- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010267312023 NC: 2026:KHC:37795 CRL.P No. 4688 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4688 OF 2023 BETWEEN: SRI CHENNAKESHAVA S/O LATE B.C.MUDDANNA AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.91, BILISHIVALE VILLAGE DODDAGUBBI POST BIDARAHALLI HOBLI BENGALURU EAST TALUK BENGALURU CITY – 562 149. …PETITIONER (BY SRI KUMARA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA KOTHANUR P.S. REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU – 560 001. 2. SMT.PRITHVI SHANABHAG W/O SUHAS SHANAI AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS RESIDING AT FLAT NO.B1, 2ND FLOOR MURTHY ELIGANCE Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010267312023 NC: 2026:KHC:37795 CRL.P No. 4688 of 2023 NEAR INDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOL NAGAVARA BENGALURU CITY BENGALURU – 560 045. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT.DEEPTHI ALVA, HCGP FOR R-1; R-2 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 CR.P.C PRAYING TO QUASH THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO.1 IN C.C.NO.56638/2022 AND ORDERS OF COGNIZANCE TAKEN FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 341, 447, 506 R/W 34 OF IPC AGAINST THE PETITIONER AND OTHERS ON 14.09.2022, ON THE FILE OF XI ADDL.C.M.M., MAYO HALL, BENGALURU. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioner-accused No.1 is before this Court calling in question the proceedings in C.C.No.56638 of 2022 registered for offences punishable under Sections 341, 447, 506 r/w - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010267312023 NC: 2026:KHC:37795 CRL.P No. 4688 of 2023 Section 34 of the IPC. The second respondent is the complainant. 2. Heard Sri Kumara, learned counsel appearing for petitioner and Smt Deepthi Alva, learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for respondent No.1. 