- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010375782026 NC: 2026:KHC:36098 WP No. 16921 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 15TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 16921 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: LOKESHAPPA A. R AGED ABOUT 70 YEARS S/O LATE RAMAIAH A T R/AT, ASANDI VILLAGE KADURU TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU KARNATAKA - 577 548 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SUMANTH ULLOD., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY CHIKKAMAGALURU CEN CRIME PS REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE CYBER COMMAND CID ANNEXE BUILDING CARLTON HOUSE NO.1 PALACE ROAD RACECOURSE GANDHI NAGAR BENGALURU KARNATAKA-560001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.DEVARAJ C H., GA FOR RESPONDENTS) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE 'LJLWDOO\VLJQHG E\6+:(7+$ 5$*+$9(1'5$ /RFDWLRQ+,*+ &28572) .$51$7$.$ - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010375782026 NC: 2026:KHC:36098 WP No. 16921 of 2026 RESPONDENT-POLICE AUTHORITIES TO COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATION AND FILE THE FINAL REPORT/CHARGE-SHEET EXPEDITIOUSLY AND TO GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE INVESTIGATION IN RESPECT OF THE COMPLAINT DATED 26.03.2026, REGISTERED IN FIR BEARING CRIME NO. 22/2026 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 66(C) AND 66(D) OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2008 AND SECTIONS 318(4) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023 BEFORE THE PRINCIPLE CIVIL JUDGE (SENIOR DIVISION) AND CJM COURT, CHIKKAMAGALURU (ANNEXURE-B) WITHIN SUCH TIME FRAME AS MAY BE FIXED BY THIS HON’BLE COURT AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. Learned AGA accepts notice for respondent Nos.1 and 2. 2. Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: “1. Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order, or direction directing the Respondent-Police Authorities to complete the investigation and file the final report/charge-sheet expeditiously and to give information about the progress of the investigation in respect of the complaint dated 26.03.2026, registered in FIR bearing Crime No. 22/2026 for the offences punishable under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2008 and Sections 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 before the Principle Civil Judge (Senior Division) and CJM Court, Chikkamagaluru (Annexure-B) within such time frame as may be fixed by this Hon'ble Court, in the interest of justice and equity. 2. 2. Any other order as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit as per the facts of the case.” - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010375782026 NC: 2026:KHC:36098 WP No. 16921 of 2026 3. The grievance of the petitioner is that the complaint filed by the petitioner on 26.03.2026 is still pending investigation and it is for that reason, the aforesaid reliefs have been sought for. 4. The complaint was filed on 26.03.2026, and the allegations made therein relate to certain impersonators arresting the petitioner and, on their instructions, the petitioner transferring a sum of Rs.48,00,000/-, which would require the respondents to investigate the matter properly, taking into consideration all the aspects. 5. In that view of the matter, though, it is little over three months from date of filing of the complaint, considering that the aspect of false arrest including digital arrest is plaguing the entire country, it is required for the authorities to take immediate action and investigate the matter, so that these kind of events do not occur in the future. As such, this Court passes the following order: a) Petition is allowed. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010375782026 NC: 2026:KHC:36098 WP No. 16921 of 2026 b) Mandamus is issued directing the respondents to expeditiously complete and conclude investigation in Crime No.22/2026 and file the report before the concerned Court, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE HA LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 11