- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31619 CRL.P No. 4100 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4100 OF 2025 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)-) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. ASHWIT KOTTARI S/O BABU KOTTARI, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, R/AT 4/7, FAISAL NAGARA, MANGALORE, BAJAL PO, D.K - 575027. 2. SRI. MANI, S/O LATE J K RAJA, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, NO.12-10, NEAR RAJARAJESHWARI TEMPLE, MANGALORE, SHAKTINAGAR D.K 575016. 3. SRI. JAYAPRASHANTH R, S/O RAVINDRA POOJARY, AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, R/AT 9-63, PRASHANTHI ROAD, NEAR PRASHANTHI CLINIC, SHAKTHINAGAR, D.K 575016. 4. SRI. D VEDAVYAS KAMATH, S/O D. VAMAN KAMATH, AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31619 CRL.P No. 4100 of 2025 R/AT NO.6-2-50(2), LAXMINARAYANA GANDHINAGAR, 7TH CROSS, NEAR BHATS NURSING HOME, MANGALORE, KODYALBAIL, D.K 575003 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. M. ARUNA SHYAM, SENIOR ADVOCATE ALONG WITH; SRI. SUYOG HERELE E., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH KANKANADY TOWN PS, REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BUILDING BENGALURU- 560001. 2. SRI. YASHAVANTHA PRABHU, S/O BALAKRISHNA PRABHU, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, R/AT NO.8-114/4, THIMMAPAI COLONY, PADAVU, SHAKTHINAGAR, MANGALURU CITY. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. WAHEEDA M. M., HCGP FOR R-1; R2-SERVED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR IN CR.NO.0041/2025 BY THE RESPONDENT KANKANADY TOWN PS, ON THE FILE OF XLII ADDL. CJM, BENGALURU CITY FOR THE OFFENCES ALLEGED U/S 189(2), 191(2), 54, 115(2), 351(2), 352 AND 190 OF BNS, 2023. (MARKED AT DOCUMENT NO. 1 AND 2). THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31619 CRL.P No. 4100 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioners are before the Court calling in question registration of a crime in Crime No.41/2025 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 189(2), 191(2), 54, 115(2), 351(2), 352 and 190 of BNS, 2023. 2. Heard Sri. M. Aruna Shyam, learned Senior counsel along with Sri. Suyog Herele E., learned counsel for the petitioners and Smt. Waheeda M.M., learned HCGP for respondent No.1. 3. Heated exchange of words between two rival members of political parties' results in two crimes being registered one in Crime No.42/2025 registered by these petitioners against the complainant and the impugned crime in Crime No.41/2025 registered against the petitioners by the complainant. 