- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26773 CRL.P No. 4895 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 4949 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO.4895 OF 2026 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO.4949 OF 2026 IN CRL.P No.4895/2026: BETWEEN: MR. P.O. SHIVAKUMAR, S/O P. OMKAR MURTHY, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.57, OMKAR, B BLOCK, 2ND PARALLEL ROAD, GANDHINAGAR, SHIMOGA - 577 201. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SUNIL KUMAR H., ADVOCATE) AND: MR. C.N. DHARANISH, S/O C.S. NARASIMHAIAH, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.70, C-1 FLAT, 2ND MAIN, DOLLARS COLONY, JP NAGAR, 4TH PHASE, BANGALORE - 560 078. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. NATESH MURTHY, ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P. IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) PRAYING TO A. QUASH THE ORDER OF TAKING COGNIZANCE DATED 11.01.2024 PASSED BY THE LD MAGISTRATE IN CC NO.16506/2024 VIDE ANNEXURE - A; B. QUASH THE ORDER OF TAKING COGNIZANCE DATED 17.05.2024 PASSED BY THE LD MAGISTRATE IN CC NO.16506/2024 VIDE ANNEXURE - A. Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26773 CRL.P No. 4895 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 4949 of 2026 IN CRL.P NO. 4949/2026: BETWEEN: 1. MR. SHAMANTH, S/O P.O. SHIVAKUMAR, AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.57, OMKAR B BLOCK, 2ND PARALLEL ROAD, GANDHINAGAR, SHIMOGGA - 577 201. 2. MR. D.S.ASHOK KUMAR, S/O D.N.SIDDAPPA, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.181/A, NTI LAYOUT, NEAR SONNEGOWDA LAYOUT, RAJIV GANDHI NAGAR, 1ST PHASE, SAHAKARA NAGAR, KODIGEHALLI POST, BENGALURU - 560 092. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SUNIL KUMAR H., ADVOCATE) AND: MR. C.N. DHARANISH, S/O C.S. NARASIMHAIAH, AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.70, C-1 FLAT, 2ND MAIN, DOLLARS COLONY, J.P.NAGAR 4TH PHASE, BENGALURU - 560 078. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. NATESH MURTHY, ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P. IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.P.C (FILED U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO (A) QUASH THE ORDER OF TAKING COGNIZANCE DATED 11-1-2024 PASSED BY THE LEARNED MAGISTRATE IN CC NO.16506/2024 VIDE - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26773 CRL.P No. 4895 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 4949 of 2026 ANNEXURE - A;(B) QUASH THE ORDER OF TAKING COGNIZANCE DATED:17-5-2024 PASSED BY THE LEARNED MAGISTRATE IN CC NO. 16506/2024 VIDE ANNEXURE-A. THESE PETITIONS ARE COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioners in these cases call in question the proceedings before the concerned Court registered for the offences punishable under Sections 499 and 500 of the IPC. 2. Learned counsel, Sri. H. Sunil Kumar appearing on behalf of the petitioners submits that there is threshold procedural aberration in the case at hand as cognizance is taken and then the statement is sought to be recorded by the concerned Court. He would seek to place reliance upon the judgment rendered by the Coordinate Bench in Crl.P.No.3622/2024 disposed on 13.06.2025 to buttress his submission that in identical circumstances the Coordinate Bench has set the order aside and remitted the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26773 CRL.P No. 4895 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 4949 of 2026 matter back to the hands of the concerned Court. The Coordinate Bench has held as under: “ORAL ORDER This petition by the accused in C.C.No.33615/2023 arising out of PCR No.3512/2023 on the file of the XXX Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru (for short “the Trial Court”), is directed against the impugned order dated 02.05.2023, whereby the Trial Court took cognizance of the private complaint filed by the respondent for the offence punishable under Section 500 of IPC and posted the matter for recording the sworn statement on 30.05.2023, pursuant to which the aforesaid private complaint was registered as C.C.No.33615/2023 by the Trial Court. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned counsel for the respondent – party-in-person and perused the material on record. 3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that the respondent-complainant filed the aforesaid private complaint in PCR No.3512/2023 against the petitioners- accused for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 120B, 181, 182, 191, 192, 193, 195, 196, 209, 211 and 500 r/w. Section 34 of IPC. After hearing the respondent, the Trial Court proceeded to pass the impugned order declining to take cognizance insofar as all offences except Section 500 IPC, by holding as under: “The complainant in person filed this private complaint U/s 204 against the accused No.1 & 2 alleging that, they have committed offence punishable U/s 120-B, 181, 182, 191, 192, 193, 195, 196, 209, 211, 500 r/w 34 of IPC and also sought for compensation of Rs.2,50,00,000/-. 