3. A complaint comes to be registered on 14-12-2021 alleging trespass by these petitioners into the property belonging to the complainant. Therefore, the offence under Sections 341 and 447 of the IPC have sprung. The fulcrum of the complaint is that, the petitioner is the owner of the adjacent property and the property which belongs to the complainant is illegally trespassed by the petitioner-accused No.1 and other accused. The complaint becomes a crime in Crime No.198 of 2021 for offences punishable under Sections 341, 447, 506 r/w Section 34 of the IPC. The police conduct investigation and file a charge sheet for the aforesaid offences. Filing of the charge sheet is what has driven the petitioner to this Court in the subject petition. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010267312023 NC: 2026:KHC:37795 CRL.P No. 4688 of 2023 4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the act of criminal trespass cannot be laid against the petitioner, as the police have drawn a mahazar after conduct of an inspection of the property, which clearly indicates that the petitioner is in possession of the property and therefore, the petitioner being in possession cannot be alleged of trespass. 5. The learned High Court Government Pleader Smt Deepthi Alva would however refute the submission in contending that in the light of the interim order of stay granted, further proceedings have not continued before the concerned Court. Therefore, the petitioners have to come out clean in a full blown trial, as the allegations are prima facie met in the case at hand. 6. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the respective learned counsel and have perused the material on record. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010267312023 NC: 2026:KHC:37795 CRL.P No. 4688 of 2023 7. The afore-narrated facts are a matter of record, they would not require any iteration. Since the entire issue has triggered from registration of the complaint, I deem it appropriate to notice the complaint. It reads as follows: “ರವೆ,  ಾಂಕ: 14/12/2021 ೕ ಸ-ಇೆಕ ೊತನೂರು ೕ ಾ!ೆ "ೆಂಗಳ%ರು ನಗರ. ಇಂದ, '(ೕಮ* ಪೃ-. /ಾನ0ಾಗ ೋಂ ಸು1ಾ /ೆ!ೈ, 36 ವಷ4, 5ಾಸ:#6ಾ78 ನಂ 91 2 ೇ :7ೕ, ಮೂ*4 ಎಂಗ, ಇಂ<ಯ ಪ97> ಸೂ?@ ಹ*ರ, ಾಗ5ಾರ, "ೆಂಗಳ%ರು – 560 045. C.