4. The complainant though served remains unrepresented as always. 5. It is the case of the complainant that on a particular day on 02.03.2025, certain derogatory words are spoken against the complainant or the members of the complainant's political - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31619 CRL.P No. 4100 of 2025 faction. Likewise, the same abuses are heard against these petitioners. One results in a crime that is registered as observed hereinabove by the petitioners. The gist of the said crime registered by the petitioners against the complainant is as follows: "ಈ ಪಕರಣದ ಸಂಪ ಾಾಂಶೇೆಂದೆ ಪಕರಣದ ಾಾರರು (SC) ಸಾಾರ ಾೆ ೇದವಾ!ದು", ಾಂಕ:02-03-2025 ರಂದು 19- 30 ಗಂ$ೆೆ ಮಂಗಳ'ರು ಶ( ನಗರದ ಾಲ+ ಪದವ, -ೕ ಕೃಷ0 ಮಂರದ ಬಹ3ಕಲ4ೆ5ೕತ7ವದ 8ಾಯಕಮ8ೆ+ :ೋದವರು, ಈ 8ಾಯಕಮ8ೆ+ ಆಗ=>ದ ಾನ? 4ಾಸಕಾದ @ ೇದಾ?A 8ಾಮB ರವರು ಮಂರಂದ ಮರC ಾಾರರ ಮತು ಅ-EB 8ೊ$ಾF ರವರ ೊGೆ ನHೆದು8ೊಂಡು :ೋಗುರುವ ಸಮಯ 20-15 ಗಂ$ೆ ಸುಾೆ ಾಾರರ ಪಚಯದ ಆೋ ಯಶಂತ ಪಭು Lಾ 8ಾರಣ ಾನ? 4ಾಸಕಾದ @ ೇದಾ?A 8ಾಮB ರವರMN ಉHಾPೆ ಾತಾ@ಾಗ, ಾಾರರು ಆೋಯನುQ ಪ-Q>ರುವ ೆEೕಷಂದ ಆೋಯು ಾಾರರನುQ ಉೆ"ೕ->, “ಇದನುQ 8ೇಳಲು Sೕನು ಾರು? Sೕನು Tೕಚು ಚಪUM :ೊMಯುವವ, (ೕಳV ಾಯವ ಎಂದು ೆೆದ" ಜನರ ಮುಂೆ ಾವಜSಕಾ! ಾ Sಂದೆ ಾ@, 8ೈZಂದ ಾಾರರ 8ೆೆQೆ, ಮತು ಎೆೆ ಹ[ೆN, ನHೆ>, 8ಾMSಂದ ತುCದು, ಾಾರರು ಧ>ದ" ಅಂ!ಯನುQ ಹದು, :ಾ(, ]ೇವ^, ರಂHೇ ಮಾ ಎಂದು ಅಾಚ? ಶಬ"ಗCಂದ ]ೈದು, SನQನುQ _ೕವಂತಾ! `ಡುವ,ಲN ಎಂದು _ೕವ ]ೆದ8ೆ :ಾ(ರುGಾೆ, ಇದನುQ ಪ-Q>ದ ಅ-EB 8ೊ$ಾF ರವಗೂ ಆೋಯು 8ೈZಂದ ಹ[ೆN ನHೆ>ರುGಾೆ ಎಂ`Gಾ?ಾ!ರುತೆ." 6. In the same breath, a complaint comes to be registered against these petitioners which read as follows: - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31619 CRL.P No. 4100 of 2025 "Zಂದ: ಯಶವಂತ ಪಭು, bಾಯ 39 ವಷ S/o ]ಾಲಕೃಷ0 ಪಭು ಮ.ನಂ. 8-114/4 ಮ3bೈ 8ಾ[ೊS, ಪದವ, ಶ(ನಗರ, ಮಂಗಳ'ರು - 575 016. ರವೆ, cಾdಾe8ಾ ಕಂಕಾ@ ನಗರ fMೕA cಾdೆ ಮಂಗಳ'ರು ನಗರ. ಾE=ೕ, Lಷಯ: ಾನು ಇಂದು Gಾೕಕ 02/03/2025ೇ gಾನುಾರ ಸಂೆ 8 ಗಂ$ೆೆ ಸಾ! ಮಂಗಳ'ರು ಪದವ, ಶ(ನಗರ -ೕ ಕೃಷ0 ಭಜಾಮಂರದ ಬಹ3 ರhೋತ7ವ 8ಾಯಕಮ ಸಲುಾ! ಸEಯಂ ೇವಕಾ! ಜಾ]ಾ" :ೊಂ ಈ 8ಾಯಕಮದMN ಅiಾ! ಬರುವ,ದು", Ljಾನ ಪಷB ಸದಸ?ಾದ -ೕ ಐವl @' ೋಜ ರವರನುQ ಬರಾ@8ೊಳmಲು Sಂದ" ಸಂದಭದMN ಅMN ಅiಾ! ಆಗ=>ದ ಾನ? 4ಾಸಕಾದ -ೕ @.ೇದಾ?A 8ಾಮB ರವರು ನೊQಂ!ದ" 8ಾಯಕಮದ ಸEಯಂ ೇವಕಾದ -ೕಮ ಆಶಲGಾ ಮತು ದಾನಂದ ಾಯ+ ರವರನುQ ಉೆ"ೕ->, ೇವ ಾnನ8ೆ+ ಕಲುN :ೊHೆಯುವ Sಮೆ ಇ[ೆNೕನು 8ೆಲಸ ಎಂದು ಾಜ(ೕಯ bೇತಾ! :ೇCದು", ಇದನುQ ದಾನಂದ ಾಯ+ ರವರು ಾನ? 4ಾಸಕಾದ @.ೇದಾ?ಸ 8ಾಮB ರವರMN ಾನು ಮತು ಆಶಲGಾರ ಜGೆಗೂ@ Loಾಸ[ಾ! ಇMN ಪpವ Sಧತಾ! ಗ[ಾ$ೆ ಾಡಲು ಉೆ"ೕ-> ೇಸಲUಟF `. ೆ. 8ಾಯಕತೆS>8ೊಂಡ ಹಲವರ ಜGೆಗೂ@ ನನೆ ಪಚಯLರುವ `. ೆ. ಪrದ ಪಾe8ಾಾ!ರುವ ಅ-EB 8ೊ$ಾ? ಮತು ಶ(ನಗರ Sೕನಗರದ ಮs, ಮತರ ಏuೆಂಟು ಮಂ ಅMNvೕ ದೂರದMN ಮಂರದ ಬಹ3 ರhೋತ7ವ ಸ= ಅಧ?rಾದ ಅLಾw ಅಂಚl ೊಂೆ ಾತಾ@ Sಂದ" ನನQ xೕ[ೆ ಸಡಾQ! ಹ[ೆN ಾ@ ನನQ ತ[ೆ ಮತು 8ಾMೆ - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31619 CRL.P No. 4100 of 2025 :ೊHೆದು, 8ಾMಂದ ತುCದು ನನQ ಅಂ!