2. The brief facts of the complaint:- The complainant is mechanical engineer he has worked in may companies he has got good reputation in Private Sector. The complainant has served as project manager, Project Engineer at Abroad like USA, UAE etc., the complainant also served as engineer in Bengaluru constructed building i.e., UB City, Forum Mall Bengaluru. 3. The complainant hails from highly educated and respectable family. He has earned appreciation from his superior and sub ordinates and also stake holders. In the year 2007 the complainant purchased the building. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26773 CRL.P No. 4895 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 4949 of 2026 4. Accused No.1 is owner of the site bg. No.70. Accused No.1 and M/s Maharaja Developers and Adventures entered into agreement. As per the said agreement, accused No.1 only is owner of the flats ie., accused no.1 & 2 situated at ground floor. Remaining plots are owned by the M/s. Maharaja Developers. 5. Accused No.1 without obtaining sanction from the BBMP he has started illegal construction at 3rd floor in this regard, M. C. Lokesh owner of the plot No. C-2 lodged the complaint to BBMP. BBMP official sited the spot and stopped the construction. Inspite of that, the accused No.1 illegally constructed building and also got prior connection based on the forged documents. The complainant questioned the illegal acts of the accused Nol. He has started harassment the complainant by lodged false, vexatious, fabricated criminal cases. In order to protect himself and his family, the complainant obtained law degree and also successfully completed AIBE-16 examination and got enrolled as an advocate. 6. Accused No.1 lodged false complaint. Based on that, the Puttenahalli Police Station have registered the case and complainant faced criminal trial before this court in C.C.No.21491/2015. After trial. case is ended in acquittal. In furtherance of the common intention. accused No.1 & 2 lodged false frivolous fabricated vexatious complaint against the present complainant in C.C.No.21491/2015. They have given false evidence before this court and also police have endorsed false shara, at the time of service of summons the witnesses. Hence, accused are committed lodged offences. 7. Heard arguments. 8. The following points arises for my consideration:- 1. Whether this court authorised to the complainant to lodged this complaint against the accused No.1 & 2 for the offences punishable U/s.181, 182, 191, 192, 193, 195 196, 209, 211 of IPC.? 2. Whether sufficient material on record to take cognizance for the alleged offences punishable U/s.500 & 120-B r/w. 34 of IPC.? 3. What Order? 9. By considering the allegations made in the complaint and hearing of the parties, my answer to the above point is answered as follows: Point No.1: IN THE NEGATIVE Point No.2: IN THE AFFIRMATIVE Point No.3: As per final order for the ....following REASONS - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26773 CRL.P No. 4895 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 4949 of 2026 10. Point No.1:- The complainant himself argued in Jength and urged his educational qualification, his service and why he has done la degree and also explained how he has faced criminal trial before this court. Based on the allegations made by the accused. Therefore, he sought for take cognizance for the alleged offences. 11. Before going to the merits of the case, at this stage, I have relied on the Section 195 of Cr.P.C. reads thus:- Section; 195. Prosecution for contempt of lawful authority of public servants, for offences against public justice and for offences relating to documents given in evidence.- 1) No Court shall take cognizance – (a) (i) of any offence punishable under sections 172 to 108 (both inclusive) of the Indian Penal Code, (45 of 1860), or (ii) of any abetment of, or attempt to commit, such offence, or (iii) of any criminal conspiracy to commit such offence, except on the complaint in writing of the public servant concerned or of some other public servant to whom he is administratively subordinate; (b) (i) of any offence punishable under any of the following sections of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), namely, sections 193 to 196 (both inclusive), 199, 200, 205 to 211 (both inclusive) and 228, when such offence is alleged to have been committed in, or in relation to, any proceeding in any Court, or (ii) of any offence described in section 463, or punishable under section 471, section 475 or section 476, of 110 the said Code, when such offence is alleged to have been committed in respect of a document produced or given in evidence in a proceeding in any Court, or (iii) of any criminal conspiracy to commit, or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence specified in sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii), except on the complaint in writing of that Court or by such officer of the Court as that Court may authorise in writing in this behalf, or of some other Court to which that Court is subordinate. 