- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14756 CRL.P No. 487 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 487 OF 2026 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: SRI. MANJUNATHA G. S/O LATE GANGADHARAIAH, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, ADVOCATE BY PROFESSION, OFFICE AT NO. 860, BSK 6TH STAGE, 11TH BLOCK, GANAKAL, 80 FT. MAIN ROAD, BENGALURU-560 060. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SRINATH A R., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THALAGHATTAPURA POLICE STATION, BENGALURU. REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001. 2. LALITHA R SASTRY, W/O VISWANATHAN, AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, R/AT NO.753, SUMMIT APARTMENT, 29TH CROSS, 20TH MAIN ROAD, Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14756 CRL.P No. 487 of 2026 POORNAPRAGNYA LAYOUT, UTTARHALLI, BENGALURU-560 061 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ANOOP KUMAR, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. ANAND MUTTALLI, ADVOCATE FOR R2) 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 QUASH THE FIR IN CRIME NO.476/2025 REGISTERED BY THALAGHATTAPURA POLICE STATION, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, FOR ALLEGED OFFENCE P/US/ 75,126(2),308(2) OF BNS 2023 PENDING BEFORE ADDL CJM BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT AT BENGALURU DATED 30.12.2025. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER On 14.01.2026 this Court had passed the following order: "Learned Addl. SPP is directed to accept notice for respondent No.1. Issue emergent notice to respondent No.2. There are several legal lacuna in registering crime against the petitioner including non-compliance of the Karnataka Prohibition of Violence against Advocates Act, 2023 inter alia. The petitioner submits that his - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14756 CRL.P No. 487 of 2026 anticipation bail application has been rejected and the same has been sought at the hands of the Coordinate Bench and the Coordinate Bench has fixed the date as 22.01.2026. In the light of several legal lacuna, I only deem it appropriate to protect the petitioner till the concerned Coordinate Bench would consider his bail application. List this matter on 23.01.2026. Till such time, the respondent-State shall not take any coercive steps against the petitioner till the next date of hearing." On 23.01.2026, had passed the following order: "Learned counsel Anand Muttalli has entered appearance for the 2nd respondent. Registry to print the name of Anand Muttalli as learned counsel appearing for 2nd respondent. List this matter on 06.02.2026. Learned counsel for the 2nd respondent seeks time up to 06.02.2026 to file Statement of Objections to the subject petition. In that light, the order dated 14.01.2026 shall continue till 06.02.2026. Petitioner is directed to serve a copy of the petition papers on the learned counsel appearing for 2nd respondent, forthwith. Interim order granted earlier, stands extended till the next date of hearing." 2. Protection was granted to the petitioner, as he was a practicing advocate that till the bail is considered by the Co-ordinate Bench, no coercive steps would be taken against the petitioner. Bail is said to have been granted by the Co- - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14756 CRL.P No. 487 of 2026 ordinate Bench. The matter is being investigated into. Therefore, there is no warrant of interdicting or interjecting investigation at this stage. 3. Reserving liberty to the petitioner to knock at the doors of this Court, in the event the final report is filed and it goes against him, the petition stands disposed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE JY List No.: 1 Sl No.: 4