- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 26 OF 2026 (U/S 14(A) (2)) BETWEEN: 1. H S SHASHIDHARA S/O H.N. SHIVALINGAIAH, AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, R/O TEACHERS COLONY, 14TH MAIN ROAD, MADDUR TOWN TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571428. …APPELLANT (BY SRI. ARUNACHALAM SHIVAKUMAR.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY MADDUR POLICE STATION, MANDYA DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU-01. 2. SMT. MANGALAGOWRI, W/O SIDDAIAH, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, R/O TEACHERS COLONY, MADDUR TOWN TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571428. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B.LAKSHMAN.,HCGP FOR R1 R2 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS CRL.A. IS FILED U/S.14(A) (2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT, 2015 BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE APPELLANT/S PRAYING THAT THIS HONBLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO ALLOW THIS Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYAN N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 CRIMINAL APPEAL BY SETTING ASIDE ORDER DATED 30.12.2025 IN CRL.MISC.NO.1025/2025 PASSED BY THE COURT OF V ADDL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, MANDYA AND FURTHER PRAYS TO RELEASE THE APPELLANT IN THE EVENT OF ARREST IN CRIME NO.309/2025 OF MADDUR POLICE STATION, MANDYA DISTRICT FOR OFFENCE P/US/ 69,318(4),329(4),351(2) R/W SEC.3(5) OF BNS 2023 AND SEC.3(1)(w)(i)(ii),3(2)(v) AND 3(2)(va) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE V ADDL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, MANDYA. THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA ORAL JUDGMENT 1. The appellant has preferred this appeal against the order dated 30.12.2025 passed in Crl.Misc.No.1025/2025 by the V Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mandya (for short 'the trial Court'). 2. For the sake of convenience, the parties herein are referred to their rank before the trial Court. 3. Brief facts leading to this appeal are that, on the basis of complaint filed by the complainant, Maddur Police have registered case in Crime No.309/2025 against the accused and other unknown persons for the commission of - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 offence under sections 69, 318(4), 329(4), 351(2) r/w 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and sections 3(1)(w)(i)(ii), 3(2)(v), 3(2)(va) of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015. 4. The appellant has filed application under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 for grant of Anticipatory Bail. Same came to be dismissed. Being aggrieved by dismissal of bail application, the appellant has filed this appeal. 5. Learned counsel for the appellant would submit that the appellant is innocent. He has not committed any offence as alleged against him. The appellant had been falsely implicated in the above case by the complainant. The entire prosecution case is found on the allegation that a married woman, whose marriage was admittedly subsisting, had physical relationship with the appellant on a promise of marriage. By no stretch of imagination can such an allegation constitute offence under Section 69 of BNS, 2023 as there cannot be legally or factually valid promise of marriage to a married woman. The very - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 foundation of the allegation is absurd and untenable. The complaint suffers from gross, inordinate and unexplained delay. 6. The alleged incident is stated to be taken place first on 15.04.2022 and last incident on 06.05.2025. Whereas the FIR was lodged only on 11.12.2025. After lapse of nearly four years from the date of alleged inception. No explanation whatsoever is offered for such abnormal delay which strikes at the root of the prosecution case and clearly indicates that complaint is only an after-thought. The complaint does not specify the exact caste related words allegedly used by the appellant. A vague allegation that the appellant abused respondent No.2 by taking her caste, is legally insufficient to attract the penal provisions of SC & ST (POA) Act, 1989. The complaint does not disclose any intention on the part of the appellant to insult or humiliate respondent No.2 on the ground of her caste. At best, the allegation arises out of personal and private - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 dispute which cannot be brought within the ambit of SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989. 7. The complaint itself discloses regarding prior financial transaction and dispute between the appellant and the husband of respondent No.2. The impugned FIR is clearly a counterblast to such disputes and is lodged with malafide intention to harass the complainant by invoking stringent provision of law. The impugned FIR has been lodged with an oblique motive to pressurize the appellant and deprive him of his liberty by mechanically invoking non-bailable and stringent provisions. Continuation of the proceedings, would amount to a clear abuse of the process of law. 8. The appellant is a teacher by profession with an unblemished service record. Permitting the investigation to continue on the basis of vague, improbable, illegal and untenable allegations, would cause irreparable injury to his reputation. On all these grounds, it is sought for allowing this appeal. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 9. I have examined the materials placed before this Court. On the basis of the complaint filed by Mangalagowri aged about 43 years, Maddur Police have registered case in Crime No.309/2025 against the appellant and other unknown persons for the commission of offence under sections 69, 318(4), 329(4), 351(2) r/w 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and sections 3(1)(w)(i)(ii), 3(2)(v), 3(2)(va) of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015. In the complaint, it is stated as under: "ಾ ಈ ಮೂಲಕ ತಮ ೇೊಳವೇೆಂದೆ, ಮಂಗಳೌ !