- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19171 WP No. 10028 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 10028 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: SRI. NIKHIL H. D., AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, S/O. SRI. DHANANJAIAH, R/AT NO. 21/1, 2ND CROSS, M.D. BLOCK, MALLESHWARAM, BENGALURU - 560003. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MAHESH Y. L., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE BENGALURU CITY ADDRESS: INFANTRY ROAD, BENGALURU -560001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE-NORTH DIVISION YESHWANTHPURA, YESHWANTHPUR POLICE STATION PREMISES, BENGALURU -560022. 3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE-NORTH-EAST DIVISION AMRUTHA HALLI, A SECTOR ABOVE AMRUTHHALLI POLICE STATION, BENGALURU-560092. Digitally signed by CHAITHRA A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19171 WP No. 10028 of 2026 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE - NORTH DIVISION, YESHWANTHPURA, YESHWANTHPUR POLICE STATION PREMISES BENGALURU -560022. 5. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE - NORTH-EAST DIVISION AMRUTHA HALLI, A SECTOR ABOVE AMRUTHHALLI POLICE STATION, BENGALURU-560092. 6. STATE BY AMRUTHAHALLI P..S, AMRUTH NAGAR MAIN RD, SECTOR B, AMRUTHNAGAR, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA - 560092. 7. STATE BY MALLESHWARAM P.S., NO. 47, 5TH CROSS, MKK ROAD, MALLESWARAM, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA- 560003. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K.P. YOGANNA, AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS (R1 TO R7) IN CRIME NO.27 OF 2026 REGISTERED BY THE MALLESWARAM POLICE STATION, BENGALURU, FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 302 AND 308(2) READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023 AND SECTION 66D OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2000, AND CRIME NO. 78 - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19171 WP No. 10028 of 2026 OF 2026 REGISTERED BY THE AMRUTHAHALLI POLICE STATION FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 64, 70(1), 351(2) READ WITH SECTION 3(5) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023, BE INVESTIGATED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND IN A COORDINATED MANNER BY THE SAME INVESTIGATING OFFICER (AT ANNEXURE- A , B , C AND D ) AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER This captioned petition is filed seeking a writ in the nature of mandamus directing respondent Nos.1 to 7 to conduct investigation in Cr.No.78/2006 along with Cr.No.27/2006 jointly on the premises that these crimes have a nexus and if a joint investigation is held by the same Officer, truth would be revealed. 2. Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned AGA appearing for the respondent- State. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19171 WP No. 10028 of 2026 3. The petitioner submits that he had approached the Malleshwaram Police Station and lodged a detailed complaint disclosing grave and serious allegations of criminal intimidation and extortion at the hands of accused No.1. Acting on the said complaint, the jurisdictional police have registered a First Information Report in Crime No.27/2026 for the offences punishable under Sections 302 and 308(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The petitioner contends that the allegations set out in the complaint disclose cognizable and serious offences warranting a thorough and impartial investigation. 4. The petitioner’s principal grievance is that, subsequent to the registration of the aforesaid crime, accused No.1 has, with an ulterior motive and as a counterblast to the complaint lodged by the petitioner, instituted a false and vexatious complaint against him. Based on the said complaint, another FIR has been - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19171 WP No. 10028 of 2026 registered in Crime No.78/2026 by the Amruthahally Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 64, 70(1) and 351(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The petitioner asserts that pursuant to the registration of the said counter case, he has been subjected to arrest and was remanded to judicial custody, thereby causing serious prejudice and hardship. 5. The petitioner further contends that while his complaint in Crime No.27/2026 discloses serious allegations including extortion and other grave offences, the investigating agency has not proceeded with the investigation in an effective or meaningful manner. On the contrary, the complaint lodged by accused No.1, which according to the petitioner is nothing but a retaliatory measure, has been acted upon with undue promptitude, culminating in his arrest. It is specifically urged that both Crime No.27/2026 registered at Malleshwaram Police Station and Crime No.78/2026 registered at Amruthahally Police Station arise out of the same transaction, are - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19171 WP No. 10028 of 2026 intrinsically connected, and form part of the same chain of events involving allegations and counter-allegations between the parties. In such circumstances, the petitioner asserts that the interests of justice would require that both the cases be investigated in a coordinated and consolidated manner by a single investigating agency, so as to avoid conflicting findings and to ensure a fair, impartial, and comprehensive investigation. 6. Having regard to the grounds urged in the present writ petition, this Court is of the considered view that the petitioner can be relegated to avail an alternative remedy by submitting a detailed representation before the competent authority. The learned Additional Government Advocate submits that such a representation would appropriately lie before the Commissioner of Police. Placing the said submission on record, this Court deems it just and proper to reserve liberty to the petitioner to submit a comprehensive representation to the first respondent–Commissioner of Police, setting out all the - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19171 WP No. 10028 of 2026 factual aspects and grievances as urged in the present petition. 7. Upon receipt of such representation, the first respondent shall consider the same in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders, including examining the feasibility and necessity of conducting a joint or coordinated investigation in respect of Crime No.27/2026 and Crime No.78/2026, having regard to the interlinked nature of the allegations. 8. With the above observations and liberty, the writ petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE DS CT:TSM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 8