- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33282 CRL.P No. 3061 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3061 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. SRI. HANUMANTHAPPA K, S/O KEMPANNA, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, RESIDING AT KURUBARAHALLI, CHALLAKERE, CHITRADURGA – 577 520. 2. SRI. K.GURUSWAMY, S/O KEMPANNA, AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, RESIDING AT BHEEMASAMUDRA ROAD, HALIYUR CROSS, KURUBARAHALLI, CHITRADURGA – 577 520. 3. SRI. CHIDANANDAPPA K, S/O KEMPANNA, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, RESIDING AT KURUBARAHALLI, CHITRADURGA – 577 520. 4. SRI. K.RAJAPPA, S/O KEMPANNA, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, RESIDING AT KURUBARAHALLI, CHALLAKERE, CHITRADURGA – 577 520. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. KUMARA K.G., ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33282 CRL.P No. 3061 of 2026 AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY CHITRADURGA RURAL POLICE STATION, CHITRADURGA – 577 501. REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU – 560 001. 2. MR. MALLESHAPPA C, HC-1038, POLICE OFFICER, CHITRADURGA RURAL POLICE STATION, HOLALKERE – 577 501. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT.RASHMI PATEL, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.528 BNSS, 2023 PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR IN CRIME NO.39/2026 OF CHITRADURGA RURAL POLICE STATION AGAINST PETITIONER FOR OFFENCE P/U/S. 132, 190, 352, 351(3), 351(2) OF B.N.S, 2023, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE 1st ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR. DN.) AND JMFC COURT, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT AT CHITRADURGA, AN ABUSE OF PROCESS OF LAW. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33282 CRL.P No. 3061 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioners are before this Court seeking the following prayers: “Wherefore, the petitioners (accused no. 1 to 4) most humbly prays that this Hon'ble Court be pleased to quash the FIR in Crime No. 39/2026 of Chitradurga Rural Police Station against petitioner for offence under sections 132, 190, 352, 351(3), 351(2) of B.N.S 2023, pending on the file of 1st ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) AND JMFC COURT, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT AT CHITRADURGA., an abuse of process of law and grant such other relief or reliefs as this Hon'ble Court deems fit to grant in the facts and circumstances of the case in the ends of justice.” 2. Heard Sri.Kumara K.G., learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Smt.Rashmi Patel, learned HCGP appearing for the respondents and have perused the material on record. 3. Facts in brief, germane, are as follows: 3.1. The second respondent is the complainant, registers a complaint on 27-01-2026, alleging that the complainant - a Head Constable in the first respondent Chitradurga Rural Police Station, receives certain - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33282 CRL.P No. 3061 of 2026 information that on 26-01-2026, a woman by name Meenakshamma and a young girl are said to have come into the police station and informed the Station House Officer that their neighbors, namely Veena and Hanumanthappa, had bought 20 loads of soil and dumped the same on their land. 3.2. Based upon this, a complaint is sought to be registered and the alleged persons who had committed the said act were summoned on 27-01-2026. Accused No.1 - an Assistant Sub-Inspector attached to the Holalkere Police Station, comes to the police station, and on the same day, a person had died in a road accident near Kyadigere. Therefore, the Police Sub-Inspector and other staff members were engaged in the investigation of the said accident case. Accused No.1 follows the officer in the police station and the complainant and the girl also go inside at the same time. After a little while, the altercation between the two happens and the accused No.1, who was himself a Police Sub-Inspector attached to another police station, is said to have threatened the other policemen in the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33282 CRL.P No. 3061 of 2026 Chitradurga Rural Police Station with dire consequences. If the complaint of the complainant would be accepted and the fact that he was summoned to the police station, this becomes a fulcrum of the complaint, which becomes a crime in Crime No.39/2026 for the aforesaid offences. The registration of the crime has driven the petitioners to this Court in the subject petition. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that none of the offences as alleged are even met in the case at hand, as there is no use of criminal force to deter a public servant from performing his/her duties. Therefore, would seek quashment of the proceedings. 5. Learned HCGP appearing for the respondent- State, on the other hand, would submit that accused No.1- petitioner No.1, being himself a police officer, has stopped the others working in an accident case, hurling abuses that he has to take up the case that the accused No.1 had been called for and altercations have happened on the said score, - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33282 CRL.P No. 3061 of 2026 and the officers of the Chitradurga Rural Police Station were not allowed to function in the normal way. 6. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel for the respective parties and have perused the materials on record. 7. The afore-narrated facts at this juncture, lie in a narrow compass. The entire issue gets triggered from the complaint. The complaint reads as follows: “ಇವೆ, ಾ ಾ ಾಗಳ, ಾಾಂತರ ೕ ಾ ೆ. ತದುಗ. ಾನ ೇ, !ಷಯ:- $ೊಳ&ೆ' ೆ ಾ ೆಯ ಎಎಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ಮತು. ಇತ ೆ ಮೂರು ಜನರ !