- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29125 CRL.P No. 5565 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 5565 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI. SANJU @ MAHADEVA MURTHY S.P. AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS S/O PUTTASWAMY NO.55, SARAGURU VILLAGE, NAGARLE POST, BILIGERE HOBLI, NANJANAGUDU TALUK, MYSURU - 570 009. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SAGAR A. SHETTY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HASSAN WOMEN PS, HASSAN DISTRICT, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. SRI. KRISHNA MURTHY AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS S/O RANGASWAMY R/AT 3RD CROSS, MISSION HOSPITAL ROAD, TANNIRUHALLA, HASSAN - 573 201. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. WAHEEDA M.M, HCGP FOR R1) Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29125 CRL.P No. 5565 of 2026 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.P.C (U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR, CHARGE SHEET AND PROCEEDINGS IN CR.NO.135/2020 AGAINST THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO.2, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 363, 366, 376, 114, 120(B), 506 R/W 34 OF IPC, 1860, U/S 6, 8, 12, 17 OF POCSO ACT, 2012, U/S 9 AND 10 OF CHILD MARRIAGE RESTRAINT ACT, REGISTERED AS SPL.C.NO.349/2023 ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE PRL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC-1, AT HASSAN. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioner/accused No.12 is before the Court calling in question proceedings in C.C.No.349/2023 registered for the offence punishable under Sections 363, 366, 376, 114, 120(B), 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('the IPC' for short), Sections 6, 8, 12 and 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 ('the POCSO Act' for short) and Sections 9 and 10 of the Child Marriage Restraint Act. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29125 CRL.P No. 5565 of 2026 2. Heard Sri. Sagar A. Shetty, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Smt. Waheeda M.M., learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for respondent No.1. 3. The petitioner along with several other accused gets embroiled in a crime initially only for offence punishable under Section 363, 114 read with 34 of the IPC in crime No.135/2020. The police conduct investigation and draw several accused into the vortex of crime. The allegation is that the victim, 16 years old was having relationship with the accused No.1 and the accused No.1 is supported for all his acts by the several other accused. On the said allegation, the petitioner is also drawn as accused No.12. Drawing up of the petitioner as accused No.12 is what has driven the petitioner to this Court in the subject petition. 4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the concerned Court ought not to have taken cognizance of the offence against this petitioner in particular, as there is no role of this petitioner that can drive home any ingredient of the offences. He would submit that all the allegation against the petitioner is that he has supported the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29125 CRL.P No. 5565 of 2026 victim and the accused No.1 by taking them in the car. Apart from that, there is no allegation that would become an offence under either Section 376, 120B, 506 or otherwise. 5. The learned High Court Government Pleader would however refute the submission in contending that there are allegations against the petitioner that would become the ingredients of the offences if not under the provisions of the IPC, but under the provisions of the POCSO Act and the Child Marriage Restraint Act. 6. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the respective learned counsel and have perused the available material on record. 7. The afore-narrated facts are a matter of record and the averment in the petition. What triggers the registration of the crime is a complaint being registered by the father of the victim. The complaint reads as follows: ರವೆ, ಆರಕ ಉಪ ೕಕರು, ಮಾ ೕ ಾೆ, ಾಸನ ನಗರ, ಾಸನ. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29125 CRL.P No. 5565 of 2026 ಇಂದ, .ಆ. ಕೃಷ"ಮೂ$% &' (ೇ || ರಂಗ)ಾ*+, &.ಎಂ.-... /ೌಕರ, ರಂೋಹಳ3, 3/ೇ 4ಾ5, +ಷ' ಆಸ67ೆ5 ರ)ೆ8, ಾಸನ ನಗರ, ªÉÆ: 9036740092. 9ಾನ:;ೆ, <ಷಯ <ಷಯ <ಷಯ <ಷಯ : ನನ> ನನ> ನನ> ನನ> 16 ವಷ%ದ ವಷ%ದ ವಷ%ದ ವಷ%ದ ಮಗಳನು> ಮಗಳನು> ಮಗಳನು> ಮಗಳನು> ?/ಾಂ ?/ಾಂ ?/ಾಂ ?