ಸಂ:8722299949. Eಷಯ: ಆ/ಾ Gೌನ'ೕIನ Jೈರಕ ಚನLೇಶವ ಮತು NಾO ೇಜ ಗQಾದ ಅಂSೋT ಕುNಾರ UಾV, 'ವWಕುNಾರ 1ಾಗೂ ಇತರರು ರವರುಗಳX ನಮY ಸZ*ೆ ಅ*ಕ(ಮ ಪ(5ೇಶ Nಾ<, ನನLನL ತJೆದು, ಜಗಳ [ೆೆದು ಾ(ಣ "ೆದೆಯನುL 1ಾ]ರುವ ಬೆ_ ದೂರು. ಾನು ಈ aೕಲ?ಂಡ EQಾಸದ7 5ಾಸ5ಾdದುe, f.ಎಂ.ಆ ಸೂ?@ ಆI ೕಗ@ ಸ<ೕ f.ಎಂ.ಆ ಯುTವರfg ಾhೇVನ7 2 ೇ ವಷ4ದ7 ಎ@ಎ@9 ವOiಾಂಗ Nಾಡು*ದುe, ನನL ಗಂಡ ಸು1ಾ ಶ!ೈ ರವರು jಾಸd ಕಂಪTಯ7 ಇಂkTಯ ೆಲಸ Nಾ<ೊಂ<ರು[ಾUೆ. lೕdರು5ಾೆ_ ಾನು ನನL ಗಂಡ ಸು1ಾ ಶ!ೈರವರು ಈ lಂmೆ 2019 ೇ iಾನ7 "ೆಂಗಳ%ರು ಪnವ4 [ಾಲೂ7ಕು, 9ೕದರಹop 1ೋಬo, 9o'5ಾhೆ ಾ(ಮದ jಾ[ಾ ನಂ:1293/1094ರ ಾ(ಪg4 ಹQೆ ನಂ :78, 1ೊಸ ಾ(ಪg4 ನಂ: 78/1, iೈ8 ನಂ:04 ರ7ನ ಸುNಾರು 2400 ಅ< ಸZತನುL NಾೕಕUಾದ ಾUಾಯಣiಾZq ರವರ - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010267312023 NC: 2026:KHC:37795 CRL.P No. 4688 of 2023 ಕJೆrಂದ ಖೕfದುe, ಈ ಬೆ_ 27/04/2019 ರ7 iೇ@ <ೕtನುL ಸಹ Nಾ<ೊಂ<ದುe, ಸದ ಸZತು ನಮY iಾZu ಾನುಭವದ7ರುತmೆ. lೕdರು5ಾಗ ಾನು ನನL ಗಂಡ 1ಾಗೂ ಕೂಯವರನುL ಕUೆದುೊಂಡು ಈ ನ "ೆoೆ_ ನಮೆ iೇದ iೈ8 ನಂ:04 ಅನುL yೆf9 rಂದ ಸZಚzೊoiೋಣ5ೆಂದು 1ೋdmಾeಗ ಮ{ಾOಹL 01-00 ಗಂGೆ ಸಮಯದ7 ಆ/ಾ Gೌನ'ೕIನ Jೈರಕ ಚನLೇಶವ ಮತು NಾO ೇಜಗQಾದ ಅಂSೋT ಕುNಾರ UಾV, 'ವWಕುNಾರ 1ಾಗೂ ಇತರರು ರವರುಗಳX iೇೊಂಡು ನಮY ಸZ*ೆ ಅ*ಕ(ಮ ಪ(5ೇಶ Nಾ<ದeಲ7mೆ ನನLನುL ತJೆದು ಇ7 ಏನು Nಾಡು*eೕ€ಾ? ಈ ಸZತು ನಮYದು ಎಂದು 1ೇoದುe, ಆಗ ಾನು ಅವರುಗoೆ €ಾೆ ಈ ೕ* Nಾತ ಾಡು*eೕ ಎಂದು ೇoದeೆ?, ಚನLೇಶವ, 'ವWಕುNಾರ, ಅಂSೋT ಕುNಾರ UಾV ರವರು ನನLನುL ಉmೆeೕ'f, ಅದ ೆLhಾ7 T ೇನು ೇQೆ%ೕದು ಎಂದು ನCYಂೆ ಜಗಳ [ೆೆದರು. ಅƒೊ*ೆ ನಮY ಕJೆಯವರು iೇೊಂಡು ಜಗಳವನುL 9<fದುe, ಅಂSೋT ಕುNಾರ UಾVನು 1ೋಗುವ ಸಮಯದ7 ಈ ಸZತು ನಮೆ iೇದುe Tೕನು ಇ ೊLಂದು iಾ ಈ ಕJೆ ಬಂದUೆ, TನLನುL ಸಹ iಾrf 1ಾ]9<T ಎಂದು ಾ(ಣ "ೆದೆ 1ಾ] ಅ7ಂದ 1ೋರಟು 1ೋದರು. ನಂತರ ಾನು ಾ!ೆೆ 1ಾಜUಾd ಈ ಬೆ_ ದೂರು Tೕಡು*ದುe, ನಮY ಸZ*ೆ ಅ*ಕ(ಮ ಪ(5ೇಶ Nಾ<, ನನLನL ತJೆದು, ಜಗಳ [ೆೆದು ಾ(ಣ "ೆದೆಯನುL 1ಾ]ರುವ ಆ/ಾ Gೌನ'ೕIನ Jೈರಕ ಚನLೇಶವ ಮತು NಾO ೇಜಗQಾದ ಅಂSೋT ಕುNಾರ UಾV, 'ವWಕುNಾರ 1ಾಗೂ ಇತರರು ರವರುಗಳ Eರುದ… ಾನೂನು ಕ(ಮ ಜರುdಸ"ೇೆಂದು ೋರು[ೇ ೆ. ತಮY E/ಾZf, ಸl/-  ಾಂಕ 14/12/2021 ರಂದು 19:30 ಗಂGೆೆ †€ಾ4ದುmಾರರು ಾ!ೆೆ 1ಾಜUಾd Tೕ<ದ ದೂರನುL ಪJೆದು ಪ'ೕf ಾ!ಾ C.ಸಂ:198/2021 ಕಲಂ 447, 341, 506 Uೆ/E 34 ಐ†f ೕ[ಾO ೇಸು mಾಖfರು[ೆ” The complaint results in a spot mahazar being conducted by the police. As the allegation was of trespass, the police wanted - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010267312023 NC: 2026:KHC:37795 CRL.P No. 4688 of 2023 to draw up a mahazar to know who is in possession. The mahazar reads as follows: “ಸŠಳ ಸŠಳ ಸŠಳ ಸŠಳ ಪಂಚ ಾa ಪಂಚ ಾa ಪಂಚ ಾa ಪಂಚ ಾa ಸ ಎರಡು iಾEರದ ಇಪ‹[ೊಂದ ೇ iಾನ <iೆಂಬ Nಾ1ೆಯ  ಾಂಕ 16 ರಂದು ಇmೇ "ೆಂಗಳ%ರು ನಗರ ೊತನೂರು ಾ!