- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569162023 NC: 2026:KHC:39101 CRL.P No. 11082 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11082 OF 2023 BETWEEN: 1. SMT. SELVI W/O A.VIJAY RAJAN AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS R/AT NO. 297, 2ND FLOOR 4TH MAIN, 1ST PHASE, WOC ROAD, MANJUNATH NAGAR, 1ST STAGE BANGALORE - 560 010. 2. A. VIJAY RAJAN S/O ALHONSE AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS RA/T NO. 72, THAMARAI STREET RAJARAM NAGAR, ABHISHEGAPAKKAM POST, THAVALAKUPAM, PONDICHERRY - 6050007. 3. SUNDAR S/O SHEKAR AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS R/AT NO. 299, 12TH MAIN NEAR GOUTHAM COLLEGE MANJUNATHNAGAR, RAJAJINAGAR BENGALURU - 560 010. …PETITIONERS (BY SMT. KEERTHI KRISHNA REDDY, A/W SRI. PADMANABHA J, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569162023 NC: 2026:KHC:39101 CRL.P No. 11082 of 2023 AND: 1. STATE BY KARNATAKA BY MAHALAKSHMIPURAM POLICE STATION BENGALURU, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. VANITHA G W/O ELUMALAI AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS R/AT NO. 26, 4TH CROSS PIPELINE ROAD, JC NAGARA KURUBARAHALLI MAHALAKSHMIPURAM BENGALURU - 560 086. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K. NAGESHWARAPPA, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. J.K. SURESHA, ADVOCATE FOR R2 (ABSENT)) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.PC PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR AND COMPLAINT IN CR.NO.162/2023 REGISTERED BY THE MAHALAKSHMIPURAM POLICE STATION, PENDING ON THE FILE OF 3RD ADDL. CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU, FOR OFFENCE P/U/S 406, 420 AND 34 OF IPC, MARKED AS (ANNEXURE- A AND B). THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569162023 NC: 2026:KHC:39101 CRL.P No. 11082 of 2023 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioners/accused Nos.1, 2 and 4 are before the Court calling in question registration of crime in crime No.162/2023 registered for offences punishable under Sections 34, 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('the IPC' for short). 