- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21393 CRL.P No. 2510 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 2510 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SREEJAI S S/O SURESH BABU, AGED ABOUT 18 YEARS, R/AT NO.97, ANDRA LINE, VIVEKNAGAR, BENGALURU - 47. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. ANANDA K.V, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY VIVEKNAGAR POLICE STATION, BENGALURU, THROUGH THE OFFICE OF STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. ANASTISIA BRIGGS, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, W/O ARUN ROYAL, R/AT NO.24, 4TH A CROSS, VIVEKNAGAR, BENGALURU - 47. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SOWMYA R, HCGP FOR R1) Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21393 CRL.P No. 2510 of 2026 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR IN CR.NO.04/2026 FILED BY THE VIVEK NAGAR POLICE STATION, BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 11(iv) AND 12 OF PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES, ACT (POCSO) R/W SECTION 78 OF BNS, 2023, BEFORE THE ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC-1, BENGALURU PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioner is before this Court, seeking the following prayer: "a. After perusing the records Quash the FIR in Cr.No.04/2026 filed by the Vivek Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru for the offences punishable under section 111(iv) & 12 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences, Act, (POCS) r/w Section 78 of BNS, 203, before the Addl. City Civil & Sessions Judge, FTSC-1, Bengaluru produced at Annexure-A in the interest of justice and equity. b. And also such other and further relief's as this Hon'ble Court deems fit considering the facts and circumstances of the case to meet the ends of justice." - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21393 CRL.P No. 2510 of 2026 2. Heard Sri. Ananda K.V., learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Smt. Somya R., learned High Court Government Pleader and have perused the material on record. 3. The petitioner is a student, aged about 18 years, is caught in the web of proceedings for having teasing the daughter of the complainant. Therefore, the offences under Sections 11 and 12 of the Protection of Women from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 ('the POCSO Act' for short) have sprung including Section 78 of the BNSS. 4. The parties to the lis have settled the dispute among themselves and have filed a compounding application along with the joint affidavit. The joint affidavit so filed reads as follows: "JOINT AFFIDAVIT FILED BY PETITIONER & RESPONDENT NO.2 1. I/WE, SREEJAI.S, S/o Suresh Babu, Aged about 18 years, R/at No.97, Andra Line, Viveknagar, Bengaluru-47 & 2) ANASTISIA BRIGGS, W/o Arun Royal, Aged about 34 years. R/at No.24, 4th A Cross, Viveknagar, Bengaluru-47, do hereby solemnly affirm and state on oath as follows:- 1. The 1st party herein is the petitioner/Accused in the above case and the 2nd party herein is Complaint/ - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21393 CRL.P No. 2510 of 2026 Respondent No.2, they we both aware about the facts and circumstances of the case. 2. The above named respondent No.2/ Defacto Complainant had lodged a complaint before the VivekNagar Police station against the accused/petitioner herein forthwith the respondent Police have filed a FIR in against the petitioner in Cr.No.04/2026 for the offence punishable under section 11(iv) & 12 of Protection of children from sexual offences, Act (POCSO) R/W section 78 of BNS, 2023. 3. It is submitted that due to the interventions of the well- wishers and family members and considering the fact that accused herein is a student at Bengaluru, the 2nd party/complainant herein agreed to with draw the complaint which is registered as FIR in Cr.No.04/2026 and Petitioner/accused agrees that he will not commit the similar offence in future. Both the pагties are filing this Joint affidavit without any threat, coercion or undue influence and this compromise is arrived at voluntary basis. 4. Hence consider the Joint Affidavit and permit us to compound the offence by allowing the annexed application and consequently quash the FIR filed by the Vivek Nagar PS in Cr. No.04/2026 for the offences punishable under section 11(iv) & 12 of Protection of children from sexual offences, Act (POCSO) R/W section 78 of BNS, 2023, before the Addl. City Civil & Sessions Judge, FTSC-1, Bengaluru, to meet the ends of Justice and equity. What is stated above are true and correct to the best of our knowledge, information and belief." 5. In the light of the filing of the compounding application along with the joint affidavit and the offences under Sections 11 and 12 of the POCSO Act are punishable with imprisonment for 2 years and therefore, I deem it appropriate - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21393 CRL.P No. 2510 of 2026 to accept the application seeking compounding of the offence more so in the light of the fact that the petitioner is a student, so is the daughter of the complainant studying in the same school. 6. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER (i) The petition is disposed. (ii) Proceedings in Crime No.4/2026 stand quashed qua the petitioner. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE GJM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 24