ಯನುQ ಪpಾ! ಹದು ಹ[ೆN ಾ@ದಲNೆ, ಆ ತಂಡದMNದ" ಜಯಪ8ಾw ಎಂಬವರು SನQನುQ ೋ@8ೊಳVmGೆೕೆ ಎಂದು ]ೆದ8ೆ :ಾ(ಾಗ ಾನು ದೂರದMN Sಶ?(Zಂದ `ದು"ದು" ಈ ಸಂದಭದMN ಅMNvೕ ಇದ" ಾನ? 4ಾಸಕಾದ @.ೇದಾ?ಸ 8ಾಮತರು ಕೂHಾ ನನQ xೕ[ೆ ಹ[ೆN ಾ@ದವರನುQ ಉೆ"ೕ-> ಆಯನ 8ೈ8ಾy fMಪ,[ೆ ಎಂದು ತುಳVLನMN :ೇಳVದು"ದು 8ೇC ಬರುತು. -ೕ ಕೃಷ0 ಭಜಾ ಮಂರದMN ಬಹ3 ಕಲಶದ ಸಲುಾ! ರzಸಲUಟF ರಜತ ಕ={ಯ 8ಾಯಕತಾ!, ಸದಸ?ಾ! ೇೆ ಸMNಸುದ" ಾನು ಈ ಕ={ಯ ಉbಾಧ?rರು ಕೂHಾ ಆದ ನನQ ತಂೆ ]ಾಲಕೃಷ0 ಪಭು ರವೆ ಾಧಕಾ! ಸಾ3ನ ೆರೇರುವ,ದು", ಈ ಸಂದಭದMN ಪpವ S|ೕ_ತಾ! 8ಾಂೆA ಪrದ 8ಾಯಕತಾದ ಾವ, ೇೆ ಸMNಸುವ,ದನುQ ಸ}ಸದ ಮಂ ಅಂಗನಾ@ 8ಾಯಕGೆ ಸEತಹ ಮ}uೆಯಾ!ರುವ ಆಶಲGಾ ಮತು ಪ-ಷF ಪಂಗಡದ ದಾನಂದ ಾ~ಕ xೕ[ೆ ಅಲNೆ ಪrದMN ಪgಾLಾ! 8ೆಲಸ ಾಡುರುವ ನನQನುQ ಕೂHಾ ಗುಾ!>8ೊಂಡು ಹ[ೆN ಾಡಲು ಸEತಃ 4ಾಸಕ ೇದಾ?A 8ಾಮB ರವೇ bೇರdೆ Sೕ@, ಗುಂಪ, ಹ[ೆNೆ 8ಾರಣಾ!ರುGಾೆಂದು ಾನು Cದು", Gಾವ, ದಯLಟುF ಈ Loಾರದ xೕ[ೆ ಕೂಲಂಕುಷಾದ ತS€ೆ ನHೆ> ಹ[ೆNೊಳಾದ ನಮೆ ಾ?ಯ ಒದ!>8ೊಡ]ೇ8ಾ! ಈ ಮೂಲಕ LನಂಸುGೆೕೆ. ವಂದೆಗuೆ'ಂೆ, ಸ}/- ಮಂಗಳ'ರು. ಇೕ ತಮ3 L4ಾE>," 7. A perusal of the complaint would not indicate even a semblance of the presence of the ingredients of the offences that is indicated in Crime No.41/2025 so two complaints are filed. Both end up in investigation. One investigation in Crime No.42/2025 results in a B report being filed by the police on the score that there was no ingredients of the allegations that are alleged against them. But the investigation in the subject case - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31619 CRL.P No. 4100 of 2025 has not taken place on account of the subsistence of the interim order. 8. The issue would be on perusal at the aforesaid complaint, whether it would make out even a prima facie case of the ingredients of the offences alleged. If the allegations are noticed qua, it is only glorification of the incident to become the offences. Therefore, in the light of the judgment of the Apex Court in the case of STATE OF HARYANA V. BHAJAN LAL1, even if the complaint is taken as true, it would not meet the ingredients of the offences, except the registration being an action suffering from want of bonafides or mala fide as the case would be. The Apex Court at paragraph 102 has held as follows: “102. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the various relevant provisions of the Code under Chapter XIV and of the principles of law enunciated by this Court in a series of decisions relating to the exercise of the extraordinary power under Article 226 or the inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code which we have extracted and reproduced above, we give the following categories of cases by way of illustration wherein such power could be exercised either to prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice, though