- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010307242026 NC: 2026:KHC:50979-DB CRL.CCC No. 2 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN CRIMINAL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 2 OF 2026 BETWEEN: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, BENGALURU-560 001. …COMPLAINANT (BY SRI. JAGADEESHA B.N., SPP) AND: SRI H.P. SABJAN ADVOCATE, ROOL NO. KAR 1276/06, H L K ROAD, CHITRADURGA. …ACCUSED (ACCUSED - H.P. SABJAN – SERVED (PRESENT)) THIS CRL.CCC IS FILED U/S 15 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971 R/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO INITIATE (SUO-MOTU) CRIMINAL CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ACCUSED- SRI.H.P.SABJAN, ADVOCATE, ROLL NO.KAR 1276/06, H L K ROAD, CHITRADURGA, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971, IN VIEW OF THE ORDER DATED 15.09.2025 PASSED BY THIS HON’BLE COURT IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1054/2018 AND TO PUNISH HIM IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by MALA K N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010307242026 NC: 2026:KHC:50979-DB CRL.CCC No. 2 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH) This Suo Moto contempt petition has been registered in view of the order dated 15.09.2025 passed by this Court in Crl.A.No.1054/2018 (C) which would read as under: “This Court, noticing that the appellant’s aged parents were waiting in the Court, took up the matter for hearing. On 13.08.2025 the appellant’s counsel was asked to submit written synopsis with reference to the circumstances of the case relied on by the prosecution along with the particulars of the witnesses and documents corresponding to such circumstances. Having taken time to submit the same, he has not filed such synopsis. Still showing leniency, matter was taken up for hearing. Learned counsel failed to argue to the point. When queries were raised, he alleged that the Trial Court has passed the judgment by “match fixing”. Despite advising him not to make such derogatory and baseless statements against the Trial Court and that such conduct amounts to contempt of Court, he persists. By such conduct he has attempted to scandalize the Trial Court and failed to maintain decorum of the Court attracting Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. Therefore, place the matter before Hon’ble The Chief Justice for needful action. List after 10 days.” - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010307242026 NC: 2026:KHC:50979-DB CRL.CCC No. 2 of 2026 2. This matter was listed on 10.09.2026 when accused/contemnor submitted that he would file an affidavit tendering unconditional apology for his conduct and writing the letter in question. 3. Today when the matter is taken up, the contemnor states that he would like to contest the contempt proceedings and he is not willing to tender unconditional apology for his conduct. 4. In his statement of objections to the notice in this contempt case in paragraph-13 he has stated as under: “13. I further submit that exhibit in (A) are false fabricated, forged and created only for the purpose of falsely implicated me in this Criminal contempt case, The entire case of this Criminal Contempt is totally false and it has been fabricated of the complainant to see that I do not continue as the Advocate for the appellant side in Criminal Appeal 1054/2018 pending before the Hon’ble division bench at High Court of Karnataka At Bengaluru.” - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010307242026 NC: 2026:KHC:50979-DB CRL.CCC No. 2 of 2026 5. Thus, according to him the order passed by this Court on 15.09.2025 which is the basis for initiating Suo Moto contempt proceedings against the accused/ contemnor is false, fabricated and forged order created only for the purposes of falsely implicated him in the criminal contempt case. He has further stated that the entire criminal contempt proceedings are false based on the fabrication so that he should not continue as advocate for the appellant. Thus, he has imputed the motives for passing the order dated 15.09.2025 which he says as false, fabricated and forged. 6. We have considered the response to the notice issued to him as well as the order dated 15.09.2025, we frame the following charges against the accused/contemnor. CHARGES 1) You the contemnor on 13.08.2025 during the course of hearing of the Criminal Appeal No. 1054/2018, said that the trial Court had passed the - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010307242026 NC: 2026:KHC:50979-DB CRL.CCC No. 2 of 2026 judgment by “match fixing” and despite the Court warning you, you persisted to make allegation that the trial Court had passed the judgment by “match fixing”. Your utterances in the Court during the course of hearing of the Criminal Appeal No. 1054/2018 on 13.08.2015 that the judgment passed by the trial Court was by “match fixing” amounts to scandalizing the Court proceedings and tends to lower the authority of the Court, which would amount to committing criminal contempt of the Court. 2) In your response to the contempt notice, in your statement of objection, you in paragraph 13 of the statement of objection have alleged that the order dated 15.09.2025 passed by the Co- ordinate Bench of this Court in Criminal Appeal No. 1054/2018 is a false, fabricated and forged and passed/created only for the purpose to falsely implicate you in the criminal contempt case. The entire criminal contempt proceedings are false and fabricated. The said statement made by you on oath is again amounts to criminal contempt, which has tendency to scandalize the Court proceedings and lower the authority and respect of the Court. - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010307242026 NC: 2026:KHC:50979-DB CRL.CCC No. 2 of 2026 7. We have asked the contender to make his submission on these two charges. 8. We put these charges to the contemnor to offer his defence. However he submits that “match fixing” is in respect of the Investigating Officer and Public Prosecutor. This is not the stand which he has taken in the statement of objections filed to the notice issued to him in the contempt proceedings. With respect to his allegation in charge No.2, in respect of the order passed by this Court on 15.09.2025 in Crl.A.No.1054/2018 (C), he submits that it is a typo mistake, however he has not offered any apology least to say an unconditional apology. We therefore, find both the charges proved against him. 9. Considering the misconduct and his demeanor before the Court, we sentence the accused/contemnor to simple imprisonment for a period of 15 days. - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010307242026 NC: 2026:KHC:50979-DB CRL.CCC No. 2 of 2026 The accused/contemnor shall be taken to custody forthwith to serve the sentence. Registrar (Judicial) shall issue conviction warrant against the accused as per Rule 16 of the High Court of Karnataka (Contempt of Court Proceedings) Rules, 1981. Registry shall furnish a free copy of this order to the accused/contemnor, immediately. Registry is directed to communicate this order to the Bar Council for taking appropriate proceedings whether he is fit to continue his profession or not. Sd/- (D K SINGH) JUDGE Sd/- (H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN) JUDGE BVK; List No.: 2 Sl No.: 9