- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35820 CRL.P No. 1722 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 1722 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. MR. KEERTHAN BACHAMANDA L., S/O. MR. LAKSHMISH BACHAMANDA, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, R/AT DEVAGIRI DIVINE, 5TH FLOOR. NO.3, 30TH MAIN ROAD, BANAGIRINAGARA, BANASHANKARI 3RD STAGE, BENGALURU - 560 085. 2. MR. LAKSHMISH BACHAMANDA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, R/AT DEVAGIRI DIVINE, 5TH FLOOR. NO.3, 30TH MAIN ROAD, BANAGIRINAGARA, BANASHANKARI 3RD STAGE, BENGALURU - 560 085. 3. MR. KARTHIK B L, S/O. MR. LAKSHMISH BACHAMANDA, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/AT DEVAGIRI DIVINE, 5TH FLOOR. NO.3, 30TH MAIN ROAD, BANAGIRINAGARA, BANASHANKARI 3RD STAGE, BENGALURU - 560 085. …PETITIONERS (BY SMT. KAVITHA D, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35820 CRL.P No. 1722 of 2026 AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY RAMAMURTHY NAGAR POLICE, BENGALURU - 560 002. 2. MR. MITHUN PADMANABHAN, S/O. SRI. R. PADMANABHAN, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, R/AT NO. 2, 15TH MAIN, 19TH CROSS, OPP. BAYARS COFFEE FACTORY, PADMANABHANAGAR, BENGALURU - 560 061. 3. MR. GOVIND SURIYA, S/O NAGARAJ, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/AT SHIVASHANKARI PEARLS, FLAT T1, 2ND CROSS, UDAY NAGAR, CHIKKALSANDRA, SUBRAMANYAPURA, BENGALURU - 560 061. 4. MR. JAYANTH KUMAR, S/O LATE M KRISHNA MURTHY, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, R/AT NO. 443, 8TH B MAIN ROAD, BEML LAYOUT, 5TH STAGE, RAJARAJESHWARI NAGAR, 1ST PHASE, BENGALURU - 560 098. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. DEEPTHI ALVA, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. ANIRUDH SURESH, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO A) QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35820 CRL.P No. 1722 of 2026 INITIATED IN PCR NO.14372/2024 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE IV ADDITIONAL CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE AT BENGALURU VIDE ANNEXURE - D, INCLUDING THE COMPLAINT FILED THEREUNDER, IN EXERCISE OF THE INHERENT POWERS OF THIS HON'BLE COURT UNDER SECTION 482 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioners are before the Court seeking the following prayers: "a) Quash the entire proceedings initiated in PCR No.14372/2024 pending on the file of the Hon'ble IV Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate at Bengaluru vide ANNEXURE-D, including the complaint filed thereunder, in exercise of the inherent powers of this Hon'ble Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in the interest of justice and equity; b) In the alternative, quash the proceedings in PCR No.14372/2024 vide ANNEXURE-D insofar as they relate to Petitioner No.2 & 3, who are the father and younger brother of Petitioner No.1, respectively, as the complaint does not disclose any role, overt act, or participation on their part; c) Issue such other orders or direction/s as may be deemed fit to grant, including cost of the case, in - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35820 CRL.P No. 1722 of 2026 the view of facts and circumstances of this above case in the interest of justice and equity." 2. Heard Smt. Kavitha D. learned counsel appearing for the petitioners; Smt. Deepthi Alva, learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for respondent No.1 and Sri. Anirudh Suresh, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2. 3. The respondent Nos.2 to 4 are the complainants. On several grievance, the respondents/complainants register a complaint invoking Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. In terms of Section 223 of the BNSS, the concerned Court on 08.01.2025 passes the following order: "ORDER That, the instant complaint is emanating under Section 223 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 maintained by the complainant beseeching this Court to take cognizance for the offences alleged to have committed by the Accused persons under Sections 120A, 120B, 405, 406, 415, 418, 420, 503 and 506 r/w Section 34 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('the IPC' for short). After considering the materials on record, this Court is of the opinion that, the matter apparently look to be of civil in nature, the complainant has filed this complaint on the grounds of breach of trust on the part of Accused persons, hence, it is not a fit case to refer the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35820 CRL.P No. 1722 of 2026 matter for investigation, the examination of the complainant before the court is necessary to ascertain the validity of complaint, thereby proceed to pass following: ORDER The complainant is hereby directed to give evidence as contemplated under Section 223 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, 2023. Call on for sworn statement by: 15-03-2025." Notice is issued to the accused for appearance. It is a pre-cognizance notice under Section 223(1) of the BNSS. No order is passed by the concerned Court. 4. At this stage, there is no warrant of interference. Reserving liberty to the petitioners to knock at the doors of this Court, in the event the Court could pass any order that would be detrimental to the interest of the petitioners, the petition stand disposed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE JY List No.: 1 Sl No.: 38