- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1942 CRL.P No. 104801 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 104801 OF 2025 (482(CR.PC)/528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. MANJUNATH KULKARNI (SHOWN AS MANJU KULKARNI) AGE 39 YEARS, OCC CONTRACTOR CUM MANAGER, R/O. BHAGYA NAGAR BELAGAVI, 590006. 2. SUNIL CHIKKODI AGE 38 YEARS, OCC. SUPERVISOR OF ASHOK IRON PLANT, R/O. TOTADMANE MUNYAL, TALUK GOKAK 591312. 3. MOHAN SUTAR, (SHOWN AS MOHAN) AGE 39 YEARS, OCC. H.R OF ASHOK IRON PLANT R/O. LAXMI NIVAS KHADERWADI ROAD, BEHIND SHAGUN GARDEN, DEVENDRA NAGAR, BELAGAVI 590008. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SHREEVATSA S. HEGDE, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY THE HCGP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA. 2. NAGESH D. BHAJANTRI S/O DODDA BHIMAPPA AGE 46 YEARS, OCC. EMPLOYEE #1926, VISHNUNAGAR, PIRANWADI BELAGAVI 590014. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. SANTOSH B. MALLIGAWAD, ADVOCATE FOR R2) Digitally signed by CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATKA DHARWAD BENCH Date: 2026.02.11 15:04:15 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1942 CRL.P No. 104801 of 2025 THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.P.C. (U/S. 528 OF BNSS, 2023) SEEKING TO QUASH THE PROCEEDINGS IN FIR CRIME NO. 212/2025 REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/SEC. 125(B) OF BNS, 2023, AGAINST ACCUSED NO. 1, 2 AND 4 DATED 11.11.2025 REGISTERED BY BELAGAVI RURAL POLICE STATION, PENDING BEFORE THE JMFC-II, BELAGAVI. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA) Petitioner and complainant are present with their respective Advocates. They present an application seeking compounding of the offences. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not compoundable. Hence, application relief cannot be granted in toto. However, looking at the contents of the affidavit and true settlement that has taken place between the parties, following the dictum of the Hon’ble Supreme court in the case of Ramgopal and Another v. State of Madhya Pradesh reported in (2022) 14 SCC 531, following: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1942 CRL.P No. 104801 of 2025 ORDER i. Petition stands allowed. ii. Pending proceedings in Crime No.212/2025 registered in Belagavi Rural Police Station for the offence punishable under Section 125(b) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 dated 11.11.2025 on the file of JMFC - II, Belgavi is hereby quashed by allowing the application in part. Sd/- (V.SRISHANANDA) JUDGE KAV Ct-cmu LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 111