2. Heard Smt. Keerthi Krishna Reddy, learned counsel along with Sri. Padmanabha J., learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and K. Nageshwarappa, learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for respondent No.1. 3. The learned counsel appearing for the complainant has remained absent throughout. This Court, as a last chance on 21.07.2026 had passed the following order and directed the matter to be listed today. The order reads as follows: "Heard the learned counsel Mrs. Keerthi Krishna Reddy, appearing for the petitioner. There is no representation on behalf of respondent No.2. In the event, if the respondent No.2 would not be present on the next date, learned counsel for the - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569162023 NC: 2026:KHC:39101 CRL.P No. 11082 of 2023 petitioner would be heard and appropriate orders would be passed. List this matter on 28.07.2026 in the same stage. Interim order granted earlier is extended till the next date of hearing." Even today, there is no representation on behalf of the complainant. 4. The second respondent and the petitioners have had a transaction. The transaction is exchange of money to the tune of Rs.35,00,000/-. The first petitioner is said to have agreed to pay Rs.35,00,000/-, but by the time, the crime comes to be registered, first petitioner had already paid Rs.41,00,000/- over and above the Rs.35,00,000/- along with interest. Not withstanding the same, a complaint comes to be registered on 09.07.2023, which becomes a crime in crime No.162/2023 for the aforesaid offences. Since the entire issue triggered from registration of the complaint, the complaint is necessary to be noticed. It reads as follows: "ರವೆ ಾಂಕ 09-07-2023 ೕ ಸ ಇ ೆಕ ಮಾಲ ೇಔ ೕ !ಾ"ೆ #ೆಂಗಳ&ರು ನಗರ - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569162023 NC: 2026:KHC:39101 CRL.P No. 11082 of 2023 ರವಂದ *+ೕಮ, ವ-.ಾ / 0ೋಂ ಏಳ3ಮೈ 39 ವಷ8, :ಾಸ ನಂ-26, 4 ೇ. 0ಾ+, ೈ@ ೈ AೋB, Cೆ.D ನಗರ, ಕುರುಬರಹGH, #ೆಂಗಳ&ರು-86 Jೕ ನಂ-9945605735 :- ವೃ,: - ಗೃPQ Cಾ,:- ಅಗಮುS TಾನUAೇ Vಷಯ:- ನXYಂದ ಸುTಾರು 55 ಲZ ರೂ ಹಣವನು\ ಪ^ೆದು0ೊಂಡು :ಾಾಸು 0ೊಡ`ೇ ನಂaD bೕಸ TಾSರುವ *+ೕಮ, cೆd ಾಗೂ ಅವರ ಗಂಡ Vಜf Aಾಜ ಾಗೂ ಅವರ ಸಂಬಂgಕAಾದ ಲೕ, ಸುಂದ, ನVೕ ಮತುi jಾಸk ರವರಗಳ -Vರುದl ದೂರು ಾನು ಈ nೕಲkಂಡ Voಾಸದp ನನ\ ಗಂಡ ಏಳ3ಮೈ ರವAೊಂೆ :ಾಸ:ಾqರು.