- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1438 CRL.P No. 14332 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 9TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM CRIMINAL PETITION NO.14332 OF 2025 BETWEEN: PALLETI PRABHAKAR REDDY S/O LATE CHENNA REDDY AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS R/AT NO.1-5-558, NAGARI GUTTA NEAR RAMALAYAM TEMPLE PULIVENDULA KADAPA ANDHRA PRADESH - 516390 …PETITIONER (BY SRI.SUBHASH R, ADVOCATE FOR SRI.MANOJ KUMAR J.Y, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BEGUR P S, REP BY SPP HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560001 2. RUTH HELEN D/O LATE T ERRI SWAMI AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS R/AT NO.824, 6TH MAIN AECS LAYOUT B BLOCK BENGALURU - 560018. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.ANOOP KUMAR, HCGP FOR R.1) Digitally signed by AL BHAGYA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1438 CRL.P No. 14332 of 2025 THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/SEC.482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO QUASH THE FIR BEARING CR.NO.46/2025 DATED 05.03.2025 (ANNEXURE-A) FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/SEC.64, 318(4), 351, 352 OF BNS 2023 AND SEC 3(1)(w) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT 1989 ON THE FILE OF RESPONDENT - POLICE AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER The caption petition is filed by the petitioner-accused No.2 seeking quashing of the proceedings pending in Special Case No.962/2025 pending on the file of LXX Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge at Bengaluru (CCH-71) for the offence punishable under Sections 64, 318(4), 351 and 352 of BNS, 2023 and under Sections 3(1)(s), 3(1)(w), 3(2)(v) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. 2. Today, an application is filed under Section 359 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, reporting - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1438 CRL.P No. 14332 of 2025 that the dispute between the parties has been amicably settled and seeking leave of this Court to compound the offences in the light of the order dated 12.09.2025 passed by this Court in Criminal Petition No.12760/2025. 3. On perusal of the records, it is evident that the proceedings have already been quashed against the prime accused No.1, against whom the charge-sheet was filed for the offences punishable under Sections 64, 318(4), 351 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 3(1)(s), 3(1)(r) and 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. 4. The present petitioner, who is the father of accused No.1, was arraigned as accused No.2 on account of alleged family disputes. The only allegations against the present petitioner pertain to the offences punishable under Sections 351 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(v-a) of the Scheduled - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1438 CRL.P No. 14332 of 2025 Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. 5. Respondent No.2 – the complainant, who is present before this Court, has categorically submitted that in view of the settlement arrived at between the parties and the quashing of the proceedings against the prime accused No.1, she has no objection to the quashing of the proceedings against the present petitioner – accused No.2. 6. Though the offences involved are not compoundable, having regard to the quashing of proceedings against the prime accused and to prevent abuse of the process of law, this Court is of the considered view that it is a fit case to exercise its inherent jurisdiction under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 to quash the proceedings against the present petitioner, who is the father of accused No.1. 7. In the above circumstances and particularly in view of the quashing of the proceedings against the prime - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1438 CRL.P No. 14332 of 2025 accused No.1, the continuation of the proceedings against the present petitioner – accused No.2 in Special Case No.962/2025 pending on the file of the LXX Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge, Bengaluru (CCH-71) would amount to an abuse of process of law and therefore, warrants interference by this Court. 8. Accordingly, this Court proceeds to pass the following: ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. (ii) The proceedings in Spl.C.No.962/2025, pending on the file of the LXX Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge & Special Judge, Bengaluru (CCH-71), for the offences punishable under Sections 64, 318(4), 351 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and under Sections 3(1)(s), 3(1)(w) and 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, are hereby quashed insofar - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1438 CRL.P No. 14332 of 2025 as the present petitioner – accused No.2 is concerned. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE NBM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 39