ಾ ಸರಹeನ mೊಡŒಗು9• EhೇVನ ೕ ನ 9o'5ಾhೆಯ ಆ/ಾ Gೌ'I iೈ8 ನಂ 04 ನ7 ಈ ೆಳೆ ಸl Nಾಡರುವ ಪಂಚರುಗQಾದ ನಮYಗಳ ಸಮŽಮ ಜರುdfದ ಮಹಜ. ಈ ನ ೊತನೂರು ೕ ಾ!ೆಯ ೕ ಸ ಇೆಕ ಆದ '(ೕ ಮಂಜು ಾಥ ರವರು ತಮY C.ಸಂ 198/202.. ರಂದು ಕಲಂ 506, 341, 34, 447 ಐ†f ೇfನ7 ತTjೆಯನುL ೈೊಂಡು fಬ•ಂಗQೆ%ಂೆ aೕಲ?ಂಡ ಸŠಳೆ? ಬಂದುe, ಸದ ಸŠಳೆ? ನಮYಗಳನುL ಬರNಾ<ೊಂಡು ತಮY ಪಚಯ 1ಾಗೂ ೇfನ iಾUಾಂಶ *of ಈ ೇfನ7 ಕೃತO ನJೆದ ಸŠಳ ಪ'ೕf ಸŠಳ ಪಂಚ ಾa ಜರುdಸುವ ಸಮಯದ7 1ಾಜದುe ಪಂಚUಾd ಸಹಕಸ"ೇೆಂದುೋದ aೕUೆೆ ಾವWಗಳX ಒ†‹mೆವW. ನಂತರ ನ‘ಮಗಳ ಸಮŽಮ ಈ ೇfನ ’€ಾ4ದುmಾರUಾದ '(ೕಮ*. ಪೃ-. /ಾನ0ಾಗ 36 ವಷ4 1ಾಜದುe ಸಥಳವನುL [ೋf ಇmೇ ಸŠಳದ7  ಾಂಕ 14/12/2021 ರಂದು ಬಎoೆ ತಮೆ iೇದ iೈ8 ನಂ 04 ನುL yೆ f 9 rಂದ ಸZಚ4ೊoiೋಣ5ೆಂದು 1ೋdmಾeಗ ಮmಾOಹL ಸುNಾರು 01-00 ಗಂGೆ ಸಮಯದ7 ಆ/ಾ Gೌ 'I JೈUೆಕ ಚನLೇಶವ ಮುತು NಾO ೇಜ ಗQಾದ ಅಂSೋ“ ಕುNಾ UಾV, 'ವWಕುಮರ 1ಾಗೂ ಇತರರು ನಮY ಸZ*ೆ ಅ*ಕ(ಮ ಪ(5ೇಶ Nಾ<ದeಲ7mೆ, ’€ಾ4ದುmಾರರನುL ತJೆದು ಈ ಸZತು ನಮೆ iೇದುe Tೕನು ಇ ೊLಂದು iಾ ಈ ಕJೆ ಬಂದUೆ TನLನುL iಾrf 1ಾ] 9<T ಎಂದು ಜಗಳNಾ< ಾ(ಣ "ೆದೆ 1ಾ]ದ yಾಗ ಇmೇ ಎಂದು [ೋfದ aೕUೆೆ ಆ ಸŠಳವನುL ಅಜNಾrf ೋಡhಾd mೊಡŒಗು9• EhೇV ೕ 9o'5ಾhೆಯ ಆ/ಾ Gೌ '” ನ iೈ8 ನಂ 01 ಆdರುತmೆ. ಸದ ಸದ ಸದ ಸದ ಸŠಳದ ಸŠಳದ ಸŠಳದ ಸŠಳದ •ೆಕ?ಬಂ •ೆಕ?ಬಂ •ೆಕ?ಬಂ •ೆಕ?ಬಂ: ಪnವ4: ಾ(ಪg4 ನಂ 78/1 jಾ yಾಗEರುತmೆ ಪ'zಮ: ರiೆ ಉತರ: iೈ8 ನಂ 5 ಇರುತmೆ ದ–ಣ : '(ೕ ಚನLೇಶವ ರವೆ iೇರುವ ಾ(ಪg4 ಇರುತವWmಾd ಈ ನ ಈ - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010267312023 NC: 2026:KHC:37795 CRL.P No. 4688 of 2023 ಪಂಚ ಾaಯನುL "ೆoೆ_ 10-00 ಂದ 10-45 ರವUೆೆ ಜರುdಸhಾrತು. ಓf ೇomೆ ಸrmೆ ಸl/- ’€ಾ4ದುmಾರರು 1) ಸl/- g. ಕೃಷ˜ಯO 9 hೇ ೊಂಡಯO # 569ಎ, /ಾರದ EmಾOಮಂರ Tಲಯ, 5ಾಟ GಾOಂ> ಹ*ರ ™ನLಪ‹ hೇಔ8 ವತೂ4ರು "ೆಂ 560087 C 9535781887 2) ಸl/- ಗುಜ›@ '(ೕT5ಾಸ ಸಆI ರಮಣಯO 43 ವಷ4 5ಾಸ ಯ/ೆœೕದಮYನವರ 5ಾಸದ ಮ ೆ, 4 ೇ ಾ( ಮಯಪ‹ hೇಔ8 ಅವಲಹop "ೆಂ. ಾ(Nಾಂತರ C.9900264131 ನನL ಸಮŽಮ ಸl/- ಮಂಜು ಾಥ <.ೆ † ಎ ಐ” The mahazar is conducted in the presence of the complainant. The mahazar would indicate that the petitioner is in possession of the property. Notwithstanding the same, the police file a charge sheet for the aforesaid offences. The summary of the charge sheet as obtaining in column number 17 reads as follows: “mೋƒಾUೋಪ!