- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4224 CRL.P No. 17681 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 17681 OF 2025 BETWEEN: ARYAN KUMAR, S/O AMARENDRA KUMAR, AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, PERMANENT ADDRESS, NO.5-G, 604, PROVIDENT SUN WORTH, MYSORE ROAD, BEHIND RAJARAJESHWARI HOSPITAL, KENGERI HOBLI, BENGALURU – 560 060, TEMPORARY ADDRESS/ CURRENT ADDRESS NO.B1-1404, 14TH FLOOR, BDA INDRAPRASTHA, KENGERI, BENGALURU – 560 060. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. BASAVARAJ R.BANNUR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH KUMBALAGODU POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU – 560 001. 2. MRS. SARNALI DUTTA, AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4224 CRL.P No. 17681 of 2025 W/O PRALAYESH DEB, R/AT FLAT-503, BLOCK-6D, 5TH FLOOR, PROVIDENT SUN WORTH APARTMENT, VENKATAPURA, KENGERI HOBLI, BENGALURU CITY – 560 060. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B.N.JAGADEESHA, ADDL. SPP FOR R1) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF THE CR.P.C (FILED U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE CHARGESHEET DT:24-11- 2025 FILED IN CRIME NO.316/2025 FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE U/S 8, 9(M), 9(P), 10 OF POCSO ACT, 2012, SECTIONS 75 AND 78 OF BNS ACT, 2023 FILED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 POLICE AGAINST THE PETITIONER AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioner-the sole accused is before the court calling in question the proceedings in Spl. Case No.954/2025, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 75 and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 8, 9(m), 9(p) & 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4224 CRL.P No. 17681 of 2025 2. Heard Sri.Basavaraj R. Bannur, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Sri.B.N.Jagadeesha, learned Addl. SPP appearing for respondent No.1 and have perused the material on record. 3. Facts in brief, germane, are as follows: 3.1. The 2nd respondent is the complainant-mother of the victim, the petitioner-the accused. It is the case of the prosecution that the petitioner on 29.09.2025, had inappropriately touched a girl child of 10 years and had kissed on her lips. Based upon this, on the narration of the victim, the complaint is registered by the mother. The complaint becomes a crime in Crime No.316/2025 for the afore-quoted offences. The police conduct investigation and file a final report-the charge sheet before the concerned Court on 24.11.2025. After filing of the charge sheet, it transpires that the petitioner is enlarged on bail. The petitioner is before the Court calling in question the filing of the charge sheet. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that nothing of that sort has happened as the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4224 CRL.P No. 17681 of 2025 petitioner was only wanting to pacify a girl who was crying looking for her parents. The narration by the mother is exaggerated version of sympathy that was shown by the petitioner. The learned counsel would further project that the petitioner is a very bright student and has a bright career. The case at hand would destroy his career as he is selected to work at the Defence Research and Development Organization-DRDO and would seek quashment of the proceedings. 5. Learned Addl. SPP appearing for the respondent- State on the other hand would refute the submissions of the counsel appearing for the petitioner in contending that all the acts of the petitioner is captured on the CCTV. On looking at the CCTV, the mother registers the crime against the petitioner. It is then petitioner was taken into custody and charge sheet is filed on the evidence that was found in the CCTV. The CCTV clearly indicated the acts of the petitioner. He would seek dismissal of the petition. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4224 CRL.P No. 17681 of 2025 6. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties and have perused the material on record. 7. The afore-narrated facts are what is pleaded in the petition. The entire issue gets triggered from the registration of the complaint on 1.10.2025. The complaint reads as follows: "To, October 01, 2025 The officer-in-Charge, Kombalgodu Police Station, Bengaluru City. From: Sarnali Dutta, w/o Pralayesh Deb, Age-31 yrs, Flat No-503, Block-6D, Floor-5th, Provident Sunworth Apartment, Venkatapura, Kengeri, Hobli, Bengaluru-560060. PH.NO-9663888937. Work-Housewife Email-Swarnalidutta 132@gmail.com Respected Şir, Sub: Molestation of my daughter I, Sarnali Dutte, mother of Sakshi Deb, age 10 years, would like to complain that my daughter came to me on 01/10/2025 at 11:30am running and crying and told me that one person forceably hold me and kissed me who is a resident of Flat No- 64807 of Provident Sunworth. When I came running immediately, the person ran away from the scene. Then, I checked the CCTV footage and confirmed the incident committed by Aryan Kumar. It was observed from the CCTV footage that Aryan Kumar badly molested my daughter and touched inappropriately at her private parts at 11:15 am to 11:30 am. The incident happened at PSW, 5th Block, Ground Floor outside the lift. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4224 CRL.P No. 17681 of 2025 Therefore, after checking the CCTV footage, I am confirmed that Aryan Kumar has done the molestation and hence, I request that Aryan Kumar should be punished as per the provisions of the Law, I also request that Aryan Kumar should face severe punishment. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, Sarnali Sava (Sarnali Dutta)" 8. The mother cries foul of molestation of her daughter through the complaint. The complaint results in further proceedings being taken up by the respondent- jurisdictional police and the police after investigation file a charge sheet. The summary of the charge sheet as obtaining in column No.17 is as follows: "17. ೇನ ೇನ ೇನ ೇನ ಸಂಪ ಸಂಪ ಸಂಪ ಸಂಪ ಾ ಾಂಶ ಾ ಾಂಶ ಾ ಾಂಶ ಾ ಾಂಶ ೋಾ ೋಪಾ ಪಯ ಅಂಕಣ 14ರ ನಮೂದು ಾ!ರುವ ಾ-1 ರವರು ಈ ಪ%ಕರಣದನ &ೊಂದ ಸಂತ%¸ÀÜ ಮಗು)ಾದ ಾ-2 ರವರ *ಾ+,ಾ-ರು*ಾ ೆ ಾ-2 ರವರ ಜನ0 1&ಾಂಕªÀÅ 07/11/2015. ಆ-ರುತ ೆ. ಾ-1 ರವರ ಕುಟುಂಬವ6 7ಾಗೂ ೋಾ ೋಪuÁ ಪಯ ಅಂಕಣ-12ರ ನಮೂದು ಾ!ರುವ ಆ ೋ8, ಕುಟುಂಬವ6 ಕುಂಬಳಗೂಡ ;ೕ< =ಾಾ )ಾ>8 ಯ ?ೆಂಗಳ@ರು ದಣ *ಾಲೂಕು ೆಂBೇC 7ೋಬD, ಕುಂಬಳBೋಡು ;ೕ< ೊಡE?ೆFೆ )ೆಂಕಟಪ6ರದ Gಾ%HIೆಂJ ಸK ªÀvïð C¥ÁmïðªÉÄAmï £À°è ?ೇ ೆ ?ೇ ೆ ?ಾL ಗಳ )ಾಸ ಾಡುM ರು*ಾ ೆ ಾ-1 & ಾ -2 ರವCBೆ ಆ ೋ8 7ಾಗೂ ಆ ೋ8ಯ ಕುಟುಂಬವ6 ಮೂRತB ಪCಚಯHರುತ ೆ. ೋಾ ೋಪಣ ಪಯ ಅಂಕಣ 14 gÀ°è £ÀªÀÄÆzÀÄ ಾ!ರುವ ಸಂತ%¸ÀÜ ಮಗು)ಾದ ಾ 2 ರವರು 1&ಾಂಕ 01/10/2025 ರಂದು ಆಯುಧ ಪQRೆಯ - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4224 CRL.P No. 17681 of 2025 1ನ)ಾ-ದSCಂದ ಅGಾTೆ0ಂUmï£À Iೆ%< ಾ!ೊಂಡು ಓIಾ!ದ ನಂತರ 1&ಾಂಕ 01/10/2025 ರಂದು ?ೆಳBೆZ 11-15 Cಂದ 11-30 ಗಂTೆ[ಳBೆ ತನ\ ಮ&ೆBೆ 7ೋಗಲು Gಾ%HIೆಂJ ಸK ªÀvïð ಅGಾTೆ0ಂUJ ನನ 5 7ೆ] ಅGಾTೆ0ಂUJ £À &ೆಲಮಹ!ಯ °¥sïÖ ಕIೆBೆ ಬರುM ದSಂತಹ ಸಮಯದ ಸಂತ%¸ÀÜ ಮಗುವನು\ 7ೊಸ Iೆ%< ನ &ೋ! ಗಮ_ಸುM ದSಂತಹ ೋಾ ೋಪಣ ಪಯ ಅಂಕಣ 12ರ ನಮೂದು ಾ!ರುವ ಆ ೋ8ಯು ಸಂತ%¸ÀÜ ಮಗು)ಾದ ಾ 2 ರವರನು\ Fೈಂ-ಕ ಉೆSೕಶ1ಂದ &ೋ! ಸಂತ%¸ÀÜ ಮಗುವನು\ ಮುಾSಡ?ೇೆಂಬ ಆೆಯನು\ ಇಟುೊಂಡು ಮಗುವನು\ 5ಎ] °¥sïÖ ¯Ádಯವ ೆಗೂ eಂ?ಾೊಂಡು ಬಂದಂತಹ ಆ ೋ8ಯು ಾ-2 ರವರ ಬD ಬಂದು f ¯Ágಯ ಮಗುವನು\ ಾತ&ಾ!ಸು*ಾ _ೊಂಡು _ನ\ ಮೂ-ನ ಏ&ೋ ಇೆ &ಾನು &ೋಡು*ೆ ೕ&ೆ ಎಂದು ಮಗುHನ ಮೂಗನು\ ಬಲವಂತ1ಂದ Fೈಂ-ಕ*ೆಯ ಉೆSೕಶ1ಂದ ಮು ಆiೕFೆ _ನBೆ &ೆಗ!,ಾ-ೆ ಎಂದು ಸಂತ%¸ÉÜ ಮಗುHBೆ ¥ÀÄಸFಾ+ ಾತ&ಾ!ಸು*ಾ ಮಗುHBೆ ಎಯೂ 7ೋಗದಂ*ೆ f ¯Ág ಒಳ-ನ ಸkಳದ e!ದುೊಂಡು ಮಗುHನ vÀÄnUÀ½UÉ ಎರಡು ?ಾC Q¸ï ಅನು\ ªÀiÁrzÀ®èzÉà ಮಗುHನ ಎೆಯ lಾಗವನು\ ಮು &ೋ! ಮಗು zsÀCದSಂತಹ mಾ%L ಅನು\ ಎತ ಲು ಪ%ಯM\ ಸಂvÀæ¸ÀÜ ಮಗುವನು\ ತನ\ ¯ÉÊAVಕ*ೆಯ ಉೆSೕಶವನು\ MೕCೊಳnoವ ಸಲು)ಾ- ಮಗುHBೆ Fೈಂ-ಕ QgÀÄPÀļÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¤ÃrgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ ಇದುವ ೆ-ನ ತ_pೆ+ಂದ 7ಾಗೂ ಾPÁëöåಾರಗDಂದ ದೃಡಪಟು ಆ ೋಪವ6 ಾdೕ*ಾದ iೕ ೆBೆ ಆ ೋ8ಯ Hರುದr ಕಲಂ 8, 9 (ಎಂ), 9(8), 10 ;ೕೊwೕ ಾxS -2012 Cೕ*ಾ> 7ಾಗೂ ಕಲಂ 75, 78 d J£ï ಎ< 2023, ರ!ಯ ಆ ೋ8ಯ Hರುದr ೋಾ ೋಪಣ ಪ. _)ೇದ&ೆ:- 1.ಈ ಪ%ಕರಣದ ಇನೂ\ 7ೆz{ನ ಾPÁëöå|ಾರಗಳn ಲಭ>ªÁದ ಕಲಂ-193(9) d.ಎK.ಎ< ಎ<:-2023 jÃvÁå ಘನ &ಾ>,ಾಲಯೆ• ವರ1ಯನು\/ಾಖFಾMಗಳನು\ _)ೇ1ೊಳoFಾಗುವ6ದು. 2. ಈ ಪ%ಕರಣದ ತ_SÁ ಾಲದ ಕಲಂ 8, 9 (ಎಂ), 9(8) ;ೕೊwೕ ಾxS 2012 jÃvÁå 7ಾಗೂ ಕಲಂ 75, d.ಎK.ಎ<-2023. Rೊ*ೆಯ ಆ ೋ8ಯ Hರುದr 78 d.ಎK.ಎ< 2023 ರ!ಯ ಆ ೋಪವ6 ಾ„ಾ|ಾರಗDಂದ ಾdೕ*ಾದ iೕ ೆBೆ ಕಲಂ 78 d.ಎK.ಎ<-2023 ಅನು\ ಅಳವ!ೊಂಡು ಆ ೋ8ಯ Hರುದr ೋಾ ೋಪಣ ಪಯ ಅಳವ!ೊಂ!ರುತ ೆ. 3. ಈ ಪ%ಕರಣದ ಾಜ> H… H†ಾನ ಪ%[ೕBಾಲಯ ಮ!)ಾಳ ?ೆಂಗಳ@ರು ನಗರ ಇBೆ ಕಳneೊಡFಾ-ದಂತಹ ಾಲು ಪ ಸಂpೆ>:-208/2025 ರನ ಆUಕ‡ 7ಾಗೂ ವರ1ಯು ¹éÃಕೃತ)ಾ-ದುS ೋಷ ೋಪಣ ಪ[ಂ1Bೆ ಆUಕ‡ ಅನು\ 7ಾಗೂ ವರ1ಯನು\ 7ಾಗೂ ಾ>ಂಪ‡ ೕಲು ಅನು\ ಲಗM WÀನ &ಾ>,ಾಲಯೆ• _)ೇ1ೊಂ!ರುತ ೆ.” - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4224 CRL.P No. 17681 of 2025 9. If the complaint and the summary of the charge sheet are read in tandem, what would unmistakably emerge is the prima facie meeting of the offences against the petitioner. The offences alleged are the ones punishable under Sections 8, 9(m), 9(p) and 10 of the POCSO Act. They read as follows: "8. Punishment for sexual assault.—Whoever, commits sexual assault, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine. 9. Aggravated sexual assault.— (m) whoever commits sexual assault on a child below twelve years; or (p) whoever, being in a position of trust or authority of a child, commits sexual assault on the child in an institution or home of the child or anywhere else; or 10. Punishment for aggravated sexual assault.— Whoever, commits aggravated sexual assault shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine." 10. If the ingredients that are necessary to be met for the offences so alleged as noted herein above, they undoubtedly meet in the summary of the charge sheet, the statements and CCTV footage. Therefore, it is for the petitioner to come out clean in a full-blown trial. Any further observation - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4224 CRL.P No. 17681 of 2025 with regard to the conduct of the petitioner in a petition that is filed under Section 528 of the BNSS would prejudice the case of the petitioner before the concerned Court. In that light, this Court is refraining from making any further observation qua conduct of the petitioner. 11. Finding no merit in the petition but with the aforesaid observation, the petition stands rejected, however, with a direction that the concerned Court shall conclude the proceedings pending before it in Spl. Case No.954/2025 within the time limit prescribed under the Statute-POCSO Act. It is needless to observe that the parties to the lis both the prosecution and the petitioner shall cooperate for closure of the proceedings in terms of the timeline prescribed under the Act. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE NVJ/CBC List No.: 1 Sl No.: 92 CT:SS