- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1973 WP No. 101063 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO.101063 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: SHILPA T., AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS, D/O. THANDAVA MURTHY, RESIDING AT NO.895, 7TH A CROSS, TRIVENI ROAD, BANGALORE NORTH, MSRIT, BANGALORE-560054. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MANJUNATH BARADOOR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, VIDHAN SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, STATE OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU-560001. 3. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, HUBBALLI-DHARWAD CITY, DHARWAD-580011. 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, CYBER CEN HUBBALLI, YASHAVANT NARAYANKAR Digitally signed by YASHAVANT NARAYANKAR Date: 2026.02.12 10:48:33 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1973 WP No. 101063 of 2026 DHARWAD DISTRICT-580020. 5. THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CYBER CEN POLICE STATION, HUBBALLI-DHARWAD CITY – 580020. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. GIRIJA S.HIREMATH, HCGP) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO 1. ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT POLICE NOT TO HARASS, INTIMIDATE, OR COERCE THE PETITIONER IN CONNECTION WITH CRIME NO.76/2025 IN ANY MANNER CONTRARY TO LAW VIDE ANNEXURE-A. 2. DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO REFUND FORTHWITH A SUM OF RS.1,00,000/- (RUPEES ONE LAKH ONLY) ILLEGALLY COLLECTED FROM THE PETITIONER DURING THE COURSE OF INVESTIGATION, WITHIN A TIME FRAME TO BE FIXED BY THIS HON’BLE COURT. 3. DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS NOT TO SUMMON THE PETITIONER EXCEPT STRICTLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW, BY ISSUING WRITTEN NOTICE UNDER DUE PROCESS; 4. RESTRAIN THE RESPONDENT POLICE FROM COMPELLING ANY SETTLEMENT OR COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE PETITIONER AND THE DE-FACTO COMPLAINANT; 5. DIRECT IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND HANDOVER OF THE PETITIONER’S PASSPORT AND CHEQUE LEAF BEARING CHEQUE NO. 397722, CANARA BANK VIDE ANNEXURE- C ISSUED BY THE COMPLAINANT WHICH IS ILLEGALLY SEIZED AND RETAINED WITHOUT AUTHORITY OF LAW WITH THE RESPECT TO THE CRIME NO. 76/2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-A, DIRECT THE RESPONDENT NO.2 TO INITIATE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTAL INQUIRY AGAINST THE ERRING POLICE OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR COERCION, ILLEGAL COLLECTION OF MONEY, AND ABUSE OF POWER. 6. GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEFS AS THIS HON’BLE COURT MAY DEEM FIT IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, INCLUDING COSTS. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1973 WP No. 101063 of 2026 CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayer: “1. Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondent Police not to harass, intimidate, or coerce the Petitioner in connection with Crime No.76/2025 in any manner contrary to law vide ANNEXURE-A 2. Direct the Respondents to refund forthwith a sum of ₹1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) illegally collected from the Petitioner during the course of investigation, within a time frame to be fixed by this Hon’ble Court. 3. Direct the Respondents not to summon the Petitioner except strictly in accordance with law, by issuing written notice under due process; 4. Restrain the Respondent Police from compelling any settlement or compromise between the petitioner and the de-facto complainant; 5. Direct immediate release and handover of the Petitioner’s passport and Cheque Leaf bearing Cheque No. 397722, Canara Bank vide ANNEXURE- C issued by the Complainant which is illegally seized and retained without authority of law with the respect to the Crime No. 76/2025 vide ANNEXURE-A, Direct the Respondent No.2 to initiate appropriate departmental inquiry against the erring police officials responsible for coercion, illegal collection of money, and abuse of power. 6. Grant such other reliefs as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, including costs.” 2. It is the case of the petitioner that, she is arrayed as an accused in Crime No.76/2025 registered with CEN Crime - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1973 WP No. 101063 of 2026 Police Station, Hubbali-Dharwad City dated 04.07.2025. She has questioned the same before this Court by filing a quash petition and the same is pending consideration. After registration of the FIR, instead of conducting the investigation, the police officials began summoning the petitioner repeatedly through oral directions without issuing any written notice. They have openly pressurised the petitioner to enter into a settlement with the de facto complainant. Further, respondent No.4 intimidated the petitioner to pay Rs.1,00,000/- and one Mr.Rakesh has been introduced to collect the amount and it is the case of the petitioner that they went to the house of the petitioner without following the procedure and without the assistance of any women police. According to the petitioner, the police have also seized her passport. Hence, she has come up before this Court seeking the prayers referred supra. 3. Learned High Court Government Pleader submits that the police have conducted the investigation and filed the charge sheet i.e. CC No.151/2026 on the file of the I Additional Civil Judge and J.M.F.C., Hubbali. It is submitted that, if the petitioner - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1973 WP No. 101063 of 2026 has any grievance, same can be redressed before the very same Court. 4. Having heard the counsels on either side, perused the material on record. The kind of allegations that are placed before the Court are all disputed questions of fact which this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India cannot decide the same. If the police officer has acted without any authority of law, the petitioner has a remedy to file a petition against the concerned officer before the Magistrate. Even if the charge sheet has been filed by the police, these aspects along with other relevant issues, can still be brought to the notice of the Court. The petitioner, in a petition filed against the police, may seek appropriate relief, and the Court will be in a position to decide all such questions on the basis of the evidence on record and the reliefs prayed for by the petitioner. This Court cannot pass orders exercising the jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Accordingly, this court is passing the following: - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1973 WP No. 101063 of 2026 ORDER (i) The writ petition is disposed of giving liberty to the petitioner to avail appropriate remedy under law. (ii) All I.As. in this writ petition shall stand closed. Sd/- JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI RH CT: UMD List No.: 1 Sl No.: 39