- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2565 CRL.P No. 100164 of 2023 C/W CRL.P No. 103845 of 2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 100164 OF 2023 (482(CR.PC)/528(BNSS)) C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 103845 OF 2022 IN CRL.P NO. 100164/2023 BETWEEN: 1. MERELIJI @ MARY LISY W/O DAVID ANTONE AGE 32 YEARS, OCC. BUSINESS NOW R/O. #1/1 A MUDDAMMA GARDEN, PSK NAIDU ROAD DODDIGUNTE COXTOWN, BANGALORE NORTH FRASER TOWN, BANGALORE 560005. 2. DEVID ANTONE @ DAVID ANTHONY AGE 42 YEARS, OCC. BUSINESS, NOW R/O. #1/1 A MUDDAMMA GARDEN PSK NAIDU ROAD DODDIGUNTE COXTOWN, BANGALORE NORTH FRASER TOWN, BANGALORE 560005. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. P.P. HITTALAMANI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH RANEBENNUR RURAL POLICE STATION R/BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENCH, AT DHARWAD-580011. 2. SMT. SWAPNA @ SHILAJA W/O RAVIKUMAR BHATHADH AGE 32 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEWIFE R/O. HUNASIKATTI ROAD CHIDAMBAR NAGAR RANEBENNUR, DIST HAVERI 581115. …RESPONDENTS CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Digitally signed by CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Date: 2026.02.20 16:00:08 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2565 CRL.P No. 100164 of 2023 C/W CRL.P No. 103845 of 2022 (BY SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1; SMT. NIRMALA B.G. ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/SEC. 482 OF CR.P.C. SEEKING TO CALL FOR THE RECORDS AND QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN C.C.NO. 1118/2022, PENDING ON THE FILE OF PRL. SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, RANEBENNUR FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE U/SEC. 498-A, 323, 341, 504 AND 506 OF IPC R/W SEC. 34 OF IPC, IN RESPECT OF THE PETITIONERS/ACCUSED NO.2 AND 3 AND GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEFS, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. IN CRL.P NO. 103845/2022 BETWEEN: RAVIKUMAR S/O SADASHIVAPPA BHATHADH AGE 41 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE R/O HUNASIKATTI ROAD, CHIDAMBAR NAGAR RANEBENNUR, DIST HAVERI 581115. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. P.P. HITTALAMANI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1 THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH RANEBENNUR RURAL POLICE STATION R/BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENCH, AT DHARWAD-580001. 2. SMT. SWAPNA @ SHILAJA W/O RAVIKUMAR BHATHADH AGE 32 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEWIFE R/O. HUNASIKATTI ROAD, CHIDAMBAR NAGAR, RANEBENNUR, DIST HAVERI 581115. ...RESPONDENT (BY SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1; SMT. NIRMALA B.G. ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.P.C., SEEKING TO ALLOW THIS PETITION AND QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN C.C. NO. 1118/2022, PENDING ON THE FILE OF PRL. SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, RANEBENNUR FOR OFFENCES PUNISHABLE U/S 498A, 323, 341 AND 504, 506 OF IPC R/W SEC. 34 IPC, IN RESPECT OF THE PETITIONER/ ACCUSED NO. 1 AND ETC.,. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2565 CRL.P No. 100164 of 2023 C/W CRL.P No. 103845 of 2022 THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA) Sri P.P.Hittalamani, learned counsel for the petitioner/ accused No.1 has filed the memo praying to withdraw Crl.P.No.103845/2022. The memo is placed on record. 2. Heard Sri P.P.Hittalamani, learned counsel for the petitioners in Crl.P.No.100164/2023, Smt.Kirtilata R.Patil, learned High Court Government Pleader and Smt.Nirmala B.G, learned counsel for respondent No.2. 3. Petitioners in Crl.P.100164/2023 are the accused Nos.2 and 3 in Crime No.151/2021 registered by Ranebennur Rural Police, District Haveri, pending in C.C.No.1118/2022 on the file of the Prl. Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Ranebennur, for the offence punishable under Sections 323, 506, 341, 34, 498A and 504 of the Indian Penal Code. 4. Petitioners in Crl.P.100164/2023 are the girl friend and her husband of accused No.1-Ravikumar (petitioner in Crl.P.No.103845/2022) who is the husband of respondent No.2. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2565 CRL.P No. 100164 of 2023 C/W CRL.P No. 103845 of 2022 5. Except omnibus allegations, there are no other material placed on record insofar as accused Nos.2 and 3 are concerned. 6. As such, offence under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code is not attracted insofar as accused Nos.2 and 3. 7. Therefore, taking note of these aspects of the matter, continuation of the proceedings in C.C.No.1118/2022 pending on the file of the Prl. Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Ranebennur, as against accused Nos.2 and 3 is nothing but abuse of process of law. 8. Therefore, a case is made out to quash the pending proceedings insofar as accused Nos.2 and 3 are concerned. 9. It is also to be noted that accused No.1 has withdrawn the challenge to the issue of process as against him. 10. Accordingly, the following: ORDER (i) Placing the memo on record, Crl.P.No.103845/2022 is dismissed as withdrawn. (ii) Crl.P.No.100164/2023 is hereby allowed. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2565 CRL.P No. 100164 of 2023 C/W CRL.P No. 103845 of 2022 (iii) Pending proceedings in C.C.No.1118/2022 on the file of the Prl. Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Ranebennur, as against accused Nos.2 and 3 is hereby quashed. Sd/- (V.SRISHANANDA) JUDGE kcm Ct-cmu LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 121