- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010144952026 NC: 2026:KHC:50987 CRL.P No. 3156 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3156 OF 2026 BETWEEN: PRADEEP KUMAR, S/O VITTAL POOJARY, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, R/AT 3-146, SHIRIYARA PETE, SHIRIYARA POST, UDUPI DISTRICT-576210. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SHUBHANG D PURVIMATH, ADV. FOR SMT URMILA PULLAT,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY KOTA POLICE STATION, UDUPI DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY THE SSP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU- 560001. 2. MR. SANDESH KULAL @SANDOSH KULAL, S/O BABU KULAL, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, BILLADI VILLAGE, JANUVARUKATTE POST, BRAHMAVARA TALUK, UDUPI, KARNATAKA-576223. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI M V ANOOP KUMAR, ADDL. SPP FOR R1, SRI M B RUDRESH, ADV. FOR R2) Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010144952026 NC: 2026:KHC:50987 CRL.P No. 3156 of 2026 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 FIR DATED 24.01.2026 (ANNEXURE A) AND COMPLIANT DATED 03.01.2026 (ANNEXURE B) IN CRIME NO.11/2026 OF THE RESPONDENT NO.1 KOTA P.S., UDUPI AGAINST THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO.1 FOR OFFENCE P/US/ 318(2),316(2),351(2),112,3(5) OF BNS 2023 AND SEC.66(D) OF IT ACT 2008 AND SEC.78 OF KARANATAKA POLICE ACT, 2021 PENDING BEFORE THE Ist ADDL CIVIL JUDGE (Jr.Dn.) AND JMFC COURT UDUPI AGAINST THE PETITIONERS. 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 Additional State Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent No.1-State and the learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2. 2. This petition is filed to quash the FIR dated 24.01.2026 in Crime No.11/2026 registered by Kota Police, Udupi for the offences under Section 318(2), 316(2), 351(2), 112 and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Section 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2008 and Section 78 of the Karnataka Police Act, 2021, pending on the file of JMFC, Udupi. Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010144952026 NC: 2026:KHC:50987 CRL.P No. 3156 of 2026 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the contents of the complaint do not disclose any cognizable offence and no case is made out for investigation. 4. Learned Additional State Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent No.1-State as well as the learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2 would submit that the contents of the complaint prima facie disclose that the petitioner and the complainant participated in online betting game. 5. Learned counsel for the complainant also submits that the complainant has paid the money through RTGS to the account of all the accused. 6. Learned Additional State Public Prosecutor would submit that the betting is prohibited, as such, the matter requires investigation. 7. The Court has considered the contentions raised at the Bar and perused the records. Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010144952026 NC: 2026:KHC:50987 CRL.P No. 3156 of 2026 8. Since there is an allegation that the amount is transferred online to the account of the accused and the amount is utilized for betting, the Court is of the view that the matter requires investigation. 9. Accordingly, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. 10. It is submitted that despite there being no stay order till today, the matter is not yet investigated. 11. The respondent-Police shall expedite the investigation and file appropriate report. (ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE) JUDGE GVP List No.: 2 Sl No.: 18 Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE