- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010406952025 NC: 2026:KHC:43512 WP No. 18079 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 18079 OF 2025 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SHRI PEYUSH BANSAL SON OF BAL KISHAN BANSAL AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS WORKING AT W-123 GREATER KAILASH, PART - II NEW DELHI-110 048 2. SHRI. MOHAMMAD MUTAHER ZERGER SON OF GHULAM JEELANI ZERGER AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, WORKING AT W-123 GREATER KAILASH, PART-II NEW DELHI-110 048 3. SHRI. G.R. SUNIL MENON SON OF K. BALASUBRAMANIAN AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS WORKING AT W-123 GREATER KAILASH PART-II NEW DELHI -110 048 4. SHRI. RATHAN KUMAR B.M. SON OF MANJUNATH M.S AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS RESIDING AT 85, 1ST FLOOR 1ST MAIN, 5TH STAGE, BEML LAYOUT RAJARAJESHWARI NAGAR BENGALURU 560098 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. MANU PRABHAKAR KULKARNI, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010406952025 NC: 2026:KHC:43512 WP No. 18079 of 2025 AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH MALLESHWARAM P.S. NO.3, 5TH CROSS, NEAR KCG HOSPITAL MALLESHWARAM BENGALURU - 560 003 REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001 2. SHRI. RAGHAVENDRA V. P. SON OF V. PRASANNA KUMAR AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS WORKING AT NO.17 OM SRI MAHAGANAPATI COMPLEX 3RD MAIN, MARGOSA ROAD, MALLESHWARAM BENGALURU - 560 003 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.K. NAGESHWARAPPA HCGP FOR R1; SRI AJAY SOHAN PINTO, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITTION OF INDA PRAYING TO-A. QUASHING THE COMPLAINT DATED 19.06.2025 FILED BY RESPONDENT NO.2 (ANNEXURE -B) AND FIRST INFORMATION REPORT IN CRIME NO. 0113/2025 DATED 19.06.2025 REGISTERED BY RESPONDENT NO.1 POLICE, I.E. MALLESWARAM POLICE STATION (ANNEXURE -A) FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 316(2), SECTION 318(4) AND SECTION 3(5) OF BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023, PURSUANT TO THE ABOVE COMPLAINT, WHICH ARE PENDING BEFORE THE III ADDITIONAL CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU CITY, AGAINST THE PETITIONERS.B. QUASHING THE NOTICE DATED 21.06.2025 ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.1 POLICE UNDER SECTION 35(3) OF THE BHARATIYA NAGARIKA SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023 (ANNEXURE -C) AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010406952025 NC: 2026:KHC:43512 WP No. 18079 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER Heard Sri Abhilash Vaidyanathan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner. Sri K.Nageshwarappa, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1-State and Sri Ajay Sohan Pinto, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2. 2. During the subsistence of the subject proceedings, the parties to the lis have settled the dispute among themselves and filed a joint memo. The joint memo reads as follows: JOINT MEMO "The Petitioners and Respondent No. 2 in the above matter most respectfully submit as hereunder: 1 Based the Impugned Complaint dated 19.06.2025 filed by the de-facto complainant-Respondent No. 2, Respondent No. 1 Police has registered the Impugned FIR bearing Crime No. 0113/2025 on the same date, i.e., 19.06.2025. The said FIR has been challenged before this Hon'ble Court in the present petition. The contents of the said petition may be read and treated as part and parcel of this joint memo. 2. The Petitioners are high ranking officials and ex- employees of Lenskart Solutions Limited ("Company") who have filed the captioned writ petition before this - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010406952025 NC: 2026:KHC:43512 WP No. 18079 of 2025 Hon'ble Court seeking quashing of the Impugned Complaint and FIR. 3. It is submitted that all franchise arrangements and related agreements have been severed as on date on account of termination/expiry by efflux of time. 4. It is submitted that pursuant to ongoing discussions and deliberations between Respondent No. 2, and the Company and in pursuance of a detailed and comprehensive reconciliation exercise, all issues/disputes raised by Respondent No. 2, stand completely closed. An Affidavit has been executed by Respondent No. 2 in this regard. The affidavit is produced herewith as Annexure - A to this joint memo, Respondent No.2 has agreed that in acknowledgment of the closure of all their issues as contractual and commercial disputes, no further issues remain between the parties and the same are closed as on date. 5. It is submitted that upon discussions with the Company, the issues and concerns with respect to books and PoS have been resolved. 6. It is submitted that there Is a clear and unequivocal understanding and undertaking by the franchisees including Respondent No.2 and all persons/entities claiming through or under any and/all of them, that all and/ any issues, disputes, in nature and no criminality exists to continue any investigation claims, debts and dues raised are purely commercial/contractual under the Impugned FIR. 7. It is relevant to submit that another franchisee by the name 'Mr. Soma Shekara A.', proprietor of M/s Rhea Lenses, had filed a complaint dated 26.10.2024 based on which first information report was registered by the Devaraja P.S. in Mysuru, in Crime No. 100/2024 for offences punishable under Sections 120-B, 420, 477A, 468, 471, 406, r/w 34 and 37 of the Indian Penal Code. In the said case, Respondent No.2 herein was also named as a victim. However, pursuant to negotiations between the Company and the franchisees including Respondent No.2, Respondent No.2 had executed the - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010406952025 NC: 2026:KHC:43512 WP No. 18079 of 2025 attached affidavit. It is pertinent to state that by order dated 18.12.2025 passed in Crl. P. No. 806/2025 c/w W.P. No. 38465/2025, this Hon'ble Court was pleased to quash the FIR in Crime No. 100/2024 registered by Devaraja Police Station pursuant to the settlement arrived at between the Petitioners and respondent no.2 therein, i.e., 'Mr. Soma Shekara A.' 8. In view of the above, the Petitioners and Respondent No. 2 jointly pray that appropriate orders be passed quashing the Impugned Complaint (Annexure 'B') and Impugned FIR (Annexure 'A') initiated by Respondent No. 2 (and any/all other franchisees through or in Respondent No. 2's name against the Company and/or any of its promoters, founders, employees (including former employees), officers, directors, representatives, agents, subsidiaries etc and consequently quash the Impugned Notices (Annexure C). WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed before this Hon'ble Court that it may be pleased take this Joint Memo on record, allow the Captioned Petition and quash the FIR dated 19.06.2025 bearing Crime no. 0113/2025 registered by the Malleshwaram Police, in the interests of justice and equity." 3. In the light of the settlement arrived at between the parties, I deem it appropriate to accept the joint memo and close the proceedings against the petitioners in the subject petition. 4. The crime so registered against the petitioners as well as the charge sheet so filed pursuant to the crime in in Crime No.0113/2025 stands quashed. - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010406952025 NC: 2026:KHC:43512 WP No. 18079 of 2025 5. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER (i) Criminal Petition is disposed. (ii) Impugned investigation in Crime No.0113/2025 registered by the Malleshwaram Police, pending before the Court of III Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru City, stands quashed qua the petitioners. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE HR List No.: 3 Sl No.: 10