ರುದ0 ದೂರು ಸ2ಸು3.ರುವ ಬೆ5. ಈ ಮೂಲಕ ಮ&ೆ2ೕಶಪ- :, $ೆ;-1038 ತದು<ಗ ಾಾಂತರ ಾ= ಆದ ?ಾನು ತಮೆ @ೕಡುವ ದೂರು ಏ?ೆಂದ ೆ ?ಾನು ತದುಗ ಾಾಂತರ ೕ ಾ ೆಯ2 ೕ $ೆC ಾD; EೇಬF ಆG ಕತವ ಸ2:ರು3.ರುHೆ.ೕ?ೆ. ?ಾನು I:27.01.2026 ರಂದು ಮJಾಹKದ L !Mಾಗದ ಎ $ೆN.ಓ ಕತವ ಾPರುHೆ.ೕ?ೆ. I?ಾಂಕ:26.01.2026 ರಂದು Qೕ?ಾRಮS ಎಂಬುವವರು ಮತು. ಒಬU ಹುಡುG ಾ ೆೆ ಬಂದು ಾ ಾ ಾ ೇಶವಪ- ಎ $ೆN ಎಂಬುವವೆ ತಮS ಜQೕ@ನ2 ಪಕ'ದ ಜQೕ@ನವ ಾದ !ೕ ಾ ಮತು. ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ಎಂಬುವವರು - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33282 CRL.P No. 3061 of 2026 ಸುಾರು 10 ಂದ 20 &ೋC ನಷುV ಮಣುX ತುಂLೊಂಡು ಬಂದು ನಮS $ೊಲದ2 $ಾYರುHಾ. ೆ. ೇಳಲು $ೋJಾಗ ನಮS Zೕ&ೆ Jೌಜನ ಾP ಗ&ಾEೆ ಾಡುHಾ. ೆ ಎಂದು ದೂರು @ೕPದು0 ಈ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಾ ಾ P.] ನಂ:24/2026 ರ2 ?ೊಂJಾ^:ೊಂಡು ಎದುರು ಅ`JಾರರನುK ಈ Iನ ಅಂದ ೆ I:27.01.2026 ರಂದು ಾ ೆೆ ಕ ೆ:ದು0 ಎದುರು ಅ`Jಾರ $ೊಳ&ೆ' ೆ ಾ ೆಯ ಎಎಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ಆGದು0 ಅವರು ಈ Iನ ಅ` !aಾರ ೆಾG ಾ ೆೆ ಬಂIರುHಾ. ೆ. ಈ Iನ ಾIೆ ೆ ಸQೕಪ ಒಂದು ರbೆ. ಅಪcತdಾG ಒಬU ವY. ಮೃತಪfVದ0ಂದ ಸದ ಪಕರಣದ ತ@gೆಯ2 ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರು ಮತು. ]ಎಐ ಸು ೇh bಾ$ೇಬರವರು ಮತು. ೆಲವi :ಬUಂIಗಳ @ರತ ಾGದ0ರು. ಈ Iನ ಮJಾಹK ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರು Zೕಲ'ಂಡ ಪಕರಣದ ಶವತ@gೆ ನjೆಸಲು `&ಾ2ಸ-Hೆ ಶವಾರೆ' Hೆರಳ3.Jಾ0ಗ, ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ಎಎಐ $ೊಳ&ೆ' ೆ ಾ ೆ ಇವರು ಾ ೆಯ2ದ0 ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವೆ MೇflಾG ಾತ?ಾP:ದು0 ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರು `&ಾ2ಸ-Hೆೆ Hೆರಳ3.Jೆ0ೕ?ೆ ೆಲಸ ಮುGದ ನಂತರ ಬಂದು @ಮೆ ಾತ?ಾPಸುHೆ.ೕ?ೆ ಎಂದು $ೇm HೆರmರುHಾ. ೆ ನಂತರ ]ಎಐ ಸು ೇh bಾ$ೇಬರವೆ ಎಎಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ರವರು Mೇf ಾPದು0 ]ಎಐ ರವರು ದೂರುJಾರರನುK ಕ ೆ: !aಾರ ೆ ಾಡಲು ಕ ೆJಾಗ ದೂರುJಾರರು ಬಂIರಲ2 ನಂತರ ]ಎಐ ರವರು ಾನ Pdೈಎ ] bಾ$ೇಬರವರ ಕoೇೆ Qೕfಂp ೆ HೆರmರುHಾ. ೆ. ನಂತರ ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರು ಕತವ ಮುG:ೊಂಡು ಸಂqೆ ಸುಾರು 6.10 ಗಂEೆೆ ಾ=ೆ ಬಂದರು ಆಗ ಎಎಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ-ರವರು ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರ aೇಂಬ< ೆ ]ಐ ರವರನುK uಂvಾ:ೊಂಡು $ೋದರು ಅವರ uಂIಂJೆ ದೂರುJಾರ ಮuwೆ ಮತು. ಅವರ ಮಗಳ $ೋದರು $ಾಗೂ ಹನುಮಂತಪ-ರವರ qೊHೆಯವರು ಇನುK 03 ಜನರು ಒಳೆ $ೋದರು. ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರು ಒಳೆ !aಾರ ಾಡು3.Jಾ0ಗ vೇ ೆ ಕಂyೆ2ಂz !aಾರೆ' ಬಂIದ0 ಎಂ.ೆ ಹfV ಾಮದ @ಂಗಪ- ಮತು. 2-3 ಜನರು ಒಳೆ $ೋದರು. ನಂತರ ಸುಾರು 10-15 @Qಷದ ನಂತರ ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರ aೇಂಬ< ಒಳೆ qೋ ಾG ಗ&ಾEೆ ಾಡು3.ರುವ ಸದು0 ೇm:ತು ಆಗ ?ಾನು ಮತು. ಾ ಾ ಪಹ ೆ ಕತವದ2ದ0 ಇbಾS^F ಇಬUರೂ ಕೂಡ&ೇ aೇಂಬ< ಒಳೆ $ೋJೆವi. ಅ2 ಎಎಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ಮತು. ಅವರ ಕjೆಯ ಮೂರು ಜನರು ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರ EೇಬF Zೕ&ೆ yೇಪಗ< ಳನುK ಎbೆಯುವiದು. EೇಬF ಕುಟುVವiದು ಮತು. ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರ ಕjೆ $ೊjೆಯುವವರ $ಾೆ $ೋG lಾಗೂ ಾತ?ಾಡಲು LಡJೇ qೋ ಾG ಕೂಾಡುHಾ. vೈJಾಡು3.ದ0ರು ?ಾವi ಏ?ಾ^ತು ಏೆ ಈೆ ಾಡು3.ೕ ಾ ಎಂದು ತjೆಯಲು $ೋJೆವi ಅಷVರ2 - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33282 CRL.P No. 3061 of 2026 ]ಎಐ ಸು ೇh bಾ$ೇಬರು, ಎಎಐ ರಘ€?ಾ•, ಎಎಐ ೋyಾಲbಾ‚Q, ೈಟ< ƒವಣX: ಮಂಜಣX ಮತು. bಾ`ೕJಾ, ತಹ…ೕD, ಸುಮಂಗಳ ?