12. The complainant made allegations against the accused No.1 & 2 that they have committed offence punishable U/s.191, 182, 191, 192, 192, 195, 196, 209 211 of IPC. 13. The complainant himself produced the Judgment of this court passed in C.C.No.21491/2015 dated 5.2.2021. the accused is acquitted in this case not for accused No.1 lodged frivolous complaint against him. He has acquitted due to non availability of the direct witnesses. This court nowhere opined that, PW1 deposed false evidence before this court. For this reason this court has not authorised his officers or not authorised to anybody to lodge complaint for the allegations made against the accused U/s.181, 182, 191, 192, 195, 196, 209, 211 of IPC. 14. Already this court opined that, in C.C.No.21491/2015 present complainant is acquitted due to non availability of the evidence of direct and eye witnesses. Therefore, the complainant lodged this complaint against the accused No.1. & 2 for these offences without obtaining prior sanction from this court as contemplated U/s.195(1), (a), (1) (II) (III) and 195(1) (b) (I) of IPC. Therefore, complaint against the accused No.1. & 2 for the alleged offences punishable U/s.181, 182, 191, 192, 193, 19*5, - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26773 CRL.P No. 4895 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 4949 of 2026 196, 209, 211 of IPC is not maintainable. Accordingly, Point No. 1 is answered in the Negative. 15. Point NO.2:- The complainant himself pleaded that, he is innocent and hails from the respectable family and earned appreciation from the superiors and sub ordinate officers and also from the stake holders. Due to facing of criminal case, his reputation is defrauded. By considering this aspect, the complainant at this stage, established prima- facie case to take cognizance for the offence punishable U/s.500 of IPC. 16. Further, there is no sufficient material on record to shows that, accused No.1 & 2 have made all mind for criminal conspiracy. Accordingly, there is no sufficient material on record to take cognizance for the offence punishable U/s.120-B of IPC. Accordingly, Point No.2 is answered in the Affirmative. 17. Point No.3:- For the forgoing, proceed to pass the following.... ORDER Cognizance taken for the offence punishable U/s.500 of IPC. Posted for sworn statement on 30.05.2023.” 4. Aggrieved by the impugned order and further proceedings pursuant thereto, the petitioners are before this Court by way of the present petition. 5. A perusal of the impugned order dated 02.05.2023 will indicate that the same suffers from two major illegalities and infirmities, in as much as, firstly, the Trial Court in the first instance, took cognizance and thereafter recorded sworn statement of the respondent, but before taking cognizance, respondents ought to have recorded sworn statement and thereafter take cognizance of the offence punishable under Section 500 IPC. Secondly, a perusal of the impugned order taking cognizance of the offences under Section 500 of IPC at paragraph 15 of the impugned order will indicate that the same is a non-speaking, cryptic, unreasoned and laconic order, passed without assigning valid or cogent reasons and the Trial Court has taken cognizance of the aforesaid offence. Under these circumstances, without expressing any opinion on the merits/demerits of the rival contentions, I deem it just and appropriate to set aside the impugned order and remit the matter back to the Trial Court for reconsideration afresh, in accordance with law. 6. In the result, I pass the following: ORDER i) The petition is allowed. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26773 CRL.P No. 4895 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 4949 of 2026 ii) The impugned order dated 02.05.2025 passed in C.C.No.33615/2023 (arising out of PCR No.3512/2023) by the XXX ACMM, Bengaluru, is hereby set aside. iii) The matter is remitted back to the Trial Court for reconsideration afresh in accordance with law. iv) Respondent – party-in-person shall appear before the Trial Court on 03.07.2025. v) The Trial Court shall record the sworn statement of the respondent and consider the statement of his witnesses, if any and document produced by him and proceed further in accordance with law. Sd/- JUDGE” 3. Learned counsel, Sri.Natesh Murthy appearing on behalf of respondent would not dispute the position of law. 4. Therefore, I deem it appropriate to set aside the order of taking of cognizance in both these cases following the order passed by the Coordinate Bench and granting the same relief as is granted by the Coordinate Bench. 5. In the result, I pass the following: ORDER (i) The petitions are allowed. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26773 CRL.P No. 4895 of 2026 C/W CRL.P No. 4949 of 2026 (ii) The impugned orders dated 11.01.2024 and 17.05.2024 passed by the 30th Addl. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, in C.C.No.16506/2024, is hereby set aside. (iii) The matter is remitted back to the trial court for reconsideration afresh in accordance with law. (iv) Respondent shall appear before the trial court on 24.06.2026. (v) The trial court shall record the sworn statement of the respondent and consider the statement of his witnesses, if any and document produced by him and proceed further in accordance with law. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE DR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 33