dispute between the petitioners and the respondent is purely civil in nature. It is trite that mere pendency of a civil case or a dispute being civil in nature between the parties, is not a license to assault. For the aforesaid reasons, the petition stands dismissed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE JY List No.: 2 Sl No.: 19