- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28122 WP No. 8617 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 8617 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: 1. DHANRAJ JAIN S/O VISHRAMAL JAIN, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, NO. 48, RATNARAJ RESIDENCY, 3RD FLOOR, NEAR VENLAKH HOSPITAL, CHAMRAJPETE, BENGALURU-560 018 … PETITIONER (BY SRI. B.B. PATIL, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. PRINCIPAL SECRETARY HOME DEPARTMENT, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-01. 2. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, NRUPATHUNGA ROAD, BENGALURU-01 3. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, NRUPATHUNGA ROAD, BENGALURU-01 4. SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, RAMANGARA DISTRICT, RAMANAGARA-562 159 Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28122 WP No. 8617 of 2026 5. STATION HOUSE OFFICER, TAVAREKERE P.S TAVAREKERE-562 130 … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. C.H. DEVARAJ, GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO A) CALL FOR RECORDS IN UDR NO. 2/2025 OF 5TH RESPONDENT HEREIN AND B) DIRECTING THE 5TH RESPONDENT TO REGISTER FIR AND THE 1ST RESPONDENT TO FORM A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM (SIT) AND ENTRUST THE INVESTIGATION OF UDR NO. 2/2025 ANNEXURE-A OF TAVAREKERE P.S. TO THE SIT, WITH A DIRECTION TO FILE THE FINAL REPORT AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING (FRESH MATTERS LIST), THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Call for Records in UDR No. 2/2025 of 5th Respondent herein; b. To issue an appropriate writ, order or directions including a writ in the nature of Mandamus, thereby directing the 5th respondent to register FIR and the 1st respondent to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and entrust the investigation of UDR No. 2/2025 Annexure-A of Tavarekere P.S. to the SIT, with a direction to file the final report. c. To issue an appropriate writ, order or direction that investigation entrusted to SIT be supervised by a superior officer not below the rank of IGP, in order to ensure fair and impartial investigation. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28122 WP No. 8617 of 2026 d. To direct disciplinary authority to take necessary action against the erring officials of Tavarekere P.S. and R-4 who failed to act on the representation filed by the petitioner vide Annexure-C; e. Pass such other order as deemed fit in view of the facts and circumstances of the case in the interest of justice. 2. The Petitioner is the father of one Sri.Karthik Jain, who is stated to have expired on 01.01.2025 after being treated at Victoria Hospital for burns. The cause of death is stated to be septicemia as a result of burn injuries sustained. 3. The respondents having issued a UDR No.2 of 2025, the petitioner had filed a representation/complaint alleging that he suspects certain other persons to be involved in the death, the death is not only unnatural but is a homicide. 4. Though the said representation had been submitted on 25.08.2025, no action has been taken on the said representation, no investigation has occurred and the respondents have issued an endorsement on 09.01.2026 stating that a UDR has already been issued. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28122 WP No. 8617 of 2026 5. The facts which are not in dispute are that there is a death which has occurred. The death has occurred on account of severe burn injuries after treatment at a hospital. 6. A perusal of the UDR does not even indicate a reference to the post-mortem report and the cause of death. The respondents have issued the UDR in a hurry on 01.01.2025 at 07.00 p.m. when the intelligence was received on 01.01.2025 at 06.15 p.m. It is shocking that such a endorsement has been issued within 45 minutes of the information having been received which shows the callousness with which the respondents have dealt with the death of a citizen of the country. 7. It was but required for an investigation to have been conducted in terms of the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari vs Govt. Of U.P.& Ors1, where a cognizable offence has been made 1 AIR 2014 SC 187 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28122 WP No. 8617 of 2026 out, an investigation has to naturally follow, same not having occurred, this Court pass the following; ORDER i. The writ petition is allowed. ii. Respondent No.5 is directed to register FIR and investigate into the matter in accordance with law as expeditiously as required since the death occurred on 01.01.2025, it is nearly 18 months from that date. SD/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE SR