- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:464 CRL.P No. 101581 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 101581 OF 2024 (482(CR.PC)/528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: SRI. GOUTAM MANOHAR SHETTI AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, OCC. BUSINESSMAN, R/O. HOSPETH GALLI, GOKAK, DIST. BELAGAVI 590001. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAJASHEKAR GUNJALLI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH WOMEN POLICE STATION, HUBBALLI-DHARWAD, DHARWAD DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENCH, AT. DHARWAD 580001. 2. SMT. SHILPA GOUTHAM SHETTI AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS, OCC. HOUSE WIFE, R/O. HOSPETH GALLI, GOKAK, DIST. BELAGAVI 590001 NOW AT RAGHAVENDR COLONY, SHANTHI NAGAR, KESHWAPUR, HUBBALLI, DIST. DHARWAD-580001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. PRANAV BADAGI, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. R.H. ANGADI, ADVOCATE FOR R2) Digitally signed by CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:464 CRL.P No. 101581 of 2024 THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/SEC. 482 OF CR.P.C. PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN CC NO. 2418/2024 (CRIME NO. 100/2024 WOMEN P.S. HUBBALLI-DHARWAD) FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/SEC. 498A, 504, 506 R/W 34 OF IPC AND U/SEC. 4 OF D.P. ACT, PENDING O THE FILE OF III ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT AT HUBBALLI, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA) Heard Sri Rajashekar Gunjalli, learned counsel for petitioner, Smt.Kirtilata R.Patil, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1 and Sri Pranav Badagi, for Sri R.H.Angadi, learned counsel for respondent No.2. 2. Petitioner is the husband who has been charge sheeted for the offence punishable under Section punishable under Section 498A, 504, 506 read with Section 34 IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. 3. Petitioner contends that he has not harassed the second respondent either physically or mentally and a false case has been foisted against him. 4. According to him, minor abrasions in the matrimonial life has resulted in filing the false criminal complaint resulting in - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:464 CRL.P No. 101581 of 2024 filing the false charge sheet and sought for quashing the pending proceedings. 5. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader and learned counsel for respondent No.2 supports the filing of the charge sheet and contends that prima facie materials are collected by the investigation agency which would be sufficient enough to prima facie attract the ingredients of the aforesaid offences and sought for dismissal of the petition. 6. Having heard the arguments of both sides, this Court perused the material on record meticulously. 7. On such perusal of the material on record, there is no dispute that the petitioner married the second respondent. There is a demand of additional dowry and therefore Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act has been invoked by the investigation agency. 8. Whether at all the allegations levelled against the accused person or against petitioner is true or correct cannot be decided by this Court by holding a mini trial having regard to the scope of Section 482 Cr.P.C. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:464 CRL.P No. 101581 of 2024 9. Accordingly, reserving the liberty for the petitioner to canvass all the available defences in accordance with law, following order is passed: ORDER Petition is dismissed. Sd/- (V.SRISHANANDA) JUDGE CLK Ct-cmu LIST NO.: 2 SL NO.: 44