- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1941 CRL.P No. 103910 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 103911 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 103910 OF 2025 (482(CR.PC)/528(BNSS)) C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 103911 OF 2025 IN CRL.P NO. 103910/2025 BETWEEN: 1. SRI SUBRAMANIAN S/O. MR. ARMUGA GOUNDER AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, R/AT 7-A, EAST STREET, KARUGAMPALYAM, INCHIPATTY POST, SOMANUR, TIRUPUR, TAMILNADU-641668. 2. MRS. MEENA W/O. A. SUBRAMANIAN AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, R/AT 7-A, EAST STREET, KARUGAMPALYAM, INCHIPATTY POST, SOMANUR, TIRUPUR, TAMILNADU-641668. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. GOVINDARAJ K. JOISA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. M/S SHA HANJARIMAL DHANRAJ AND CO. HINDU UNDIVIDED FAMILY ITS KARTHA JAYANTHILAL DHARIWAL AT APMC YARD, “A” BLOCK, KOTTURU-583134, R/BY ITS GPA HOLDER MR. N. SOMASUNDARAM. 2. M/S JAIRAM MARUTI MILLS, A PARTNERSHIP FIRM, R/BY ITS MANAGING PARTNER MR. A. RAJAN, OFFICE 7-A, EAST STREET, KARUGAMPALYAM, INCHIPATTY POST, CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Digitally signed by CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Date: 2026.02.12 16:54:55 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1941 CRL.P No. 103910 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 103911 of 2025 SOMANUR, TIRUPUR, TAMILNADU-641668. 3. SRI. A. RAJAN, S/O. ARMUGA GOUNDER, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, MANAGING PARTNER M/S JAIRAM MARUTI MILLS, R/AT 7-A, EAST STREET, KARUGAMPALYAM, INCHIPATTY POST, SOMANUR, TIRUPUR, TAMILNADU-641668. 4. SMT. R. ESWARI, W/O. A. RAJAN AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, PARTNER OF M/S JAIRAM MARUTI MILLS, R/AT 7-A, EAST STREET, KARUGAMPALYAM, INCHIPATTY POST, SOMANUR, TIRUPUR, TAMILNADU-641668. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. G.S. MOT, ADVOCATE FOR R1; SRI. MURALASIDAPPA BARKI, ADVOCATE FOR R2 TO R4) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.P.C. (528 OF BNSS), PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN CC NO.474/2024 PENDING ON THE FILE CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, KUDLIGI AGAINST THE PETITIONERS (ACCUSED NO.3 AND 5) FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE U/S 138 OF N.I. ACT, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. IN CRL.P NO. 103911/2025 BETWEEN: 1. SRI A. RAJAN S/O. ARMUGA GOUNDER, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, MANAGING PARTNER M/S JAIRAM MARUTI MILLS, R/AT 7-A, EAST STREET, KARUGAMPALYAM, INCHIPATTY POST, SOMANUR, TIRUPUR, TAMILNADU-641668. 2. SRI. K.R. MAMESH KRISHNA S/O. A. RAJAN, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, R/AT 7-A, EAST STREET, KARUGAMPALYAM, INCHIPATTY POST, SOMANUR, TIRUPUR, TAMILNADU-641668. ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. GOVINDARAJ K. JOISA, ADVOCATE) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1941 CRL.P No. 103910 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 103911 of 2025 AND: 1. M/S SHA HANJARIMAL DHANRAJ AND CO. HINDU UNDIVIDED FAMILY ITS KARTHA JAYANTHILAL DHARIWAL AT APMC YARD, A BLOCK, KOTTURU-583134 R/BY ITS GPA HOLDER, MR. N. SOMASUNDARAM. 2. M/S UDAYAKRISHNA MILLS, A PARTNERSHIP FIRM, R/BY ITS MANAGING PARTNER MR. A. SUBRAMANIAN, OFFICE 7-A, EAST STREET, KARUGAMPALYAM, INCHIPATTY POST, SOMANUR, TIRUPUR, TAMILNADU-641668. 3. SRI. A. SUBRAMANIAN S/O. MR. ARMUGA GOUNDER AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, MANAGING PARTNER, M/S UDAYAKRISHNA MILLS, R/AT 7-A, EAST STREET, KARUGAMPALYAM, INCHIPATTY POST, SOMANUR, TIRUPUR, TAMILNADU-641668. 4. SMT. S. MEENA, W/O. A. SUBRAMANIAN, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, PARTNER OF M/S UDAYAKRISHNA MILLS, R/AT 7-A, EAST STREET, KARUGAMPALYAM, INCHIPATTY POST, SOMANUR, TIRUPUR, TAMILNADU-641668. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. G.S. MOT, ADVOCATE FOR R1; SRI. MURALASIDDAPPA BARKI, ADVOCATE FOR R2 TO R4) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/SE. 482 OF CR.P.C. (U/S. 528 OF BNSS, 2023) SEEKING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDING IN CC NO. 473/2024 PENDING ON THE FILE OF CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, KUDLIGI AGAINST THE PETITIONERS (ACCUSED NO. 3 AND 5) FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/SEC. 138 OF NI ACT, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1941 CRL.P No. 103910 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 103911 of 2025 ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA) Heard Sri.Govindaraj K. Joisa, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri.G.S.Mot, learned counsel for respondent No.1 and Sri.Marulasiddappa Barki, learned counsel for respondent Nos.2 to 4. 2. Petitioners are the retired partners of the firm and their tenure ended as per the extract obtained from the registrar of firms on 30.03.2016. 3. The cheque in question came to be dishonoured in the year 2018. Therefore, the criminal prosecution against the petitioners are totally uncalled for and continuation thereof results in abuse of process of law. 4. Accordingly, the following: ORDER i. Petitions are allowed. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1941 CRL.P No. 103910 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 103911 of 2025 ii. Pending proceedings as against the present petitioners namely accused Nos.3 and 5 in CC No.474/2024 and CC No.473/2024 respectively on the file of Civil Judge and JMFC, Kudligi stands quashed. Sd/- (V.SRISHANANDA) JUDGE KAV/CT-CMU/LIST NO.: 3 SL NO.: 50