- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35473 CRL.P No. 8510 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8510 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MAHESH C.V. S/O VENKATASWAMY AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/AT MP/88, BEHIND RENUKA YELLAMMA TEMPLE, ANTARGANGA MAIN ROAD, VIBHUTIPURA, KOLAR TALUK AND DISTRICT - 563 101. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. AKRAM PASHA K, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY KADUGODI P.S., BANGALORE - 560 001. STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. SRI. RAGHAVENDRA, S/O. LATE. MUNIYAPPA, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, R/AT. WARD NO.13, HOUSE NO.128, MARALUBAGIUL, NEAR MANASA HOSPITAL, DEVANAHALLI TOWN, Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35473 CRL.P No. 8510 of 2026 BANGALORE - 562 110. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. WAHEEDA M.M, HCGP FOR R1) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.P.C (U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DTD 29.05.2026 IN SC.NO.15/2026 REGISTERED BY KADUGODI P.S., PENDING BEFORE THE HONBLE PRL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT, AT BANGALORE AND TO QUASH THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PETITIONER ARRAYED AS ACCUSED NO.5, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 103(1), 238 R/W 3(5) OF BNS, 2023. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER Petitioner/accused No.5 stands at the doors of this Court calling in question the Order dated 29.05.2026 passed by the concerned Court in S.C.No.15/2026 rejecting the application filed by the petitioner seeking his discharge from the array of accused. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35473 CRL.P No. 8510 of 2026 2. Heard Sri. Akram Pasha K., learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Smt. Waheeda M.M., learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for respondent No.1. 3. The petitioner is accused No.5. A complaint comes to be registered on 31.07.2025 alleging the offence of murder as obtaining under Section 103(1), 238 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The complaint results in investigation. Pursuant to the investigation, the Police file a charge sheet against the petitioner and five other accused. The petitioner/accused No.5 files an application seeking his discharge from the array of accused. The concerned Court rejects the application for discharge by the impugned order. It is this that has driven the petitioner to this Court in the subject petition. 