- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010178302026 NC: 2026:KHC:51770 CRL.P No. 3853 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3853 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. SRI PUNEETH KUMAR S/O MUNIKRISHNAPPA AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS R/AT MUGICHINNEPALLI VILLAGE, YALLAMPALLI POST, BAGEPALLI TALUK. CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-561207. 2. SRI. AMBARISH S/O SIDDA REDDY AGED BOUT 30 YEARS, R/AT JAGAREDDY HALLI, NAGARGERE HOBALI, GOWRIBIDANURU TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPUR DISTRICT-561208. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. ADINARAYANAPPA.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY CHINTHAMANI RURAL PS REPT BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU-560001. 2. SMT. MANJAMMA W/O DYAVAPPA AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010178302026 NC: 2026:KHC:51770 CRL.P No. 3853 of 2026 R/AT CHIKKA KONDRAHALLI, CHINTHAMANI TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA-563125. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI M V ANOOP KUMAR, ADDL.SPP FOR R1 R2 SERVED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS INITIATED AGAINST THE PETITIONERS IN C.C.NO.1864/2024 PENDING BEFORE THE ADDL CIVIL JUDGE AND J.M.F.C AT CHINTAMANI., FOR THE OFFENCES UNDER SECTION 419, 420, 465, 471 OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE. 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 appearing for the petitioners and the learned Additional State Public Prosecutor for the respondent No.1-State. 2. This petition is filed to quash the proceedings in C.C. No.1864/2024 pending before the JMFC, Chintamani. The prayer is also to quash the FIR and the complaint in Crime No.444/2022 registered by Chintamani Police for the offences under Sections 419, 420, 465, 471 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('IPC'). Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010178302026 NC: 2026:KHC:51770 CRL.P No. 3853 of 2026 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would contend that the petitioners are the employees of the bank which lent loan to the members of one Sthree Shakti Sangha, which was allegedly formed at the behest of accused no.1. 4. It is the contention that in the complaint as well as in the charge sheet there is nothing to indicate that the petitioners have committed any crime. It is also submitted that entire loan amount availed by the members has been repaid, as such, there is no offence. 5. Learned Additional SPP would submit that the allegation is of forgery of the documents and release of the loan based on fake KYC records. It is the further contention that the petitioners who are admittedly the employees of the bank were required to verify the KYC details and the photographs annexed along with the loan application are tallying with the photographs in the records produced by the loan applicants. Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010178302026 NC: 2026:KHC:51770 CRL.P No. 3853 of 2026 6. On perusal of the records, it appears that the photographs annexed to the loan application do not tally with the aadhaar card and other KYC records. 7. The contentions of the petitioners that they are not concerned with the verification of records cannot be adjudicated at this juncture. It has to be considered based on the evidence to be led by the parties. 8. Hence, the petition is dismissed. 9. It is made clear that observations made in this order are confined only to the merits of the contentions raised in a petition under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and not on the merits of the defence to be raised. 10. All contentions are kept open. (ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE) JUDGE CHS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 8 Digitally Signed by ANANT RAMNATH HEGDE