- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2446 CRL.P No. 101656 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 101656 OF 2025 (482(CR.PC)/528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: MAHESH S/O. VENKATESH DASAR AGE. 33 YEARS, OCC. SOCIAL SERVICE, R/O. SIDDARAMESHWAR NAGAR, NEAR HOOGAR PLOTS, TQ. GADAG, DIST. GADAG-582101. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. K.N. PHANINDRA, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. MRUTYUNJAYA S. HALLIKERI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA R/BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA THROUGH PSI, BETAGERI EXTENSION PS GADAG. 2. PRASHANTH VARAGAPPANAVAR AGE. 46 YEARS, OCC. GOVT. OFFICIAL, R/O. DIRECTOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, HAVERI, TQ. AND DIST. HAVERI-581117. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B.A. BELLIAPPA, SPP. A/W. SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. HARSH DESAI, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/SE. 528 OF BNSS, 2023, SEEKING TO QUASH THE COMPLAINT IN BETAGERI EXTENSION P.S. CRIME NO. 65/2024 AND ALL PROCEEDINGS IN C.C. NO. 245/2025 PENDING ON THE FILE IF 1ST ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC-I COURT AT GADAG FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/SEC. 61(2), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), 238 OF BNS, ACT 2023, IN SO FAR AS PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO. 5 IS CONCERNED, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Digitally signed by CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Date: 2026.02.20 16:00:12 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2446 CRL.P No. 101656 of 2025 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA) 1. Heard Sri K.N. Phanindra, learned senior counsel for Sri Mrutyunjaya S. Hallikeri, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri B.A. Belliappa, learned SPP, along with Smt. Kirtilata R. Patil, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1, and Sri Harsh Desai, learned counsel for respondent No.2, who appears personally. 2. After hearing the arguments at length, Sri K.N. Phanindra submitted that he has definite instructions to withdraw the petition with liberty to file an application seeking discharge. 3. Sri Mrutyunjaya S. Hallikeri, learned counsel, has filed a memo. The contents of memo reads as under: “MEMO FOR WITHDRAWAL It is humbly submitted that, petitioner may kindly be permitted to withdraw the petition with liberty to seek discharge before the competent court may kindly be all - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2446 CRL.P No. 101656 of 2025 contentions kept open, in the interest of justice and equity.” 4. Placing the memo on record, the following order is passed: ORDER i. The petition is dismissed as withdrawn with liberty to file an application for discharge as prayed for. ii. All contentions are kept open and may be raised during the trial. Sd/- (V.SRISHANANDA) JUDGE AC Ct-cmu LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 113