ೆ ಪgಯ ಾಲಂ ನಂ:02 ರ7 ನಮೂfರುವ 1 ೇ ಆUೋ† ಮತು ಾಲಂ ನಂ:04 ರ7 ನಮೂfರುವ 2 ೇ & 3 ೇ ಆUೋ†ಗಳX iೇೊಂಡು ತಮY ಸNಾನ ಉmೆeೕಶಂದ  ಾಂಕ:14/12/2021 ರಂದು ಮmಾOಹL ಸುNಾರು 13-00 ಗಂGೆೆ iಾ–-1 ತ‘ಮ NಾಕತZದ "ೆಂಗಳ%ರು ಪnವ4 [ಾಲೂ7ಕು, 9ದರಹop 1ೋಬo, 9o'5ಾhೆ ಾ(ಮದ jಾ[ಾ ನಂ:1293/1094 ರ ಾ(ಪg4 ಹQೇ ನಂ:78, 1ೊಸ ಾ(ಪg4 ನಂ: 78/1, iೈ8 ನಂ:04 ರ7 yೆf9 - 9 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010267312023 NC: 2026:KHC:37795 CRL.P No. 4688 of 2023 rಂದ ಸZ*ನ7 ಸZಚ•[ಾ ೆಲಸ Nಾ<ಸಲು 1ೋdmಾeಗ ಅ*ಕ(ಮ ಪ(5ೇಶ Nಾ<, 1, 2 ಮತು 3 ೇ ಆUೋ†ತರು iಾ–-1 ರವರನುL ತJೆದು ಇ7 ಏನು Nಾಡು*ೕeೕ€ಾ ಈ ಸZತು ನಮYದು ಎಂದು ಜಗಳ [ೆೆದು ಆUೋ†ಗಳ ೈ] 2 ೇ ಆUೋ†ಯು ಈ ಸZತು ನಮೆ iೇದುe, Tೕನು ಇ ೊLಂದು iಾ ಈ ಕJೆ ಬಂದUೆ iಾrf 9ಡು[ೇ ೆ ಎಂದು iಾ–-1 ರವೆ ಾ(ಣ "ೆದೆ 1ಾ]ರುವWದು, iಾ–-1 ರವೆ iೇದ ಸZ*ನ7 ಆUೋ†ಗಳX ಅ*ಕ(ಮ ಪ(5ೇಶ Nಾ<, iಾ–-1 ರವೆ ಇ7 ಏನು Nಾಡ"ಾರದು ಎಂದು "ೆದೆ 1ಾ]ರುವWದು ಲಭOEರುವ iಾžಾŸ{ಾರಗoಂದ iಾ9ೕ[ಾdರುತmೆ. ಆದeಂದ aೕಲ?ಂಡ ಕಲಂಗಳ ೕ[ಾO ಆUೋ†ಗಳ mೋƒಾUೋಪ!ೆ ಪg.” 8. The offences alleged are the ones punishable under Sections 341, 447, 506 r/w Section 34 of the IPC. For an offence to become punishable under Section 341 of the IPC, the ingredients as obtaining under Section 339 of the IPC must necessarily be present. The victim should be stopped by the accused on all sides by use of criminal force. That is not the allegation in the case at hand. Therefore, the offence under Section 341 is loosely laid against these petitioners. The other offence is the one punishable under Section 447 of the IPC. The offence of Section 447 punishes any person indulging in criminal trespass. The ingredients of Section 447 are found in Section 441 of the IPC. Perusal at the necessary ingredients of Section 441 would clearly indicate that none of those can be laid against the present petitioner. As the spot inspection itself - 10 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010267312023 NC: 2026:KHC:37795 CRL.P No. 4688 of 2023 indicates that petitioner is in possession, if the petitioner is in possession, there cannot be any criminal trespass into their own property. In that light, petition deserves to succeed. 9. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER (i) Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) Proceedings in C.C.No.56638 of 2022 pending on the file of XI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bangalore stands quashed qua the petitioner. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE BKP List No.: 1 Sl No.: 86