- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010346832026 NC: 2026:KHC:50569 CRL.P No. 7375 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 7375 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRI RAVICHANDRA GENATHIKATTE, S/O B. CHIDANANDAPPA, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, RESIDING AT BHUJANGA NAGARA VILLAGE, SANDUR TALUK, BELLARY DISTRICT- 583119. …PETITIONER (BY SRI M S NAGARAJA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE, BHARAMASAGARA POLICE STATION, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT- 577519, REPT BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BUILDING, BENGALURU- 560 001. 2. SRI. H.N. MANJUNATHA, S/O NAGARAJ, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, WORKING AS DISTRICT CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER, DISTRICT CHILD PROTECTION UNIT, DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT- 577501. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI M V ANOOP KUMAR, ADDL. SPP) 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 Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010346832026 NC: 2026:KHC:50569 CRL.P No. 7375 of 2026 THE FIR REGISTERED BY THE IsT RESPONDENT POLICE IN CRIME NO.218/2026 FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE P/US/ 115(2),117(2),131,351(2) OF BNS 2023 AND SEC.75 OF JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT 1986 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE II ADDL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC CHITRADURGA. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE ORAL ORDER Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned High Court Government Pleader for the first respondent-State. 2. This petition is filed to quash the proceedings in Crime No.218/2026 for the offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 117(2), 131 and 351(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986. The matter is pending before JMFC, Chitradurga. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, petitioner is unconcerned with the Mutt which is referred in the complaint. Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010346832026 NC: 2026:KHC:50569 CRL.P No. 7375 of 2026 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that, the person who is allegedly beating the children in the alleged video is not by the petitioner. 5. It is the further submission that, there is a remote reference to the petitioner's name in the complaint. Thus, learned counsel would contend that the registration of the complaint and an FIR is wholly untenable. 6. Learned Additional SPP would submit that in the complaint it is alleged that there is a videograph wherein the children are allegedly beaten by an unknown person and those children are allegedly staying in a Mutt and the matter requires investigation. 7. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that, petitioner has already co-operated with the Investigating Agency and has furnished all the information which the petitioner has in his possession. The appropriate report has to be filed after investigation based on the materials available. 8. The petition is dismissed. Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010346832026 NC: 2026:KHC:50569 CRL.P No. 7375 of 2026 9. Merely because the petition is dismissed, it should not be considered as having expressed anything against the petitioner. (ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE) JUDGE CHS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 22 Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE