- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19542 CRL.P No. 836 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 836 OF 2026 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS) BETWEEN: 1. SRI SANTHOSH S/O. MAHANTESH B.K., AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, 2. SMT. BHAVANA H., W/O. SANTHOSH M., AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, PETITIONER NO.1 AND 2 ARE R/AT. NO.91/93/432, 2ND MAIN, 3RD CROSS, DCM TOWNSHIP 'A' BLOCK DAVANAGERE CITY – 577 004 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. V.B.SIDDARAMAIAH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY KTJ NAGAR POLICE STATION, DAVANAGERE CITY – 577 002. REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE – 560 001 2. SMT. SUSHEEL G.K., W/O. MAHANTESH B.K., AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, R/AT. NO.32, 3RD CROSS, 2ND MAIN, DCM TOWNSHIP DAVANAGERE CITY – 577 004. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. DIVAKAR MADDUR, HCGP FOR R1; R2 – SERVED & UNREPRESENTED) Digitally signed by CHANDANA B M Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19542 CRL.P No. 836 of 2026 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN C.C.NO.3409/2025 (CRIME NO.210/2024) REGISTERED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT KTJ NAGAR POLICE STATION, DAVANAGERE CITY FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES U/S 115(2), 117(2), 74, 329(4), 352, 351(2) R/W 3(5) OF THE BNS 2023 PENDING ON THE FILES OF THE III ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT, DAVANAGERE INITIATED ON THE COMPLAINT OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR ORAL ORDER In this petition, petitioners seek quashing the proceedings in C.C.No.3409/2025 arising out of FIR in Crime No.210/2024 registered by the respondent No.1-KTJ Nagar Police Station, Davanagere, pending on the file of III Additional Civil Judge and JMFC Court, Davanagere, for the offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 117(2), 74, 329(4), 352, 351(2) read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned HCGP for the respondent No.1 and perused the material on record. 3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that the petitioners –Sri. Santhosh and Smt. Bhavana H., were arraigned as - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19542 CRL.P No. 836 of 2026 accused Nos.1 and 2 along with 2 others, who were arraigned as accused Nos.3 and 4 in the charge sheet in C.C.No.3409/2025 pursuant to FIR in Crime No.210/2024. The offences alleged against the petitioners and other accused are under Sections 115(2), 117(2), 74, 329(4), 352, 351(2) read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023. 4. In this context, learned counsel for the petitioner invited my attention to the order dated 18.07.2025 passed in Crl.P.No.3409/2025 as against accused Nos.3 and 4 in order to point out that in view of the quashment of the aforesaid offences against accused Nos.3 and 4, the petitioners who are accused Nos.1 and 2, would be entitled to seek parity. 5. This Court in the case of Praveen S.C., and Anr., Vs. State and Anr – Crl.P.No.14277/2024 dated 18.07.2025, quashed the criminal proceedings qua accused Nos.3 and 4 in C.C.No.3409/2025 and held as under: “In this petition, petitioners seek the following relief: "Wherefore, the Petitioners most respectfully pray that this Hon'ble Court kindly allow this Criminal Petition and quash the F.I.R and complaint in Crime. No. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19542 CRL.P No. 836 of 2026 0210/2024 for the offences punishable U/Sec. 115(2), 118(1), 3(5), 324(4), 329(4), 352, 74, 76 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita(BNS) 2023, Pending on the file of III Addl. Civil Judge & JMFC Court, Davanagere, in the interest of justice." 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1. Respondent No.2 served but unrepresented. Perused the material on record. 3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that respondent No.2/defacto complainant filed the impugned complaint registered in FIR No.210/2024 dated 23.11.2024 for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 3(5), 324(4), 329(4), 352, 74, 76 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. In this context, it is relevant to extract impugned complaint and the FIR as under: "1. 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A perusal of the aforesaid FIR and complaint is sufficient to come to the conclusion that insofar as the petitioners-accused Nos.3 and 4 are concerned, the necessary ingredients constituting the commission of aforesaid offences are absent and not forthcoming and missing from the said documents. Consequently, I am of the considered opinion that the impugned proceedings qua the petitioners-accused Nos.3 and 4 deserves to be quashed. 5. In the result, I proceed to pass the following: - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19542 CRL.P No. 836 of 2026 ORDER (i) The petition is hereby allowed; (ii) The impugned complaint and FIR in Crime No.210/2024 dated 23.11.2024 for the offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 3(5), 324(4), 329(4), 352, 74, 76 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, pending on the file of III Additional Civil Judge & JMFC Court, Davanagere, qua the petitioners/accused Nos.3 and 4, are hereby quashed.” 6. In the instant case, it is an undisputed fact that proceedings as against accused Nos.3 and 4 has been quashed by this Court in Crl.P.No.14277/2024 and consequently, by applying the Doctrine of Parity, proceedings against the petitioners - accused Nos.1 and 2 in this petition also deserves to be quashed. 7. In the result, I pass the following: ORDER (i) The petition is hereby allowed. (ii) The proceedings in C.C.No.3409/2025 arising out of FIR in Crime No.210/2024 registered by the 1st respondent – Police, pending on the file of III - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19542 CRL.P No. 836 of 2026 Additional Civil Judge and JMFC Court, Davanagere, for the offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 117(2), 74, 329(4), 352, 351(2) read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 insofar as the petitioners/accused Nos.1 and 2 are concerned are hereby quashed. Sd/- (S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE MDS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 1