ೆiೕ ೆ. ನಮೆ ಇಬrರು ಮಕkGರು.ಾiAೆ. bದಲ ೇಯವರು ಮಗಳ3 sೕತ8ನ 20 ವಷ8, ಎರಡ ೇಯವರು ಮಗ uೇತ 18 ವಷ8, ನನ\ ಗಂಡ ಏಳ3ಮೈ ರವರು ಾAೆ 0ೆಲಸ TಾS0ೊಂSರು.ಾiAೆ. 2019 ೇ ಇಸVಯp ನನೆ ಪಚಯVರುವ *+ೕಮ, cೆd ರವರು ಆರಂಭದp ನಮY ಮ ೆೆ ಬಂದು ತಮY ಮಕkಳ VyಾUjಾUಸ0ಾkq 2 ಲZ ರೂ ಹಣದ ಅವಶUಕ.ೆ ಇ`ೆ 0ೈ cಾಲದ ರೂಪದp ನನೆ cಾಲ 0ೊS -ೕವ{ -ೕಡುವ ಹಣ0ೆk ಾವ{ ೋ ಅq+nಂ ಾಗೂ ಭದ+.ೆಾq uೆ| ಅನು\ -ೕಡು.ೆiೕ:ೆಂದು ೇGದರು ಆಗ ಾನು ನನ\ ಬGರುವ 2 ಲZ ರೂ ನಗದು ಹಣವನು\ 0ೈ cಾಲದ ರೂಪದp -ೕಡಲು ಒ~•0ೊಂಡು ಾಂಕ 05-08-2019 ರಂದು ೋ ಅq+nಂ TಾS ಭದ+.ೆಾq uೆ| ನಂ-015473 ಪ^ೆದು0ೊಂಡು 2 ಲZ ರೂ ಹಣವನು\ ನಗದು ರೂಪದp -ೕSರು.ೆiೕ ೆ. - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569162023 NC: 2026:KHC:39101 CRL.P No. 11082 of 2023 ಆನಂತರ *+ೕಮ, cೆd ಾಗೂ ಅವರ ಗಂಡ Vಜf Aಾಜ ರವರು ಆಾ€ೆ ನಮY ಮ ೆೆ ಬಂದು ತಮY ಹಣ0ಾDನ ಸಮcೆUಯನು\ ೇG0ೊಂಡು ತನೆ ಹಣದ ಅವಶಕU.ೆ ಇ`ೇ -ೕವ{ -ೕಡುವ ಹಣದ nೕೆ 2% ಬS• -ೕಡು.ೆiೕ:ೆಂದು ೇG VVಧ ಾಂಕಗಳಂದು ನನ\ ಾದ- ಲ ರವಂದ 13 ಲZ ರೂ ಹಣ ನಗದು, ಉTಾಶಂಕರ ರವಂದ 8 ಲZ ರೂ ಹಣವನು\, ರೂಾವ, ರವಂದ 15 ಲZ ರೂ ಹಣವನು\ ಒಟು ಸುTಾರು 36 ಲZ ರೂ ಹಣವನು\ ನಗದು ರೂಪದp ಾಗೂ ನ-\ಂದ 17 ಲZ, ರೂ ಹಣವನು\ VVಧ ಾಂಕ ಗಳಂದು ನನ\ ಗೂಗ… ೆ ಮೂಲಕ cೆd ರವರ 9880120155, 8660729722 b#ೈ… ನಂಬ ೆ ವಾ8ವ"ೆ TಾSರು.ೆiೕ ೆ. ಪ+, ಸಲ ಹಣ ಪ^ೆಯು:ಾಗ ತಮY Cೊ.ೆಯp ಒ#ೊrಬrರನು\ ಕAೆದು0ೊಂಡು ಬರು,iದ†ರು. bದಲ ೇ #ಾ ಹಣ ಪ^ೆಯು:ಾಗ cೆd ರವರವ cೋದರ ಸಂಬಂg‡ಾದ ಲೕರವAೊಂೆ ಬಂದು†, 0ೆಲˆnY ತನೆ ಬರಲು cಾಧUVಲp`ಾ†ಗ jಾಸk ಎಂಬ ವUsiಯನು\ ನಮY cೆ\ೕPತAೆಂದು ೇG ಕಳ3PD jಾಸk ರವೆ ನಮY ಬG ಹಣ ಪ^ೆದು0ೊಂಡು ಬರುವಂ.ೆ ೇGದ†ಂದ ಾವ{ cೆd ರವೆ jಾಸk ರವರ 0ೈಯp ಹಣ 0ೊಟು ಕಳ3PD`ೆ†ನು. ಾಗೂ cೆd ರವರ ತಮY ಾದ ಸುಂದ ನ Cೊ.ೆಯp ಬಂದು ಹಣವನು\ ಪ^ೆದು0ೊಂಡು ೋಗು,iದ†ಳ3. cೆ•ೆ ಆ,‰ಯ ಾqರುವ ನVೕ ಎಂಬ ಹುಡುಗ ೊಂೆ ಹಲವ{ #ಾ ಹಣ ಪ^ೆದು0ೊಂಡು ೋಗಲು ಬಂರು.ಾioೆ ಾಗೂ ಹಲ:ಾರು #ಾ ನVೕ ಒಬrನ ೆ\ೕ ಹಣ ಪ^ೆದು0ೊಂಡು ೋಗಲು ಕಳ3PDರು.ಾioೆ. jಾಸk, ಲೕ, ಸುಂದ ಾಗೂ ನVೕನ ರವರುಗಳ3 cೆ•ೆ ಬಹಳ ಆ,‰ಯ:ಾqದ†ಂದ ಾನು ಆ0ೆ ೇGದವರ 0ೈಯp ಹಣ 0ೊಡು,i`ೆ†ನು. ಆರಂಭದp ನಮೆ 0ೊಡ#ೇ0ಾದ ಬS• ಹಣವನು\ ಸ‡ಾದ ಸಮಯ0ೆk 0ೊಡು,iದ†ಂದ ಾನು ಆ0ೆಯ nೕೆ ಅಾರ ನಂa0ೆŠಂದ 0ೇG`ಾೆಲp ಹಣ 0ೊಡು,i`ೆ†ನು. 2019 ೇ cಾ-ಂದ ಸುTಾರು 2022 ರ ಆಗ ,ಂಗಳವAೆಗೂ ಸಹ ‹ೕŒ ಹಣವನು\ ಸ‡ಾದ ಸಮಯ0ೆk ಕಟು,iದ†ಳ3 ಮತುi ಬS• ಹಣವನನು\ 0ೊಡು,iದ†ಳ3. 2022 ರ ಆಗ ,ಂಗGನp ಆ0ೆಯು ಆತYಹ.ೆUೆ ಪ+ಯ,\Dದು† ನಮೆ Vuಾರ ,Gದು† ಆ0ೆ ಉ•ಾAಾq ಬಂದ ನಂತರ ಹಣ 0ೇGದAಾŠತು ಎಂದು ಸುಮY-`ೆ†ವ{. ಆದAೆ cೆd ರವAೇ ನಮY Vರುದl ಬಸ:ೇಶdರ ನಗರ ೕ `!ಾ"ೆಯp ಾನು ಆತYಹ.ೆU TಾS0ೊಳ3H.ೆiೕ ೆಂದು ೇಳ3,i`ೆ†ೕ ೆಂದು ದೂರು -ೕSದ†ಳ3. ಾವ{ ಬಸ:ೇಶdರ ನಗರ ೕ !