it may not be possible to lay down any precise, clearly defined 1 1992 Supp. 1 SCC 335 - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31619 CRL.P No. 4100 of 2025 and sufficiently channelised and inflexible guidelines or rigid formulae and to give an exhaustive list of myriad kinds of cases wherein such power should be exercised. (1) Where the allegations made in the first information report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused. (2) Where the allegations in the first information report and other materials, if any, accompanying the FIR do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police officers under Section 156(1) of the Code except under an order of a Magistrate within the purview of Section 155(2) of the Code. (3) Where the uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR or complaint and the evidence collected in support of the same do not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a case against the accused. (4) Where, the allegations in the FIR do not constitute a cognizable offence but constitute only a noncognizable offence, no investigation is permitted by a police officer without an order of a Magistrate as contemplated under Section 155(2) of the Code. (5) Where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a just - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31619 CRL.P No. 4100 of 2025 conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused. (6) Where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any of the provisions of the Code or the concerned Act (under which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or where there is a specific provision in the Code or the concerned Act, providing efficacious redress for the grievance of the aggrieved party. (7) Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge.” (Emphasis supplied) 8. In the light of the said judgment, permitting further investigation in the case at hand more so, in the teeth of a 'B' report filed in the counter case on the same allegations, would become an abuse of process of law. Therefore, the impugned crime requires to be obliterated. 9. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31619 CRL.P No. 4100 of 2025 ORDER (i) Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) The proceedings in Crime No.41/2025 pending on the file of the XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru City stand quashed qua the petitioners. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE VBS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 5