/ಾಂಕಕಕಕ : 18/12/2020 ರಂದು ರಂದು ರಂದು ರಂದು ಪ@ಸ(ಾA. ಪ@ಸ(ಾA. ಪ@ಸ(ಾA. ಪ@ಸ(ಾA. BCಾ>D BCಾ>D BCಾ>D BCಾ>D 9ಾEರುವ 9ಾEರುವ 9ಾEರುವ 9ಾEರುವ ಬೆG ಬೆG ಬೆG ಬೆG. HೕಲJಂಡ <ಾಸದL MಾಸMಾNರುವ /ಾನು ದತ ಮತು8 ಂದುPದ ವಗ%ದ ಪQಷR Sಾ$ೆ )ೇದವ/ಾNರು7ೆ8ೕ/ೆ. ವೃ$8ಯL &.ಎಂ.-.. /ೌಕರ/ಾNದುT, ಮಕJಳ <Uಾ:Vಾ:ಸ4ಾJN ಾಸನ ನಗರದL Mಾಸ 9ಾಡು$8UೆTೕ/ೆ. ನನ> ಮಗಳW Mೈಷ"<ಮೂ$% 2/ೇ .ಯು.. Mಾ:)ಾಂಗ 9ಾಡು$8ದುT, )ಾ9ಾYಕ $ಳWವP4ೆ ೊಂ?ರು7ಾ8ೆ. ಆದ;ೆ ?/ಾಂಕ : 18/12/2020 ರಂದು ZೆಳNನ Sಾವ ಸು9ಾರು ಸಮಯ 12-30 ಂದ 1-30 ಘಂ\ೆಯ ಸಂದಭ%ದL /ಾವ@ ಮಲNರುವ ಸಂದಭ%ದL ನನ> ಮಗಳW Mೈಷ"<ಮೂ$% ಯನು> BCಾ>D 9ಾEರು7ಾ8;ೆ. BCಾ>D 9ಾEರುವ ವ:B8ಗಳW ಮ/ೋ^ @ ಮನು &' (ೇ ॥ ಕು9ಾರ, ಏಚನಹP3 ಾ5ಮ, ಕಸZಾ ೋ©îÃ, ೊೆನರ.ೕಪ@ರ 7ಾಲೂLಕು ಮತು8 ಇUೇ ಾ5ಮದ ?ೕಪ ಮತು8 ರaತ, ಚಂದ5ಪ6 &' ಲಕJಯ: ರವರ ಮಗ bೇತನ, ತರ4ಾ Mಾ:cಾ, (ೋ4ೇಶನ ಮಗ ಅಯ, /ಾಗನ ಮಗ ¥Àæಜ*g ಾಗೂ ಇತರ;ೆ(ಾL )ೇ hಾವ@Uೋ ದುರುUೆTೕಶ?ಂದ BCಾ>D 9ಾEರು7ಾ8;ೆ ಎಂದು $P.ರುತ8Uೆ ಾಗೂ ಘಟ/ೆೆ ಹಣ, Zೈಕು ಮತು8 4ಾರು ಕP. ಕೃತ: ಎಸNರುವ ಅರಕಲೋಡು 7ಾಲೂLBನ ZೆಳMಾE ಪಂbಾA8 Mಾ:8ಯ 7ೋ$5 ಅಂಕನಹP3 ಾ5ಮದ ವBೕಲ;ಾದ ಕೃಷ"ರವರು ಮುಖ: 4ಾರಣ;ಾNರು7ಾ8;ೆ. ಆದTಂದ ನನ> ಮಗಳW Mೈಷ"<ಮೂ$% ರವರನು> ಹುಡುB4ೊಟುR ಸದ ಕೃತ: ಎಸNರುವ HೕಲJಂಡ ಆ;ೋಗಳ Hೕ(ೆ 4ಾನೂನ ಸೂಕ8 ಕ5ಮ 4ೈೊಂಡು ನನೆ ಮತು8 ನನ> ಕುಟುಂಬ4ೆJ ರೆ ೕಡZೇ4ೆಂದು ಈ ಮೂಲಕ ತಮnL ZೇE4ೊಳW3$8UೆTೕ/ೆ. ಇದೂವ;ೆಗೂ ನನ> ಮಗಳನು> ಹುಡುಕ(ಾN ಪ7ೆ8hಾಗದ 4ಾರಣ ಈ ?ನ ತಡMಾN ಬಂದು ದೂರು ೕಡು$8UೆTೕ/ೆ." - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29125 CRL.P No. 5565 of 2026 The complaint becomes a crime in crime No.135/2020 initially for three offences as quoted hereinabove. 8. The police conduct investigation and file a charge sheet for several offences. The summary of the charge sheet reads as follows: "17. 4ೇ.ನ ಸಂaಪ8 )ಾ;ಾಂಶ PÀ®A: 363, 366, 376, 114, 120(©), 506, gÉ/« 34 L.¦.¹ eÉÆÃvÉUÉ 6, 8, 12, 17 ¥ÉÆPÉÆìà PÁAiÉÄÝ eÉÆvÉUÉ 9, 10 ZÉʯïÙ ªÀiÁågÉÃeï DPïÖ ?/ಾಂಕ 17-12-2020 ರಂದು ;ಾ$5 11-15 ಗಂ\ೆ ಸಮಯದL ಾಸನ ಮಾ ೕ ಾೆಯ Mಾ:8ೆ )ೇದ hಾ%? ಕೃಷ"ಮೂ$% MಾಸMಾNರುವ ರಂೋ ಹಳ3ದ ಹ$8ರ Uೋಷ;ೋಪಣ ಪತ5 4ಾಲಂ 12 ರL ಕಂಡ ಆ;ೋಗಾದ ಎ-1 ಮ/ೋಜ @ ಮನು ಎ-2 ?ೕD @ 4ಾಂತ;ಾಜ ಎ-3 ರaತ ಎ-4 bೇತನ @ bೇತು ಎ-5 ಅಯ ಎ-6 ಕೃಷ" @ ಕೃಷ"ಮೂ$% ಎ-7 ಪ5ಜ*g ಎ-8 ಪ57ಾಪ ಎ-9 ಪ5<ೕಣ ಎ-10 ಆನಂದ ಎ- 11 ಭರತ ಎ-12 ಸಂಜು ಎ(ಾLರೂ ಸ9ಾನ ಉUೆTೕಶ <ಟುR4ೊಂಡು ಎ-1 ರವೆ )ಾa-2 Mೈಷ"< ಮೂ$%ಯನು> ಮದುMೆ 9ಾE4ೊಳ3ಲು ಎ-1 ರವೆ ಪ5bೋದ/ೆ ೕE ಸಂಚು ರೂ. ?/ಾಂಕ 17-12-2020 gÀAzsÀÄ gÁwæ 11-15 UÀAmÉAiÀÄ°è ಎ-1, ಎ-2, ಎ-3 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ಎ-4 gÀªÀgÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ PÉ.J. 13 EJ£ï, 0280À ªÀÄvÀÄÛ PÉ.J. 13 J¸ï 6193 ZೈBಗಳL ರಂೊ(ೆ ಹಳ3, ?ಂಧ ಬಲ7ಾJರ?