ಾ"ೆೆ ೋ`ಾಗ cೆdಯು ನಮೆ 35 ಲZ ಹಣ 0ೊಡುವ{`ಾq ಒ~•0ೊಂSದು†, ನಂತರ ನಮೆ ‡ಾವ{`ೇ ಹಣ 0ೊಡ`ೇ - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569162023 NC: 2026:KHC:39101 CRL.P No. 11082 of 2023 ಮತುi Jೕ ನp Tಾತ ಾಡಲೂ ಸಹ Dಗ`ೇ ಇದು† ತನ\ b#ೈ… ನಂಬರನು\ DdŽ ಆ• TಾS0ೊಂSರು.ಾioೆ. ನಮYನು\ ನಂaD ನXYಂದ ಹಣ ಪ^ೆದು0ೊಂಡು :ಾಪ ನಮೆ ಹಣ -ೕಡ`ೆ ನಂa0ೆ `ೊ+ೕಹ TಾS ನಮೆ bೕಸ TಾSರುವ cೆd ಮತುi ಆ0ೆಯ ಗಂಡ Vಜಯ Aಾಜ ಮತುi ಆ0ೆಯ ಸಂಬಂgಕAಾದ ಲೕ, ಸುಂದ, ನVೕ ಮತುi jಾಸk ರವರಗಳ Vರುದl 0ಾನೂನು ಕ+ಮ ಜರುqಸ#ೇ0ೆಂದು 0ೋ0ೊಳ3H.ೆiೕ ೆ. ವಂದ ೆಗoೆ&ಂೆ" The complaint itself was filed for recovery of money, which was by itself could not have been entertained. 5. Even otherwise, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners has taken this Court through the bank statements that are appended to the petition to demonstrate that the petitioners have paid Rs.41,00,000/- as against Rs.35,00,000/- that was agreed to be paid long before the registration of the crime itself. This statement could stand vindicative in the light of the fact that an incident of 05.08.2019 for the first time is complained against the petitioners on 09.07.2023, four years after the said alleged agreement of return of the money of Rs.35,00,000/-. 6. In the light of the document substantiating the return of Rs.41,00,000/- as against Rs.35,00,000/- and the - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010569162023 NC: 2026:KHC:39101 CRL.P No. 11082 of 2023 absence of the complainant, throughout in the case at hand would necessarily lead to obliteration of the proceedings against the petitioners, as it is filed for the purpose of recovery of money and the money alleged to be agreed to be paid by the petitioners have already been paid long before the registration of the crime. Permitting further proceedings against these petitioners would become an abuse of the process of the law and result in miscarriage of justice. 7. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER (i) Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) The investigation in crime No.162/2023 pending on the file of III Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru stands quashed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE JY List No.: 2 Sl No.: 27