4. To consider the plea of the petitioner that there is nothing in the charge sheet against him, therefore the concerned Court ought to have discharged the petitioner. It becomes necessary to notice the summary of the charge sheet. The summary of the charge sheet reads as follows: - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35473 CRL.P No. 8510 of 2026 "17. Brief facts of the case ಈ ೋಾೋಪ ಾ ಪಯ ಾಲಂ ನಂ. 12 ರ, ಕಂಡ ಆೋ-2 ರವರು ಮೃತ ಾಬುರವರ ೆಂಡ!"ಾ#ದು%, ಾನೂನು ಸಂಘಷ)ೆ* ಒಳ-ಾದ ಾಲ. ಕು|| ವ/)0ಾ ಸ1ಂತ ಮಗ3ಾ#ದು% & ಆೋ-2 ರವರ 4ಾವ5ಾ#ರು0ಾ65ೆ, ಅವೆಲರು ಾಡು-ೋ8 9ೕ: ;ಾ ಾ ಸರಹ=%ನ =ನೂ>?ನ 55ೇ ಾ@:ನರುವ ಅಂೇಡ*ರ ಪ@!A ಹ!6ರ, B@ೕಮ! !ಲಾವ!ರವರ BೕC ಮ5ೆಯ DಾಸDಾ#ರು0ಾ6ೆ. ಮೃತ ಾಬು ಆ-ಾಗ ಕು8ದುೊಂಡು ಮ5ೆ-ೆ ಬಂದು ಗEಾFೆ 4ಾಡುವGದು, ೊHೆಯುವGದು 4ಾಡು!6ರು0ಾ6ೆ. ಆಾಗೂI ಆೋ-2 ಾಗೂ ಾನೂನು ಸಂಘಷ)ೆ* ಒಳ-ಾದ ಾಲ.ಯು ಸJKೊಂಡು ೋಗು!6ರು0ಾ6ೆ, ನಂತರ ಾನೂನು ಸಂಘಷ)ೆ* ಒಳ-ಾದ ಾಲ. ಕು|| ವ/)0ಾಳL ಆೋ-1 ಾಮಮೂ!)ಯನು> @ೕ! 4ಾಡು!6ದು%, ಈ Mಷಯವನು> ಆೋ-1 ಮೃತ ಾಬು ಾಗೂ ಆೋ-2 B@ೕಮ! ಮುNರತ>ರವ?-ೆ !OKಾಗ ಆೋ-2 ಒP-ೆ ಸೂQK ಅವO-ೆ ಇನೂ> 18 ವಷ)Dಾ#ಲ, ನಂತರದ =ನಗಳ ಮದುDೆ 4ಾ8ೊಡು0ೆ6ೕDೆಂದು !OKರು0ಾ6ೆ. ಇದೆ* ಮೃತ ಾಬುರವರು ಒP-ೆ ಸೂQಸೇ ಈ MಷಯDಾ# ಆೋ-1 AೕEೆ ೋಪ-ೊಂ8ರು0ಾ6ೆ. ನಂತರ ಆೋ-2 ಮುNರತ>ಮSರವರು ಆೋ-1-ೆ ರವರನು> ೆಂಗಳT?ನ "ಾವGಾದರೂ ಒ3ೆU ೆಲಸ 4ಾ8ೊಂ8ರು ೆಂಗೂ ನನ> ಮಗ3ಾದ ಕು|| ವ/)0ಾಳನು> Nನ> Vೊ0ೆ ಮದುDೆ 4ಾ8ೊಡು0ೆ6ೕDೆಂದು ೇOದು%, ಈ-ೆ, ಸು4ಾರು 04 !ಂಗONಂದ ಆೋ-2 ಮೃತ ಾಬುರವರ ಮ5ೆಯ Dಾಸ 4ಾ8ೊಂ8ರು0ಾ6ೆ. ಆDಾ#Nಂದ ಈ MಷಯDಾ# ಆೋ-1 ಮತು6 ಮೃತ ಾಬುರವರ ನಡುDೆ ಮನXಾ6ಪDಾ# ಆ-ಾ-ೆYೕ ಗEಾFೆಗ3ಾಗು0ಾ ಬಂ=ರುತೆ. Jೕ#ರುDಾಗ 26/06/2025 ರಂದು ಾ!@ ಸು4ಾರು 23:00 ಗಂFೆಯ ಸಮಯದ ಮೃತ ಾಬುರವರು ಮದI_ಾನ 4ಾ8ೊಂಡು ಮ5ೆ-ೆ ಬಂದು ಅDಾIಚI ಶಬ%ಗOಂದ ೈಯುತ6 ಆೋ-2 ರವರ ಜುಟುನು> J8ದು ಎ3ೆಾ8 ೊHೆಯು0ಾ6 ಅಡು-ೆ ಮ5ೆಯದ% fಾಕುವನು> 0ೆ-ೆದುೊಂಡು ಆೋ-2 ಾಗೂ ಾ.ಸ.ಒ. ಾಲ.-ೆ "NಮSನು> ಸುಮS5ೆ gಡುವG=ಲ Xಾhಸು0ೆ6ೕ5ೆಂದು" ಮುಂೆ ಬರು!6ಾ%ಗ ಆೋ 1 ಮೆI ಬಂದು “"ಾೇ =5ಾ ಕು8ದು ಬಂದು ಗEಾFೆ 4ಾಡು!6? ಸುಮS5ೇ ಇೋೆ ಆಗಲ1" ಎಂದು ೇOದ%ೆ*, ಮೃತನು “ಇದೆ*ಲ ಾರಣ - Nೕ5ೆ ಾಗೂ ಇದು - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35473 CRL.P No. 8510 of 2026 ನನ> ಮ5ೆ Nೕ5ಾIರು ನನ-ೆ ೇ3ೆTೆ" ಎಂದು ೊHೆಯಲು ಮುಂೆ ಬಂಾಗ ಆೋ-2 ೋಪದ ಾjನದ% ಮಚkನು> 0ೆ-ೆದುೊಂಡು ಏಾಏ. ಮೃತ ಾಬುರವರ ತEೆಯ Jಂಾಗದ ಕ!6-ೆ-ೆ ಬಲDಾ# ೊHೆೆನು. ಆಗ ಇದನು> 5ೋಡು0ಾ6 Nಂ!ದ% ಾ.ಸ.