ಾಗರತKಮS ೇಣುಕಮS ಮತು. ಇತ ೆ :ಬUಂIಗಳ uಂIಂJೆ ಓP ಬಂದರು ಆಗ ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರು @ೕವi ಅವೆ ಏನೂ $ೇಳಲು $ೋಗvೇP ಎಂದು ನಮೆ ತjೆದರು. ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ಅವರ qೊHೆGದ0ವರು ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರ Zೕ&ೆ Zೕ&ೆ $ೊjೆಯುವವರ $ಾೆ $ೋಗು3.ದು0 ಅdಾಚ ಶಬ0ಗmಂದ vೈಯುHಾ. yೇಪ ಗಗಳನುK EೇಬF Zೕ&ೆ ಎbೆಯುHಾ. qೋ ಾG ಗ&ಾEೆ ಾP @ೕನು ನಮೆ vೆಳG@ಂದ ಾ^:I0ೕlಾ ಇದು :!F dಾಜ @ನೆ ನಮSನುK ಕ ೆಯಲು lಾವ ಅ ಾರ ಇJೆ ಎಂದು ಮHೆ. ಮHೆ. ಕೂಾಡು3.ದ0ರು ಅದರ2 ಎಎಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ಮತು. ಗುರುbಾ‚Q ಎಂಬುವವರು ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರ Zೕ&ೇ?ೇ $ೊjೆಯುವವರಂHೆ $ೋಗು3.ದ0ರು ಸದ ಘಟ?ೆಯ !ೕP‡ೕ 3ೕಕಸು3.ದ0 :ಬUಂI ಇbಾS^F ರವಗೂ ಸಹ ಎಎಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ- vೆದೆ $ಾYರುHಾ. ೆ. ಗ&ಾEೆ ಾPದ ಇನೂK ಇಬUರ $ೆಸರು 3mಯ&ಾG, Jಾನಂದಪ-, ಮತು. ಾಜಪ- ಕುರುಬರಹmˆ ಾಮ ಎಂದು 3m^ತು ನಂತರ aೇಂಬ< @ಂದ ಾ ೆಯ ಮುಂMಾಗದ2 ಬಂದು ಧ‰ಜದ ಕEೆVಯ Zೕ&ೆ @ಂತುೊಂಡು ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವೆ ಅdಾಚdಾG vೈಯುHಾ. ೕಸೆ ಾ'ರ ಎಂದು !?ಾ ಾರಣ ಾ ೆಯ ಮುಂJೆ ಾJಾŠಂತ ಾP ೕ ?ೈ3ಕ bೆ‹ಯ ಕುಂದುವಂHೆ ಾPದ0ಲ2Jೆ ಸಾ ಕತವೆ' ಸುಾರು 45 @QಷIಂದ ಒಂದು ಗಂEೆಗಳ ಾಲ ಅಡಚ= ಾPರುHಾ. ೆ ಈ ಬೆ5 ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವೆ ಮತು. ಒಳೆ ಕೂ3ದ0 ಎಂ.ೆ ಹfV ಾಮದ @ಂಗಪ- ಇತರೆ ಏನುೆ' ಗ&ಾEೆ ಆ^Hೆಂದು ೇಳ&ಾG ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರು ಎರಡೂ ಕjೆಯವೆ ಸಾ•ಾನIಂದ ಅವರ ದೂರುಗಳನುK ೇm Jಾಖ&ೆಗಳನುK ?ೋಡು3.Jಾ0ಗ ಎಎ ಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ಮತು. ಅವರ ಕjೆಯವರು ಏನನೂK ಾತ?ಾಡಲು LಡJೆ ಮJೆ ಮJೆ dಾಾ‚ದ ಾಡು3.ದು0 ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರು ಈ ೕ3 ಎ&ಾ2 ಾಡುವiದು ಸಅ&ಾ2 ಎಂದು 3mದರೂ ಸಹ ನಮSನುK lಾೆ ಕ ೆ:I0ೕ ಆ $ೆಂಗಸು lಾರು ಎಂದು ನಮೆ ೊ3.ಲ2 ಅವರದು0 lಾವiದೂ ಜQೕನು ಇರುವiIಲ2 ಎನುKHಾ. ಗ&ಾEೆ ಾಡಲು ಆರಂ•: ನಂತರ ಎಎಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ]ಐ bಾ$ೇಬರವರ EೇಬF Zೕ&ೆ yೇಪ<ಗಳನುK LbಾY EೇಬF ನುK 3-4 bಾ qೋ ಾG ಬPದು $ೊjೆಯಲು $ೋಗುವವರ $ಾೆ qೋ ಾG ಗ&ಾEೆ ಾP vೆದೆ $ಾY ಾJಾŠಂತ ಾPರುವiJಾG 3m:ದರು. ನಂತರ ಎಎ ಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ- ರವರು ನಮS Zೕ&ೆ ಗ&ಾEೆ ಾPJೆ0ೕdೆಂದು ಏ?ಾದರೂ ಕಮ ೈೊಂಡ ೆ ?ಾವi !ಷ ಕುPದು bಾಯುHೆ.ೕdೆ ಮತು. @ಮSನುK ಇಷVೆ' LಡುವiIಲ2 @ಮೆ ಸlಾG HೋಸುHೆ.ೕdೆ ಎಂದು vೆದೆ $ಾYರುHಾ. ೆ. ಆದ0ಂದ Zೕಲ'ಂಡ - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:33282 CRL.P No. 3061 of 2026 ಎಎ ಐ ಹನುಮಂತಪ-, Jಾನಂದಪ-, ಗುರುbಾ‚Q ಮತು. ಾಜಪ- ಇವರುಗಳ !ರುದ0 ಾನೂನು ಕಮ ೈೊಳˆvೇಾG ೋJೆ. !ಷಯವನುK Zೕ&ಾ ಾಯವೆ 3m: ಈ dೇwೆೆ ದೂರು @ೕPರುHೆ.ೕ?ೆ.” 8. The complaint becomes a crime in Crime No.39 of 2026. The complainant is the police officer. The complaint is against the police officer. Therefore, it is a case where accused No.1 has behaved in a manner that would become the ingredients of Section 353 of IPC/Section 132 of the BNS, 2023. In such circumstances, there cannot be interdiction or obliteration of the crime itself, as the officer must know how he should behave with another officer and cannot stop another officer from performing his duties. 9. In that light, finding no merit in the petition, the petition stands dismissed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE CBC List No.: 3 Sl No.: 5