- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:435-DB WP No. 100284 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B. MURALIDHARA PAI WRIT PETITION NO. 100284 OF 2026 (S-KAT) BETWEEN: SRI MANJUNATH ARJUN LINGARADDI S/O ARJUN LINGARADDI, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, INSPECTOR OF POLICE, BHATKAL RURAL POLICE STATION, KARWAR DIVISION, UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT-581 320, RESIDING AT: MANKULI AREA, NEAR HALLI MANE HOTEL, BHATKAL-581 320. … PETITIONER (BY SRI VARDHAN SHANOY K., ADVOCATE FOR SRI PRITHVEESH M.K., ADV. APPEARED THROUGH VC) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF HOME, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560 001. 2. THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE, (KARNATAKA STATE), V N BADIGER Digitally signed by V N BADIGER Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH Date: 2026.01.29 12:09:28 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:435-DB WP No. 100284 of 2026 NO.2, NRUPATHUNGA ROAD, BENGALURU-560 001. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT, M.G. ROAD, KARWAR-581 301. … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI G.K. HIREGOUDAR, GA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO CALL FOR RECORDS PERTAINING TO THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 06/01/2026 PASSED IN APPLICATION NO.10015/2026 BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BELAGAVI BENCH (ANNEXURE-A); SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 06/01/2026 PASSED IN APPLICATION NO.10015/2026 BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BELAGAVI BENCH (ANNEXURE-A) IN SO FAR AS REJECTION OF INTERIM PRAYER IS CONCERNED AND CONSEQUENTLY GRANT AN ORDER AS PRAYED FOR BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL IN ORIGINAL APPLICATION NO.10015/2026 (ANNEXURE-B) TILL DISPOSAL OF THE SAID APPLICATION IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND ETC. THIS PETITION IS COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B. MURALIDHARA PAI - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:435-DB WP No. 100284 of 2026 ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN) The petitioner was placed under suspension by the order dated 23.12.2025 on the ground of alleged misconduct of demanding and accepting the bribe. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner herein has preferred an application before the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (for short, ‘KAT’) (Application No.10015/2026). In the said application, the petitioner had prayed for an interim order against the order of suspension. The same came to be rejected by the KAT by assigning the following reasons: “The learned Counsel for the applicant is present through video conference. We heard the learned Counsel for the applicant on the interim prayer against the impugned order at Annexure-A6. We have also perused the Memorandum of Application, Annexures thereto and considered the oral submission made by the learned Counsel for the applicant. On perusal of the entire materials, it is seen that the applicant has been placed under suspension on the charge of demand and acceptance of bribe. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:435-DB WP No. 100284 of 2026 The applicant is a member of disciplined force working in the cadre of Police Inspector. Therefore, we are of the view that the applicant has not made out a case for granting an interim order. Hence, the interim prayer sought is rejected. Issue emergent notice to R1 to R3, if process fee is paid. The learned AGA accepts notice for Respondent No.1 to 3. Post this matter on 28.01.2026.” aggrieved by the aforementioned order of KAT, the present writ petition is filed. 2. Admittedly, there is an allegation of demanding and accepting of bribe by the petitioner herein. He is a Police Inspector and he is a part of a disciplined force. The superior authority has found prima facie material against him, because of which, pending inquiry he has been placed under suspension. It is not the case of the petitioner that the authority which has placed him under suspension does not have the necessary jurisdiction or that there is an inordinate delay in the commencement of the enquiry. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:435-DB WP No. 100284 of 2026 3. Under the circumstances, we do not see any error in the impugned order passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal. Hence, the writ petition is hereby dismissed. 4. The Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal is directed to dispose of the Application No.10015/2026, as expeditiously as possible. Sd/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE Sd/- (B. MURALIDHARA PAI) JUDGE CKK CT:BCK LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 24