- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3465 CRL.P No. 6711 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 6711 OF 2024 BETWEEN: SRI. N.S.PHANINDRA, S/O SHIVASWAMY N. S., AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, SENIOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE, CHANNARAYYAPATNA TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT – 573 116. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. VIVEK REDDY, SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR SRI. SUBBA REDDY K. N., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA POLICE STATION, HASSAN, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU. 2. SRI. JAGADISH, S/O RAJASHEKHAR, AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, R/AT KURUVANKA VILLAGE, KASABA HOBLI, Digitally signed by NAGAVENI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3465 CRL.P No. 6711 of 2024 CHANNARAYAPATNA TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B.B.PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R1) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 CR.P.C READ WITH SECTION 528 OF BNSS, 2023 PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR AND COMPLAINT DATED 08.11.2023 WHICH CAME TO BE REGISTERED IN CRIME NO.0008/2023 ALSO REGISTERED AS COURT CRIME NO:403/2023 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 7(a) & (b) OF PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT, 1988 ON THE FILE OF THE LEARNED DISTRICT & SESSIONS COURT, HASSAN BY KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA POLICE STATION, HASSAN VIDE ANNEXURE A AND B. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER Heard learned Senior Counsel Sri.Vivek S Reddy, appearing for the petitioner and Sri.B.B.Patil, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.1 and have perused the material on record. 2. The petition is at the stage of crime. The offence is under Section 7(a) and (b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The learned Senior Counsel projects various grounds but - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3465 CRL.P No. 6711 of 2024 would submit that he be reserved liberty to approach the competent fora, once the charge sheet is laid against him, if it is laid against him. 3. Learned counsel for the respondents submits that this is a case of successful trap, be that as it may. 4. In the light of the submissions of the learned Senior Counsel, the Criminal Petition stands disposed, reserving liberty to the petitioner to approach the appropriate fora, in the event of need. Interim order of any kind subsisting shall stand dissolved. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE CBC List No.: 1 Sl No.: 10 CT:SS