ಂದ ಪ@ಸ(ಾA.4ೊಂಡು ಾಸನದ ಚನ>ಪಟRಣದ ೊಸ 4ೊಟ% ಹ$8ರ ಕ;ೆದು4ೊಂಡು ºÉÆÃV C°èUÉ §AzsÀ PÉ.J. 50-6964 PÁjUÉ ಎ-4 ಎ-8 ಎ-9 ಎ- 10 EªÀgÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÁQë-2 gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß §®ªÀAvÀªÁV PÁj£À ಂZಾಗದ .ೕ-ೆ ಹ$8. ಎ- 1 )ಾa-2 ಮತು8 4ಾರ bಾಲಕ )ಾa - 14 ಎ(ಾರು ನಂಜನಗೂEೆ ೋN ಎ-1 ರವರು ' 9ಾE ಎ-11 ಮತು8 ಎ-12 ರವರನು> ಕ;ೆ.4ೊಂಡು ;ಾ$5 ಎಲL 4ಾನL ಮಲN ?/ಾಂಕ 18-12-2020 ರಂಧು ನಂಜನಗೂಡು 7ಾಲೂLಕು 4ಾಯ% ಾ5ಮದ ಹ$8ರ ರುವ Q5ೕ .UೆTೕಶ*ರ )ಾ*+ ZೆಟRದ Hೕ(ೆ ಇರುವ Q5ೕ.UೆTೕಶ*ರ )ಾ*+ Uೇವ)ಾyನದL ಅcಾ5ಪ8 17 ವಷ%ದ ವಯ.zನ )ಾa-2 ರವರನು> ಎ-1 ರವರು - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29125 CRL.P No. 5565 of 2026 ಮದುMೆ 9ಾE4ೊಂಡು ಆUೇ ?ನ ;ಾ$5 ನಂಜನಗೂಡು ಬೃಂUಾವನ ¯ÁqÀÓ£ÀÄß 9ಾE4ೊಂಡು ಎ-1 ರವರು )ಾa-2 ರವೆ ತ&{4ೊಂಡು ZಾA ಮತು8 ಮುಖ4ೆJ ಮುತು84ೊಟುR, 4ೈಗPಂದ ಎUೆಗಳನು> .BUಾಗ )ಾa-2 ರವರು ಅಂಗ(ಾ| ZೇE4ೊಂಡು $ರಸJ.ದರೂ ಸಹ )ಾa-2 ರವರ ಬ\ೆRಗಳನು> &|}. ಎ- 1 ಸಹ ಬ\ೆR &|} )ಾa-2 ರವರ ಇಷR4ೆJ <ರದTMಾN (ೈNಂಕ Uೌಜ%ನ: (ಅ7ಾ:bಾರ) 9ಾEದುT ?/ಾಂಕ 19-12-2020 ರಂದು ;ಾ$5 ಮತು8 ?/ಾಂಕ 21-12-2020 ಂದ 24-12-2020 ರ ವ;ೆೆ Qವ~ಗG, ;ಾಮಕೃಷ" (ಾ•€ನL, ಎ-1 ರವರು )ಾa-2 ರವರ EµÀÖPÉÌ <ರುದ•MಾN ಆ/ೇಕ Zಾ (ೈNಂಕ Uೌಜ%ನ( ಅ7ಾ:bಾರ ) 9ಾEರು7ಾ8/ೆ ?/ಾಂಕ 20-12-2020 ರಂದು Uಾವಣೆ;ೆ 4ಾ$%ಕ r¯ÉPÀì (ಾ•€ನL ಎ-1 ರವರು )ಾa-2 ರವರ ಇಷR4ೆJ <ರುದ•MಾN (ೈNಂಕ Uೌಜ%ನn ( ಅ7ಾ:bಾರ) 9ಾEರು7ಾ8;ೆ ಎ-2 ಇವಂದ ಎ-10 ರವರುಗಳW )ಾa-2 ರವೆ ಎ-1 ರವರನು> ಮದುMೆ hಾಗುವಂ7ೆ ಮದುMೆ hಾಗ?ದT;ೆ )ಾa-1 ಂದ )ಾa-3 gÀªÀgÀÄUÀಳನು> 4ೊ(ೆ 9ಾಡುವ@UಾN 4ೊ(ೆ Zೆದ4ೆ ಾBರು7ಾ8;ೆಂದು ತ‚ೆAಂದ ದೃಡಪ-Rರು7ೆ8." The summary of the charge sheet indicates that the petitioner along with accused No.11, who is now deceased, takes the victim and accused No.1 in the car around several places and has abetted the crime. 9. 9. The accused No.1 and the victim are said to have got married in the temple. Therefore, if not for any other offence, the offences under the Child Marriage Restraint Act would undoubtedly get attracted even to the petitioner, as he is an accomplice to the other accused for the incident that has happened i.e., the marriage of a minor with the accused No.1. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29125 CRL.P No. 5565 of 2026 10. In that light, it is for the petitioner to come out clean in a full bloom trial only for the offences under the Child Marriage Restraint Act. 11. With the aforesaid observation, the petition stands disposed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE JY List No.: 2 Sl No.: 24