- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29881 WP No. 1798 of 2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 1798 OF 2022 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. LAKSHMINARAYAN K S/O LATE KRISHNASWAMY R AGED 69 YEARS R/O 36, MALLIGE APTS 4TH MAIN 11TH CROSS MALLESHWARAM BENGALURU - 560 003 … PETITIONER (BY SRI. LAKSHMINARAYAN K., PARTY-IN-PERSON) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA MINISTRY OF HOME DEPARTMENT BENGALURU - 560 002 REPRESENTED BY ITS UNDER SECRETARY 2. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (CYBER-CRIME) NO.1, CARLTON HOUSE PALACE ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001 3. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE NO.2, ALI ASKER ROAD VASANTH NAGAR BENGALURU - 560 051 4. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE - NORTH YESHWANTHPURA BENGALURU - 560 022 5. STATION HOUSE OFFICER CYBER-CRIME POLICE STATION Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29881 WP No. 1798 of 2022 CEN NORTH BENGALURU - 560 022 6. THE GENERAL MANAGER BHARTI AIRTEL LTD 55 DIVYA SHREE TOWERS BANNERGHATA ROAD BENGALURU - 560 029 7. THE GENERAL MANAGER VODAFONE IDEA LTD 11/1, 12/1, EMBASSY GOLF LINKS BUSINESS PARK DOMLUR BENGALURU - 560 071 8. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (CBI) PLOT NO.5-B, 6TH FLOOR CGO COMPLEX, LODHI ROAD NEW DELHI - 110 003 ALSO AT: 36, BELLARY ROAD 2ND FLOOR CBI COMPLEX BANGALORE - 560 032 (REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR) … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MAHATESH SHETTAR, AGA FOR R1 TO R5; SRI PRASANNA KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R8; SRI SARAVANA S., ADVOCATE FOR R6; R7 - SERVED) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE PETITIONER'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PRIVACY IS RESTORED IMMEDIATELY AS PRAYED IN ANNEXURE-U VIDE LETTER DATED 02.11.2021 AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FURTHER HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29881 WP No. 1798 of 2022 ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a) Issue a Writ in nature of Mandamus directing the Respondents to ensure that the Petitioner's Constitutional right to Privacy is Restored Immediately as prayed in Annexure U vide letter dated 02.11.2021; b) Issue a Writ in the nature of Mandamus directing the Respondents to refer the case to competent technical body having necessary infrastructure to do fact finding / Investigation of cybercrime cases like CID Cyber Crime Karnataka or any other competent body before investigating officer (IO) is allowed to submit their report in PCR No. 9117/2020 (FIR No.137/2021 or in the alternative as the matter pertains to multiple states, to refer the matter to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation and filling report in the PCR No. 9117/2020 as prayed on Annexure-J. c) Issue a Writ in the nature of Mandamus directing the Respondents to transfer the case from CEN (N) to any other suitable and Competent Police Station as prayed in Annexure-U. d) Issue a Writ in nature of Mandamus directing the Respondents to ensure immediate investigation in the matter. To meet the ends of justice and equity and to complete the investigation in a time bound manner under the supervision of a Senior police officer of the rank of Additional Commissioner of Police. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29881 WP No. 1798 of 2022 e) To grant such other relief or order or direction as this Hon'ble court may deem fit under the circumstances of the case including cost in the interest of justice and equity. 2. While the matter was pending, since it was indicated that the investigation had not being completed properly, this Court had directed the instruments to be furnished to the Forensic Science Laboratory and verification thereon. However, for the first time on 04.06.2026, it was brought to the notice of this Court that the final Investigating Report had already been submitted, which had been set aside on 06.07.2024 directing the Investigating Authority to complete the investigation. 3. Since fresh investigation is already going on and being carried out by the ACP, Cyber Crime, the above petition is disposed of directing the ACP to complete the investigation as expeditiously as possible and submit a report. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29881 WP No. 1798 of 2022 4. While completing the investigation, the ACP would be advised to take into account the various observations made by the petitioner in the pleadings and applications filed in the present proceedings, as also the FSL report which has been received, within 60 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE LN List No.: 2 Sl No.: 8