ಒ ಾಲ. ವ/)0ಾ ಅಡು-ೆ ಮ5ೆಯದ% Jಟುೋಲನು> 0ೆ-ೆದುೊಂಡು ಬಂದು ಬಲDಾ# ಮೃತ ಾಬುರವರ ತEೆ-ೆ ೊHೆದಳL. ನಂತರ ಆೋ-2 “Nನ> ಾಟ Xಾಾ#ೆ ಇವತು6 Nನ-ೆ ಒಂದು ಗ! ಾmಸು0ೆ6ೕDೆ" ಎನು>0ಾ6 ೈಗOಂದ ೊHೆದು ಾNಂದ ಒದು% XಾhKರು0ಾ6ೆ. ಇದ5ೆ>ಲ 5ೋಡು!6ದ% Xಾn-2 ಕು॥ No0ಾ ಏೆ ಅಪPN-ೆ ಏ5ಾhತು ಎಂಾಗ ಆೋ-2 "NಮS ಅಪPN-ೆ ಉಾ?ದ ಾರಣ ಆಯ ತP ೆಳ-ೆ g=%ದು%, ತುಂಾ ರಕ6 ಬರು!6ೆ ಅದೆ* ಆಸP0ೆ@-ೆ ಕೆದುೊಂಡು ೋ-ೋಣ ಎಂದು ಸುಳLU, ೇO Nೕನು ಇದರ ತEೆ ಾಕೇಡ ಮಲಗು ಎಂದು ಗದ?K ಸುಮS5ಾ#Kರು0ಾ6ೆ. ನಂತರ ಆೋಗಳL ಮೃತ ೇಹವನು> ಎ"ಾದರೂ ಸುಡಲು qೕಜ5ೆ ರೂK Xಾn-22 ರವರ ಕHೆhಂದ ಆೋ-3 ರವರ ನಂಬರ 0ೆ-ೆದುೊಂಡು ಅವ?-ೆ ನHೆದ ಎಲ Mಷಯವನು> !OKದು%, ಸದ? ಆೋ-3 ರವರು ಅrಕ ದುಡುs Kಗುತ6ೆಂಬ ದುರುೆ%ೕಶ=ಂದ ಆೋ-4 ?ಂದ ಆೋ-6 ರವರ ಸ ಾಯ 0ೆ-ೆದುೊಂಡು ಆೋ-5ರವರ ಅಂಬುEೆನt Hೆuವv ಆದ ಆೋ-4 ನಂ=ೕw ರವರು ಾಡು-ೋ8 9ೕ: ;ಾ ಾ ಸರಹ=%ನ 55ೇ ಾ@:ನರುವ ಅಂೇಡ*ರ ಪ@!A ಹ!6ರ, B@ೕಮ! !ಲಾವ!ರವರ BೕC ಮ5ೆಯ ಹ!6ರ ೋ# "ಾ?ಗೂ ಅನು4ಾನ ಬರದಂ0ೆ ಮೃತ ಾಬು ರವರ ೇಹವನು> ಆಂಬುEೆxt ಾ.ೊಂಡು ೋEಾರದ ರಹಮy ನಗರದ Jಂದೂ ರುದ@ ಭೂ{ ಸS|ಾನೆ* 0ೆ-ೆದುೊಂಡು ಬಂ=ದು%, ನಂತರ ಆೋ-6 ರವರು ತನ-ೆ ಪ?ಚಯMರುವ ಸS|ಾನದ ಉಸು6Dಾ?"ಾದ Xಾn-19 ರವ?-ೆ ಆ.tHೆಂCನ ಸ!6ದು%, ಮೃತ ೇಹವನು> ಸುಡೇಾ#ೆ ಎಂದು ಸುಳLU ೇOದು%, ನಂತರ Xಾn-19 ರವರು ಸS|ಾನದ ೆಲಸ 4ಾಡುವ Xಾn-20 & Xಾn-21 ರವ?-ೆ ಕೆ 4ಾ8 ಸದ? Mಷಯವನು> !OKರು0ಾ6ೆ. ನಂತರ ಆೋ-6 Xಾn-20 & Xಾn-21 ರವ?-ೆ ಸದI ಮೃತ ೇಹೆ* ಸಂಬಂrKದಂ0ೆ "ಾವGೇ ಾಖEಾ!ಗOಲDೆಂದು ಾಗೂ 9ೕ: 4ಾಟ)~ 4ಾ8KರುವG=ಲ ನಂತರ ಾಖEಾ!ಗಳನು> ತಂದು NೕಡುವGಾ# ಸುಳLU ೇO Xಾ•€ 5ಾಶ 4ಾಡುವ ಉೆ%ೕಶ=ಂದ ಮೃತ ೇಹವನು> ಸುರು0ಾ6ೆ. ನಂತರ ಆೋ-1, ಆೋ-2 ಾಗೂ ಾ.ಸ.ಒ,ಾಲ. ರವರಗಳL Xೇ?ೊಂಡು Xಾ•€: 5ಾಶ 4ಾಡುವ ಉೆ%ೕಶ=ಂದ ಕೃತI ನHೆದ ಸ•ಳವನು> ಆೋ-3 ೇO - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35473 CRL.P No. 8510 of 2026 ೊಟ ಾ-ೆ Nೕ?Nಂದ ಾಗೂ ಗುೋ:Nಂದ 0ೊ3ೆದು ೊಸ0ಾ# _ೇಂC 4ಾ8, ಕೃತIೆ* ಬಳKದ ವಸು6ಗಳನು> ಾಗೂ ರಕ6Kಕ6 ಬFೆಗಳನು> "ಾ?ಗೂ ಅನು4ಾನ ಬರದಂ0ೆ ೆೆ ೆೆ ಸ•ಳಗಳ,, gXಾ.ದು%, ಆೋ-1, ಆೋ-2 ಾಗೂ ಾ.ಸ.ಒ. ಾಲ.ಗ3ೆಲರೂ Xೇ?ೊಂಡು ಾಬುರವನು> ಮQkNಂದ, Jನ ೋNಂದ ೊHೆದು XಾhKರುವGದು ಮತು6 ಆೋಗ3ೆಲರು Xೇ?ೊಂಡು ೇK-ೆ ಸಂಬಂrKದಂ0ೆ Xಾ•€ 5ಾಶ 4ಾ8ರುವGದು ತN‚ೆhಂದ ಾಗೂ ಲಭIMರುವ Xಾƒಾ„ಾರಗOಂದ ದೃಢಪರುತ6ೆ. ಆದ%?ಂದ Aೕಲ*ಂಡ ಕಲಂಗಳ ಅ8ಯ ಆೋಗಳ Mರುದ† ಈ ೋಾೋಪ ಾ ಪ. NDೇದ5ೆ, ಪ@ಕರಣದ ಇನೂ> ತN‚ೆ ಮುಂದುವೆ=ದು%, ೆQkನ Xಾƒಾ„ಾರಗಳನು> ಸಂಗ@JK ಘನ 5ಾI"ಾಲಯೆ*, ಕಲಂ 193(9) g.ಎx.ಎ:.ಎ:. ಅ8ಯ ೆಚುkವ? ೋಾೋಪ ಾ ಪಯನು> NDೇ=KೊಳUEಾಗುವGದು." The petitioner/accused No.5 is the driver of the ambulance, who had assisted or lent the vehicle to carry the body, which was allegedly murdered by accused Nos.1 or 2, as the case would be. Therefore, it is not a case that the petitioner has nothing to do with the incident that has taken place. He is prima facie an accomplice. The concerned Court while answering the application for discharge insofar as the petitioner is concerned has held as follows: 8. According to this accused, he is the Ambulance owners However, according to him, he