- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22310 CRL.P No. 8411 of 2021 C/W CRL.P No. 8284 of 2021 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8411 OF 2021 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)) C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8284 OF 2021 IN CRL.P No. 8411/2021 BETWEEN: 1. SHRI CHOWDA REDDY S/O LATE JAYANNA AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, DODDAGAJANURU VILLAGE CHINTAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLAPUR KARNATAKA -563125 2. SMT. VARALAKSHMI W/O CHOWDAREDDY AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS DODDAGAJANURU VILLAGE CHINTAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLAPUR KARNATAKA-563125 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. KARIAPPA N.A., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY CHINTAMANI POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY SPECIAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE-560 001 Digitally signed by HEMALATHA J Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22310 CRL.P No. 8411 of 2021 C/W CRL.P No. 8284 of 2021 2. SMT. AKSHITHA G. W/O PRAKASH J. AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, RESIDING AT 12TH CROSS RAMAKRISHNA BADAVANE SRINIVASAPURA TOWN KOLAR-563135 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. M.R.PATIL, HIGH COURT GOVERNMENT PLEADER FOR RESPONDENT NO.1; SRI. M.K.BOPAIAH, ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT NO.2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 13.07.2020 PASSED BY THE LEARNED ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE AND J.M.F.C., CHINTAMANI, AT CHIKKABALLAPURA IN C.C.NO.434/2020 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 323, 342, 498A, 504, 506 R/W 34 OF IPC AND SECTION 3 AND 4 OF DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT AND CONSEQUENTLY QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS PENDING THEREON. IN CRL.P NO. 8284/2021 BETWEEN: SHRI PRAKASH J. S/O LATE JAYANNA AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, TOWN CHINTAMANI, DODAGAJANUR, CHNTAMANI, CHIKKABALLAPUR, KARNATAKA-563125 ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. KARIAPPA N.A., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY CHINTAMANI POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22310 CRL.P No. 8411 of 2021 C/W CRL.P No. 8284 of 2021 STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE-560 001 2. SMT. AKSHITHA G W/O PRAKASH J., AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, RESIDING AT 12TH CROSS, RAMAKRISHNA BADAVANE SRINIVASAPURA TOWN KOLAR-563135 ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. M.R.PATIL, HIGH COURT GOVERNMENT PLEADER FOR RESPONDENT NO.1; SRI. M.K.BOPAIAH, ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT NO.2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER PASSED BY THE LEARNED PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, CHINTAMANI AT CHIKKABALLAPUR IN C.C.NO.434/2020 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 323, 342, 498A, 504, 506 R/W 34 OF IPC AND SECTIONS 3, 4 OF DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT AND CONSEQUENTLY QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS PENDING THEREON. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22310 CRL.P No. 8411 of 2021 C/W CRL.P No. 8284 of 2021 ORAL ORDER The petitioners in these petitions have challenged the prosecution launched against them in C.C.No.434/2020 pending trial before the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Chintamani, Chikkaballapura, for the offences punishable under Sections 323, 342, 498A, 504, 506 read with Section 34 of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. 2. When these petitions are listed for admission, a memo is filed by the learned counsel for the petitioners enclosing therewith an order dated 07.03.2026 passed by the II Additional Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Kolar, in M.C.No.42/2025. In terms of the said order, a petition filed under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, was allowed and the marriage between the respondent No.2 and her husband, who is the petitioner in Crl.P.No.8284/2021 was dissolved. 3. The memo is taken on record. 4. Since the respondent No.2 and her husband, who is the petitioner in Crl.P.No.8284/2021 have settled their material - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22310 CRL.P No. 8411 of 2021 C/W CRL.P No. 8284 of 2021 dispute, the continuation of the criminal proceedings against the petitioners is unwarranted. 5. Consequently, these petitions are allowed. The impugned prosecution of the petitioners in C.C.No.434/2020 pending trial before the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Chintamani, Chikkaballapura, for the offences punishable under Sections 323, 342, 498A, 504, 506 read with Section 34 of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, is quashed. Sd/- (R. NATARAJ) JUDGE PMR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 26