- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:146 CRL.P No. 100329 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 100329 OF 2020 (482(CR.PC)/528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: VISHWANATH KHANDELWAL AGED ABOUT: 63 YEARS, OCC: RETIRED DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, NATIONAL STEEL AND AGRO INDUSTRIES LTD., 401, MAHAKOSH HOUSE, 7/5 SOUTH TUKOGANJ INDOR: PIN:432001 (MP) …PETITIONER (BY SRI. A.M. IKTEAR UDDIN, ADVOCATE FOR PETITIONER THROUGH VC) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BADAVANE POLICE STATION, HOSAPETE-583201, BY ADDL. SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD-580011. 2. BADRINARAYANA LADDA S/O NANDKISHORE LADDA AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, PROPRIETOR, SHREENIDHI TRADING COMPANY, D.NO.345, KIRAN NIVAS, OPP: A I R, HOSAPETE-583201, BALLARI DISTRICT, NOW R/AT: D.NO.514, NATHU BUILDING, GAV BHAG, OPPOSITE JAIN Digitally signed by CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench. - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:146 CRL.P No. 100329 of 2020 BASTI, SANGLI-416416, MAHARASHTRA. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1; SRI B.G. INDI, ADVOCATE FOR SRI K.L. PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/SEC.482 OF CR.P.C., PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN CC NO.2503/2008 (PC NO.37 OF 2008) ON THE FILE OF THE ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) & JMFC AT HOSPET, IN SO FAR AS PETITIONER IS CONCERNED, OFFENCES PUNISHABLE U/S 405, 406, 415, 420 R/W 120B OF IPC, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA) 1. Heard Sri A.M. Iktiar Uddin, learned counsel for the petitioner; Smt.Kirtilata, the learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1 and Sri B.G. Indi, learned counsel for respondent No.2. 2. At the outset, learned counsel for the petitioner brings to the notice of this Court that the order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench in Criminal Petition No.100865/2017 dated 16.01.2019. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:146 CRL.P No. 100329 of 2020 3. He would further submit that, by the said order, this Court quashed the pending proceedings against accused Nos.1 to 8 and that the present petitioner is accused No.9, who stands on the same footing as that of the petitioners in the aforesaid criminal petition. Therefore, the pending proceedings against the present petitioner also deserve to be quashed. 4. Upon enquiry, the learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1 and learned counsel for respondent No.2 thereby submit that the order dated 16.01.2019 has not been challenged and it has attained finality. 5. Accused No.9, being the Deputy Manager of National Steels and Agro Industries Ltd., a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956, also stands on the same footing as that of the other accused persons who have already been extended the benefit of the order dated 16.01.2019. 6. Thus, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter and without further discussion, on the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:146 CRL.P No. 100329 of 2020 ground of parity alone, the prayer of the petitioner deserves to be allowed. 7. Hence, the following: ORDER i. The petition is allowed. ii. The pending proceedings in C.C. No.2503/2008 on the file of the Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) and JMFC, Hospet, against the petitioner stand quashed. Sd/- (V.SRISHANANDA) JUDGE AC LIST NO.: 3 SL NO.: 26