- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20035 CRL.P No. 4188 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 9TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4188 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SANDEEP S/O YAJAMANAGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, OWNER OF MINI BUS NO.KA-21-A-8478 RESIDING AT INTIHOLALU VILLAGE, BIKKODU HOBLI, BELUR TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT-573215 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAVI M.M., ADVOCATE) AND: STATE BY HASSAN ZONAL NO.1 HASSAN SUB DIVISION, HASSAN DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU-560001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. CHANNAPPAAA ERAPPA, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO QUASH THE FIR IN CR.NO.17/2025-26/2004IE/200404 REGISTERED Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20035 CRL.P No. 4188 of 2026 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 11,14,15,32(1),38(A) OF KARNATAKA EXCISE ACT 1965 AGAINST THE PETITIONER BY THE RESPONDENT EXCISE POLICE PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE AND J.M.F.C COURT AT HASSAN., AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER Heard the learned counsel Sri. Ravi M.M., appearing for the petitioner, Sri. Channappa Erappa, learned HCGP appearing for the respondent and have perused the material on record. 2. The petitioner is before this Court, seeking the following prayer: "a) Quash the FIR in Crime No.17/2025- 26/2004IE/200404 registered for the offences punishable under sections 11, 14, 15, 32(1), 38(A) of Karnataka Excise Act, 1965 against the petitioner by the Respondent Excise Police, pending on the file of the Addl. Civil Judge and JMFC Court at Hassan. b) Order directing the respondent police to Release the seized vehicle Mini Bus Reg.No.KA-21-A-8478 to the petitioner forthwith. c) PASS any other Order as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice." - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20035 CRL.P No. 4188 of 2026 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the issue in the lis stands covered by the judgment rendered by this Court in Crl.P.No.15249/2025 disposed on 22.01.2026, wherein it has held as follows: "Petitioners are before this Court calling in question the registration of a crime in Crime No.17/2025- 26/2004IE/200404 registered for offences punishable under Sections 11, 14, 15, 32(1), 38(A) of Karnataka Excise Act, 1965. 2. Heard Sri.Pratheep K.C., learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Sri.Vinay Mahadevaiah, learned HCGP appearing for the respondent and have perused the material on record. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the issue revolves around the seizure of three liters of orange flavour and lemon flavour of vodka in the vehicle which was printed for sale in Goa State only and the vehicle being intercepted and caught, has led these petitioners into the web of crime. Learned counsel submits that in identical circumstance, the Coordinate Bench in Crl.P.No.4419/2025, disposed on 08.09.2025, has held as follows: "The petition is filed seeking quashing of the proceedings pending in CC.No.1300/2024. Respondent No.2 registered a suo-moto complaint against the petitioner which led to the registration of crime in Cr.No.100/2023-24 for the offence punishable under Sections 11, 14, 32(1), 38(A) and 43(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965 (for short 'K.E. Act') and Rule 3 of the Karnataka Excise (Liqour Transit) Rules, 1985. 2. The petitioner, who is alleged to have been found in possession of one bottle containing 2 liters of Imperial Blue Blended Grain Whisky, seeks quashing of the proceedings on the ground that, even if the charge sheet materials are accepted in their entirety, no offence is made out under Rule 21 of the Karnataka Excise - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20035 CRL.P No. 4188 of 2026 (Possession, Transport, Import and Export of Intoxicants) Rules, 1967 (for short, “Rules-1967”). The petitioner contends that the quantity possessed falls within the permissible limit prescribed under Rule 21 and, therefore, no case is made out against him. In support of his contention, the petitioner has also placed the relevant Rules on record. Rule 21 of the Rules-1967 expressly permits possession of brandy, whisky, gin, rum, and milk punch, excluding foreign liquor, up to 4.6 liters. 3. I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for the State, and have perused the records carefully. 4. On a careful perusal of the charge sheet, it is evident that the petitioner has been arraigned as an accused solely on the allegation that he was found in possession of one bottle containing 2 liters of Imperial Blue Blended Grain Whisky. The charge sheet proceeds on the premise that such possession constitutes an offence under the provisions of the Karnataka Excise Act and the Rules framed thereunder. However, Rule 21 of the Karnataka Excise (Possession, Transport, Import and Export of Intoxicants) Rules, 1967 (for short, “Rules- 1967”) specifically permits possession of whisky, brandy, gin, rum, and milk punch, excluding foreign liquor, up to a quantity of 4.6 liters. In the present case, the petitioner was admittedly in possession of only 2 liters of whisky, which is well within the prescribed permissible limit. Therefore, even if the charge sheet allegations are accepted in their entirety, no offence is made out against the petitioner. In such circumstances, this Court is of the considered view that the proceedings initiated against the petitioner are wholly unsustainable, as there is no likelihood of conviction and the only possible outcome would be acquittal. 5. In the backdrop of the petitioner having been found in possession of liquor within the permissible limit, allowing the proceedings to continue would amount to an abuse of the process of law. To secure the ends of justice and prevent unnecessary harassment to the petitioner, this Court is of the considered opinion that the inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, require to be exercised in the present case. 6. Apart from the above, the petitioner has also demonstrated that the proceedings are vitiated for non- - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20035 CRL.P No. 4188 of 2026 compliance with the mandatory provisions contained in Sections 53 and 54 of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965. These provisions lay down the statutory safeguards governing search, seizure, and arrest in excise-related offences. Section 53 mandates that, except in cases of emergency, the concerned authority, namely the Excise Inspector, is required to obtain a search warrant before conducting any search. Section 54 further prescribes the manner in which such searches and seizures are to be effected. In the present case, it is not in dispute that no search warrant was obtained prior to the alleged seizure of liquor from the petitioner. 7. This precise issue fell for consideration before a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Crl.P.No.10259/2021, where it was held that the mandate under Section 53 of the Karnataka Excise Act is mandatory in nature and any violation thereof would render the entire proceedings incurable in law. The Co- ordinate Bench categorically held that initiation of prosecution without compliance with the statutory requirement of a search warrant vitiates the very foundation of the case. In the light of the said authoritative pronouncement, it is clear that the present proceedings, initiated in CC.No.1300/2024, are vitiated by non-compliance with the mandatory statutory safeguards and are therefore liable to be quashed on this ground as well. ORDER i. The criminal petition is hereby allowed; ii. The proceedings in C.C.No.1300/2024 pending on the file of Civil Judge and JMFC, Belur, are hereby quashed. Pending interlocutory applications, if any, stand disposed of.” In the light of the issue being identical, I deem it appropriate to follow the order passed by the Coordinate Bench and quash the proceedings qua the petitioners. 4. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: O R D E R [I] Criminal Petition is disposed. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20035 CRL.P No. 4188 of 2026 [II] Proceedings/investigation in Crime No.17/2025- 26/2004IE/200404 pending before the Principal Civil Judge and JMFC at Hassan, qua the petitioners, stand quashed." In the light of the order passed by this Court (supra) and for the reasons aforementioned, the following: ORDER (i) The Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) The proceedings in Crime No.17/2025- 26/2004IE/200404 stand quashed, qua the petitioner. In the light of the quashment of the proceedings, the vehicle that is in custody with the Department of Excise shall be released without breaking any delay. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE SJK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 34