received information to shift the patient and he instructed his driver to attend the work. However, later, he came to know from the driver that it is not the patient. but it is - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35473 CRL.P No. 8510 of 2026 the dead body. Thereafter, he enquired that one Venkatachalapathy who called him to shift the patient and enquired about the dead body to which he told that because of some quarrel, as he was in drunken status, usually the members have committed his murder and he is ready to pay the amount for the cremation. Thereafter, the wife of deceased had requested him to help for cremation and himself. Venkatachalapathy. chandrashekar and Nandish have joined together and they burnt the body. 9. As per the prosecution case, he is also involved in disappearance of the evidence. Thus, as per the voluntary statement, he was involved in the case. Further, the investigation papers also shows that even though his name was not found in the FIR, but subsequently and undisputedly the body was shifted in his Ambulance if at all there was no information about the fact that it was the dead body and he did not assist in cremation knowing fully that it is the murder, he would not have been said to be involved in the case. However, knowing fully well the family members have killed the deceased and in spite of it for the money he assisted them. Hence, his involvement in the crime is also prima-facie established for screaming of the offence. Therefore, there are materials to frame charge. Hence, there is no merit in the application. Accordingly, the point under consideration is answered in Negative and this court proceeds to pass the following: ORDER The application filed on behalf of accused No.5 under Section 227 of Cr.P.C/U/S.250(1) of BNSS, 2023 is hereby dismissed." In the teeth of the offence being the one punishable for murder and disappearance of evidence, as is alleged, there is no warrant of interference at this stage of the proceedings on - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35473 CRL.P No. 8510 of 2026 the plea that the charge sheet does not make out any case against the petitioner. 5. Finding no merit in the petition, the petition stands dismissed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE JY List No.: 2 Sl No.: 23