- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010625612026 NC: 2026:KHC:50197 CRL.P No. 13978 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 15TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13978 OF 2026 BETWEEN: DEEPANKARA OJHA, S/O PRAMOD KUMAR OJHA, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, R/O NO 360, 5TH MAIN, 5TH CROSS, HAL 3RD STAGE, NEW THIPPASANDRA, BANGALORE-560075. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SREEDHAR K, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, VIVEKNAGAR POLICE STATION, REP BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE-560001. 2. MS.PRIYA (AS PER FIR), MAJOR, NO.40,7TH C CROSS, ASHWINI LAYOUT, EJIPURA, VIVEKNAGAR, BANGALORE-560047. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI G S ARUNA, HCGP FOR R1) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482(FILED U/S.528 BNSS) CR.P.C BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED FIR BEARING CRIME NO.178/2026 DATED 28.07.2026 U/S 69,115(2),351(2) OF BNS 2023 VIDE ANNEXURE A ON THE FILE OF THE 29TH ACMM COURT, Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010625612026 NC: 2026:KHC:50197 CRL.P No. 13978 of 2026 MAYOHALL, BANGALORE CITY AS THE SAME IS ILLEGAL ARBITRARY AND UNSUSTAINABLE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE ORAL ORDER Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner. 2. Learned High Court Government Pleader accepts notice on behalf of respondent No.1. 3. The Court has perused the grounds raised in the petition and also the complaint dated 25.08.2026 filed by the respondent No.2. The complainant has alleged that the petitioner under pretext of marriage has sexually abused the complainant. 4. It is further stated that the petitioner has threatened the complainant stating that petitioner would circulate the personal photographs of the complainant in the social media and has given a threat not to insist for marriage. 5. It is also alleged that the petitioner has abused and physically assaulted the complainant when the complainant Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010625612026 NC: 2026:KHC:50197 CRL.P No. 13978 of 2026 insisted for marriage as petitioner had promised the complainant to marry her. 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that a false complaint is filed and the complaint is filed only with an intention to harass the petitioner. 7. Learned High Court Government Pleader would submit that the matter requires investigation as the contents of the complaint prima facie disclose cognizable offence. 8. The Apex Court in the case of M/s Neeharika Infrastructure (P) Ltd. v. State of Maharashtra and others1 in paragraph No.33.15 has held as under: "33.15. When a prayer for quashing the FIR is made by the alleged accused and the court when it exercises the power under Section 482 CrPC, only has to consider whether the allegations in the FIR disclose commission of a cognizable offence or not. The court is not required to consider on merits whether or not the merits of the allegations make out a cognizable offence and the court 1 (2021) 19 SCC 401 Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010625612026 NC: 2026:KHC:50197 CRL.P No. 13978 of 2026 has to permit the investigating agency/police to investigate the allegations in the FIR." 9. The Court after considering the contents of the complaint is of the view that the matter requires investigation as the Court cannot get into the merits of the allegation at this stage. 10. Under these circumstances, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. 11. However, it is made clear that the Court has not expressed anything on the merits or demerits of the complaint. It is a matter to be investigated by the Police. (ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE) JUDGE GVP List No.: 2 Sl No.: 2 Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE