- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21361 WP No. 28225 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 28225 OF 2025 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: 1. MR. TILAK DATH CHOWDRI .G S/O GANESH .T AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.66, K.N LINE KUMBAR PETE MAIN ROAD BENGALURU - 560002 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. AJAY KADKOL .T, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF HOME VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560001 REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY 2. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL AND INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, NO.2, POLICE HEADQUARTERS NRUPATHUNGA ROAD AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560001. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE CHITRADURGA DISTRICT CHITRADURGA-577501. 4. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER CHITRADURGA TOWN POLICE STATION Digitally signed by NAGARAJA B M Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21361 WP No. 28225 of 2025 CHITRADURGA - 577501. 5. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT NO. 1, CARLTON HOUSE PALACE ROAD, BENGALURU - 560001. REPRESENTED BY SPP …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VIKAS ROJIPURA, AGA FOR R1 TO R5) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO DIRECT THAT THE INVESTIGATION IN CRIME NO.147 OF 2025 DATED 26.07.2025 REGISTERED AT CHITRADURGA TOWN POLICE STATION IE, THE RESPONDENT NO.4 POLICE BE FORTHWITH TRANSFERRED TO THE CRIME INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT (CID), KARNATAKA I.E.. THE RESPONDENT NO.5 AGENCY HEREIN, FOR A COMPREHENSIVE, FAIR, AND IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE LARGER CONSPIRACY AND FRAUD, IN TERMS OF THE PETITIONER'S REPRESENTATION DATED 18.08.2025, WHICH IS PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE -A. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER This petition is filed to transfer the investigation pending in Crime No. 147/2025 dated 26.07.2025 registered at Chitradurga town police station/respondent No. 4 to the Crime Investigating Department/Respondent No.5 to ensure comprehensive, fair and impartial - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21361 WP No. 28225 of 2025 investigation in view of the larger conspiracy and fraud in the cases. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner counsel and learned AGA. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has filed a memo before this Court today, placing on record that the FIRs registered at Bengaluru against the very same accused persons, involving identical allegations and founded on a common modus operandi, have now been transferred to the jurisdiction of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) for the purpose of centralized investigation. The said memo is taken on record. 4. Per contra, learned Additional Government Advocate, on instructions, does not seriously dispute the factual assertions made in the memo. He fairly submits that in view of the transfer of connected FIRs to the CID, continuation of investigation in the present crime by a different agency would result in a fragmented and parallel - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21361 WP No. 28225 of 2025 investigation, which is neither desirable nor conducive to a fair and effective probe. 5. Having heard the learned counsel on both sides and on perusal of the material placed on record, this Court finds considerable force in the submission advanced by the petitioner. It is not in dispute that multiple FIRs are registered against the same set of accused persons alleging commission of similar offences, arising out of an identical modus operandi, particularly within the territorial limits of Bengaluru. When the State itself has deemed it appropriate to entrust investigation in such connected matters to the CID, permitting the present FIR in Crime No.147/2025 to be investigated by a different agency would inevitably lead to multiplicity of investigations, possible inconsistencies in findings, and ultimately, conflicting final reports. 6. This Court is of the considered view that to ensure a fair, comprehensive and coordinated - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21361 WP No. 28225 of 2025 investigation, it is imperative that all such connected matters are investigated by a single specialized agency. Centralization of investigation would not only obviate the risk of contradictory conclusions but would also facilitate effective collection, collation and appreciation of evidence. In that view of the matter, this Court is satisfied that the present case also warrants transfer to the CID so as to subserve the ends of justice. 7. Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, this Court proceeds to pass the following: ORDER (i) The writ petition is hereby allowed; (ii) The investigation in Crime No.147/2025 dated 27.07.2025, presently pending with the jurisdictional police, shall stand transferred to respondent No.5 – Crime Investigation Department (CID), for the - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21361 WP No. 28225 of 2025 purpose of further investigation in accordance with law; (iii) The jurisdictional Station House Officer/Investigating Officer shall, forthwith and without any delay, transmit the entire case records, documents, material objects, and all evidence collected during the course of investigation till date to respondent No.5; (iv) Respondent No.5 shall thereafter proceed with the investigation and ensure that the same is carried out expeditiously, strictly in accordance with law. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE ALB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 65