- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19324 WP No. 25583 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN WRIT PETITION NO. 25583 OF 2023 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SUSHIL PANDURANG MANTRI AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS S/O PANDURANG MANTRI #41, VITTAL MALYA ROAD BENGALURU-560 001. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHYAM SUNDAR M.S., SR.COUNSEL FOR SMT. VANDANA P.L., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA CUBBON PARK P.S. REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA. 2. MANYATA REALITY NO.9/2, 1ST FLOOR CLASSIC COURT, BENGALURU REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED SIGNATORY MR. REDDY VEERANNA. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. AYUB ALI KHAN, ADDL. SPP FOR R1; SRI. C.K.NANDAKUMAR, SR. ADVOCATE A/W SRI. ABRAHAM JOSEPH & TANMAY RAI, ADVOCATES FOR SRI. MANU PRABHAKAR KULKARNI, ADVOCATE FOR R2) Digitally signed by GEETHA P G Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19324 WP No. 25583 of 2023 THIS PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA READ WITH SECTION 482 OF CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973, PRAYING TO QUASH THE COMPLAINT DATED 2ND NOVEMBER 2023, FILED BY RESPONDENT NO.2 IN CRIME NO.223/2023 ON THE FILE OF III ADDITIONAL CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 34, 406, 420, 120-B OF IPC, BENGALURU VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND ALL FURTHER ACTIONS INITIATED BY RESPONDENT NO.1-POLICE AND ETC. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING/VIDEO CONFERENCING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner and respondent no.2 had several transactions with regard to properties. On the ground that ,petitioner with common intention and also by conspiring with other persons committed the offence of criminal breach of trust and cheating against the complainant, a complaint came to be lodged against the petitioner and several other persons and an FIR dated 02.11.2023 in Crime No.223/2023 came to be registered on the file of III Additional Chief Metropolitan - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19324 WP No. 25583 of 2023 Magistrate, Bengaluru. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has preferred this petition. 2. The gist of the complaint as recorded in the FIR reads as under: "F ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ ¸ÁgÁA±ÀªÉãÉAzÀgÉ ¦AiÀiÁðzsÀÄzÁgÀgÁzÀ ²æà gÉrØ «ÃgÀtÚ gÀªÀgÀÄ ªÀiÁ£ÀåvÁ jAiÀiÁ°n PÀA¥À¤AiÀÄ ªÀiÁå£ÉÃfAUï ¥Álð£Àgï DVzÀÄÝ ¸ÀzÀj gÀªÀgÀÄ ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ £ÀUÀgÀzÀ PÉ.Dgï.¥ÀÄgÀ ºÉÆç½AiÀÄ gÁZÉãÀºÀ½î UÁæªÀÄzÀ ««zsÀ ¸ÀªÉÃð £ÀA§gÀUÀ¼À°è MlÄÖ 63.81 JPÀgÉ d«ÄãÀ£ÀÄß ºÉÆA¢zÀÄÝ 2010 gÀ°è DgÉÆæ-1 ¸ÀÄ²Ã¯ï ªÀÄAwæ gÀªÀgÀÄ ¦AiÀiÁðzsÀÄzÁgÀgÀ£ÀÄß ¸ÀA¥ÀQð¹ ¸ÀzÀj ¨sÀÆ«ÄAiÀÄ£ÀÄß C©üªÀȢݥÀr¸ÀĪÀ §UÉÎ ªÀiÁvÀ£Ár CzÀgÀAvÉ ¸ÀzÀj DgÉÆæ-1 ºÁUÀÆ EªÀgÀ eÉÆvÉ DgÉÆæ 2 jAzÀ 6 gÀªÀgÉUÉ ¸ÉÃjPÉÆAqÀÄ £ÀAvÀgÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ:26.08.2010 jAzÀ 01.07.2015 gÀ ªÀÄzÉå eÉ.r.J UÀ¼À£ÀÄß ªÀiÁrPÉÆArgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀzÀj d«Ää£À°è ªÀÄAwæ °xÉÆ¸ï ¥ÁæeÉPïÖ £À°è C¥ÁlðªÉÄAmï UÀ¼À£ÀÄß PÀlÄÖªÀÅzÁV PÀgÁj£À°è 39% ¦AiÀiÁðzsÀÄzÁgÀjUÉ ºÁUÀÆ 61% DgÉÆæ-1gÀªÀjUÉ JAzÀÄ EzÀÄÝ ¸ÀzÀj PÀgÁgÀÄ ««zÀ ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÀAzÀÄ DVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. £ÀAvÀgÀ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ¦AiÀiÁðzÀÄzÁgÀjUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀ ªÀÄAwæ °xÉÆ¸ï £À ±Éà 39% µÉÃgï£À°è 124 C¥ÁlðªÉÄAmï UÀ¼À£ÀÄß DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ vÁ£Éà Rjâ¸ÀĪÀÅzÁV ºÁUÀÆ CzÀgÀ MlÄÖ ªÀiË®å 87 PÉÆÃn gÀÆUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¤ÃqÀĪÀÅzÁV w½¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. £ÀAvÀgÀ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ zÀÆgÀÄzÁgÀjUÉ ¤ÃqÀ¨ÉÃPÁzÀ 87 PÉÆÃn gÀÆUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¤ÃrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. £ÀAvÀgÀ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ªÀÄAwæ °xÉÆ¸ï ¥ÁæeÉPïÖ ¸ÀA§AzÀ J¯ï.L.¹ ºÉZï.J¥ï ¤AzÀ MlÄÖ 250 PÉÆÃn gÀÆUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸Á®ªÁV ¥ÀqÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ ªÀÄAwæ °xÉÆ¸ï ¥ÁæeÉPïÖ UÉ §¼À¸ÀzÉ ¸Á®ªÁV ªÀÄAdÆgÁVzÀÝ 250 PÉÆÃn gÀÆUÀ¼À°è 80 PÉÆÃn gÀÆUÀ¼À£ÀÄß Xander Investment Holding XXIII Limited UÉà ¸ÉÃjzÀÝ SÁvÉUÉ ªÀUÁð¬Ä¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ºÁUÀÆ 105 PÉÆÃn gÀÆ ºÀtªÀ£ÀÄß DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ««zÀ ¨ÁåAPïUÀ¼À°è ¥ÀqÉ¢zÀÝ ¸Á®zÀ ¸ÀA§AzsÀ ªÀUÁðªÀuÉ ªÀiÁrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. »ÃVgÀĪÁUÀ 2019 gÀ°è J¯ï.L.¹ ºÉZï.J¥ï gÀªÀgÀÄ zÀÆgÀÄzÁgÀjUÉ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀ d«ÄãÀ£ÀÄß ªÀ±ÀPÉÌ¥ÀqÉzÀÄPÉƼÀÄîªÀ §UÉÎ £ÉÆÃn¸ï eÁj ªÀiÁrzÁUÀ zÀÆgÀÄzÁgÀjUÉ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ J¯ï.L.¹ ºÉZï.J¥ï £À°è - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19324 WP No. 25583 of 2023 ªÀÄAwæ °xÉÆ¸ï ¥ÁæeÉPïÖPÁV ¥ÀqÉzÀ ¸Á®ªÀ£ÀÄß ªÀÄgÀÄ¥ÁªÀw¸ÀzÉ r¥Á®Ögï DVgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ UÀªÀÄ£ÀPÉÌ §A¢gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. £ÀAvÀgÀ 2022 gÀ°è DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ Xander Investment Holding XXIII Limited «gÀÄzÀÝ zÀÆgÀÄ ¤ÃrzÁUÀ F »AzÉ ªÀÄAwæ °xÉÆ¸ï £À°è zÀÆgÀÄzÁgÀjUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀÝ µÉÃgï£À°è 124 C¥ÁlðªÉÄAmï UÀ¼À£ÀÄß Rjâ¹zÀPÉÌ 87 PÉÆÃn gÀÆ UÀ¼À£ÀÄß Xander PÀA¥À¤UÉ zÀÆgÀÄzÁgÀjUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀÝ d«ÄãÀ£ÀÄß CqÀªÀiÁ£À«lÄÖ ¥ÀqÉzÀÄPÉÆArgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ w½zÀÄ §A¢gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. DzÀPÁgÀt CgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ EvÀgÉ 5 PÀA¥À¤UÀ¼À eÉÆvÉ ¸ÉÃjPÉÆAqÀÄ ¦vÀÆj £Àqɹ ¸ÀªÀiÁ£À GzÉÝñÉEªÀÄzÀ ¦AiÀiÁðzÀÄzÁgÀgÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ DgÉÆævÀgÀ £ÀqÀÄªÉ £ÀqÉ¢zÀÝ PÀgÁgÀ£ÀÄß G®èAX¹ ¦AiÀiÁðzÀÄzÁgÀgÀ d«Ää£À ªÉÄÃ¯É ¸Á® ¥ÀqÉzÀÄ ¨ÉÃgÉÆAzÀÄ GzÉÝñÀPÉÌ §¼À¹ ¦AiÀiÁðzÀÄzÁgÀjUÉ £ÀA©PÉ zÉÆæúÀ ºÁUÀÆ ªÀAZÀ£É ªÀiÁrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ, EvÁå¢." 3. The case of the petitioner is that, the complaint made against him is false and baseless and he has not committed any of the offences as alleged. It is further contended that the transactions between the petitioner and respondent no.2/complainant are of civil in nature and there are several litigations pending in this regard. However respondent no.2 with the sole intention of harassing the petitioner has filed a false complaint against him and that the State without application of mind has registered the same and is conducting an investigation. On the said ground, it is prayed that proceedings against the petitioner be quashed. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19324 WP No. 25583 of 2023 4. On the contrary, Learned Additional SPP as well as the learned Senior Counsel for respondent no.2 together submit that, if we consider the complaint made by respondent no.2 it reveals that there have been several transactions regarding immovable property between respondent no.2 and the petitioner and several other persons. It also reveals that petitioner with common intention conspiring with certain other persons deliberately has not developed the property as agreed upon and has indulged in several actions causing huge financial loss to respondent no.2, and the actions alleged against the petitioner satisfy the ingredients of criminal breach of trust in certain cases and cheating in certain other cases. It is submitted that, if the allegations made against the petitioner are held to be true, then in that event the petitioner would be liable to be convicted of the offences alleged. 5. Learned Additional SPP further submits that, due to the interim orders of this Court, no coercive steps were initiated against the petitioner, but he is refusing to co-operate with the investigation and police report can be filed only upon due investigation which requires co-operation of the petitioner in - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19324 WP No. 25583 of 2023 this regard. He further submits that if the petitioner does not co-operate, then in that event it may be required for the authorities concerned to take him into custody and further investigate the matter. 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that he has extended fullest cooperation for investigation and denies the statement made by the learned Additional SPP. 7. Be that as it may, the allegations made in the complaint and in the FIR if held to be true on the face of it will amount to commission of offences as alleged against the petitioner and other persons named in the FIR. Whether the petitioner is guilty of the offences alleged or not is a matter of trial. Under the said circumstances, it may not be appropriate for this Court to entertain this petition positively. 8. At this juncture, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, this Court had granted interim orders in his favour restraining the State from initiating coercive steps against him, because of which he did not pursue his bail application before the trial Court and he submits that he may - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19324 WP No. 25583 of 2023 be extended the protection accorded to him by way of interim order for four weeks. 9. Hence, the following: ORDER (i) The writ petition is hereby dismissed; (ii) However, the interim order granted in favour of the petitioner directing the State not to initiate coercive steps against the petitioner with the condition that the petitioner shall co- operate with investigation stands extended for a further period of four weeks; (iii) If the petitioner were to make an application for bail, the trial Court will consider the same in accordance with law based on the merits of the case without being influenced by any of the observations made hereinabove. Pending I.As., if any, stand disposed of. Sd/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE PGG