ಾದ ಾನು ಪ %ಷ' (ಾ)ೆ ೇ ದವ*ಾ+ದು,, ನನ- .ೕವೋ/ಾಯೆ1 ಮದೂ,ರು 3ೕಚ56 ಾ7ೋ8ಯ ಯ9ೆ:ೕಧರ ಎಂಬುವರ ಮೆಯ 2ೇ ಮಹ?ಯ @ಾಸBರುವದು ಸ ಯCೆ'. ಅೇ ಪಕ1ದ ಮೆೆ EೆF.ಎ5. ಶ%ಧರ ಎಂಬ ವHIJ Kೆಸಗರಹ ಸರಸ) L ಯ /ಾMಥಕ 9ಾ7ೆಯ %Oಕಾ+ರುPಾJೆ. ಇವರು Kಾ?ೆೆ ಬಂದು ೇ ರುPಾJೆ. ಪಕ1ದ ಮೆಯವಾ+ದ, ಂದ ನಮನು- Rಾತಾ?S ಪ ಚಯ Rಾ?ರುPಾJೆ. ತದ ನಂತರ EೆF.ಎ5. ಶ%ಧರ ಎಂಬುವರ ನಮ ಮೆೆ ಬಂದು Eೋಗುವದು ಸ ಯCೆ'. Tಾಂಕ: 15-04- 2022 ರಂದು ಾನು ೆಲಸ ಮು+S ಮೆೆ ಬಂದು ಒಬV*ೆ ಬWೆ' ಬದ ಸುವ ಸಮಯದ ನಮ ಮೆೆ ಬಂದು ರೂನ Kಾ+ಲ ಸಂTಯ ¥sÉÆmÉÆ ಮತುJ B?Yೕ Rಾ?ರುPಾJೆ. ನನೆ ಇದು ೊ)JರುವTಲ. ಆ [ೕWೊ ಮತುJ - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 B?Yೕ Pೋ S 8ೕನು ನನ- (ೊPೆ ೈLಕ ಸಂಪಕ6ವನು- Eೊಂದು ಇಲ@ಾದೆ ಈ [ೕWೊವನು- 8ನ- ಯಜRಾ8ನೆ Pೋ ಸುPೆJೕೆ ಎಂದು Eೆದ S Kೆದ SರುPಾJೆ. ಾನು ಅದನು- ? ^ Rಾ? ಎಂದು ಪ ಪ !ಾ+ Kೇ?ೊಂ?ರುPೆJೕೆ. 8ೕನು ಒ_`ದೆ PೆೆದುEಾಕುPೆJೕೆ ಎಂದು ನನೆ ೈLಕ@ಾ+ LಂSSರುPಾJೆ. 8ೕನು ಒಪ`Tದ,ೆ ಒa7ೈa ನ bೕWೊವನು- ಹರಡುPೇೆಂದು Kೆದ S, ನನ- Eೆಂಡ)ಯ ಗಭ6ೋಶ ±À¸ÀÛç eIPೆf!ಾ+ೆ ಅದ ಂದ ನನ- Eೆಂಡ)ಯ (ೊPೆ ೈLಕ ಸಂಫಕ6 Rಾಡಲು ನನೆ ಾಧHBಲ. 8ೕನು ಒ_`ದೆ Kಾಳ ೊಡುPೆJೕೆ. ನನ- ೇ@ಾ ಪಸJಕದ 8ನ- Eೆಸರನು- ೇ S ¤£Àß .ೕವನ ಪjಯಂತ ೋ?ೊಳPೆJೕೆ ಎಂದು ನಂhS Tಾಂಕ:23-04-2022 ರಂದು ಸಂ(ೆ 7-00 ಗಂWೆ ಸಮಯದ EೆF.ಎ5. ಶ%ಧi ರವರು ನjಮ ಮೆೆ ಬಂದು, ನನ- (ೊPೆ ೈLಕ ಸಂಪಕð Rಾ?ರುPಾJೆ. EzÁzÀ £ÀAvÀgÀ £ÁªÀÅ D ªÀÄ£ÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß SÁ° ªÀiÁr, ªÀÄvÉÆÛAzÀÄ ªÀÄ£ÉUÉ ºÉÆÃzÁUÀ, ºÉZï.J¸ï. ±À²zsÀgï gÀªÀgÀÄ D ªÀÄ£ÉUÀÆ §AzÀÄ ºÉÆÃV, £À£ÀߣÀÄß £ÀA©¹, ¢£ÁAPÀ: 02-05-2025 gÀªÀgÉUÉ £À£Àß eÉÆvÉ zÉÊ»PÀ ¸ÀA¥ÀPÀð ªÀiÁrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ಇಾದ ನನ- ಗಂಡ Sದ,ಯHರವರು EೆF.ಎ5, ಶ%ಧi ರವರ ಹ)Jರ eೕ3 EಾIದು,, ಆ ಹಣವನು- ೇದ,ೆ1 8ನೆ !ಾವ ಹಣೊಡುವಂ)ಲ. 8ೕನು !ಾವ eೕ3ನೂ ನನ- ಹ)Jರ EಾIಲ@ೆಂದು Eೇ, 8ನಗೂ ನನಗೂ !ಾವ ಸಂಬಂಧBಲ ಎಂದು ವಂಚೆ Rಾ? ನನ- [ೕa ನಂಬi Kಾl Rಾ?ರುPಾJೆ. Tಾಂಕ: 06/05/2025 ರಂದು ನನ- ಗಂಡ8ೆ EೆF.ಎ5. ಶ%ಧi ಮತುJ ಅವನ ಸಹಚರರು Kೆದ ೆ EಾIರುPಾJೆ. ನನ- ಯಜRಾನ ಮದೂ,ರು b ೕ5 mಾnೆೆ ದೂರು 8ೕಡಲು Eೋಾಗ, ಾ)M 9-45 ಗಂWೆಯ ಸಮಯದ ನನಗೂ ಮತುJ ನನ- ಮಗಗೂ ನನ- ಯಜRಾನ8ಗೂ mಾnೆಯ ಮುಂೆ ನಮೆ ಹ7ೆ Rಾಡಲು ಮುಂಾ+ರುPಾJೆ. mಾnೆಯ SಬVಂTವಗ6 ಸಮoಾನ Rಾ? Kೆೆp ಬ8- ಎಂದು ಕSರುPಾJೆ. ನಮ qೕ7ೆ ಹ7ೆ Rಾಡಲು ಮುಂಾ+, (ಾ) 8ಂದೆ Rಾ?ರುವ ದೃಶH - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 mಾnೆಯ ಮುಂTನ S.S.ಾHಮರದ ೆೆ!ಾ+ರುತJೆ. Tಾಂಕ:07/05/25 ರಂದು b ೕ5 mಾnೆಯ ಕಂ/ೇಂ^ ೊ3'ರುPೆJೕ@ೆ. Tಾಂಕ:09/05/25 ರಂದು ಈ ಬೆp ಾH!ಾ ಪಂsಾt) Rಾ?ದು,, ನಮೆ ೊಡKೇಾ+ದ, 1 ಲO eೕ3 ಹಣವನು- ಮುಖಂಡರು ೊ?SರುPಾJೆ. ಇಾದ ನಂತರ Tಾಂಕ:12- 07-2025 ರಂದು EೆF.ಎ5.ಶ%ಧi ರವರ 9ಾ7ೆಯ ಹ)Jರ Eೋ+, ಏೆ ಈ ೕ) ನನೆ ಅಾHಯ Rಾ?ೆ ಎಂದು ಶ%ಧi ರವರನು- ೇದೆ1 ಅವರ ಏಾಏI ರ(ೆ EಾI ಅ ಂದ Eೊರಟು Eೋದರು. ನನೆ Kೆದ ೆ EಾI, ವಂಚೆ Rಾ?, ನನ- qೕ7ೆ ಅPಾHsಾರ Rಾ?, (ಾ) 8ಂದೆ Rಾ?ರುವ EೆF.ಎ5. ಶ%ಧರ ಎಂಬುವರ qೕ7ೆ ಾನೂನು ೕ) ಕMಮ ಜರು+ಸKೇಾ+ ೋ ೆ. EೆF.ಎ5. ಶ%ಧi ಮತುJ ಅವರ ಸಹಚರರು ªÉÄïÁÓ)ಯವಾ+ದು,, ಅವ ೆ ಾಜIೕಯ Kೆಂಬಲ ಮತುJ ಅyಾ ಗಳ KೆಂಬಲBದು,ದ, ಂದ ಅವ ೆ Eೆದ ೊಂಡು, ಈ Bsಾರವನು- ನಮ ಮೆಯ )S F ¢£À vÀqÀªÁV §AzÀÄ zÀÆgÀÄ ¤ÃrgÀÄvÉÛãÉ." 10. Learned counsel for the appellant has produced the copy of acknowledgment issued by concerned police, which reveals that prior to 6 months from the date of filing of this complaint i.e., on 12.06.2025 the wife of present appellant had filed a complaint against the present complainant stating that, on 12.06.2025, the present complainant had abused the present appellant in a filthy language while he was walking and threatened him that she will file case against him under the SC/ST (POA) Act. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 The police have issued endorsement as the alleged averments made in the complaint are non-cognizable. The endorsement issued by the Sub-Inspector of Police, Maddur Police Station, Mandya District reveals that, regarding the complaint filed by the present appellant, the police have summoned the present complainant and advised her not to pick-up any quarrel with the present appellant. Another acknowledgment issued by the Sub-Inspector of Police, Besagarahalli Town, Maddur Taluk, Mandya reveals that the appellant's wife Saraswathi had filed a complaint against present complainant on 12.06.2025, as to the dispute regarding financial matter and also abused her in filthy language. In this regard on 19.06.2025, the concerned police have issued an endorsement that the matter is civil in nature and non- cognizable. Same is also produced. The materials placed before this court reveal that, prior to 6 months from the date of present complaint, there was a dispute between the complainant, appellant and appellant’s wife. The - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 complaint does not reveals as to the specific abusive words used by referring caste. 11. At this stage, there are no prima facie materials to constitute the offence under the penal provisions of the SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989. The commission of alleged offences are not punishable with death or imprisonment for life. Considering the nature and gravity of offence, previous litigation between the complainant and appellant and inordinate delay in filing the complaint, it is just and proper to allow this appeal. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following: O R D E R (i) Appeal is allowed; (ii) The order dated 30.12.2025 passed in Crl.Misc.No.1025/2025 by the V Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mandya, is set aside. Consequently, the bail application filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 is allowed subject to following conditions: - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2974 CRL.A No. 26 of 2026 a. The appellant shall be released on bail on executing self bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one surety for likesum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer, in the event of his arrest in Crime No.309/2025 of Maddur Police Station; b. The appellant shall assist the Investigating Officer, for his investigation; c. The appellant shall not tamper or threaten the prosecution witness in any manner; d. The appellant shall not indulge in similar offence; Registry is directed to send copy of this order to the concerned Court for taking necessary action. Sd/- (G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE DHA List No.: 1 Sl No.: 24