Full Judgment
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 2591 OF 2025 BETWEEN:
1. MR. T.D. NAGARAJ AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS S/O T.C. DHARMAPPA, RESIDING AT SHIVAMOGGA TALUK, THUPPURU, SHIVAMOGGA, KARNATAKA-577 423.
2. MR. LINGAPPA POOJARY
@ LINGAPPA BILLAVARA AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, S/O MR. B.T. RAMANNA, RESIDING AT SHRI MANJUNATH KRIPA, MADIKERI ROAD, OPP. PETROL BUNK, KANTHUR, MURNAD, KODAGU, KARNATAKA-571 252.
3. MR. GIRISH S Digitally signed by R HEMALATHA AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, Location: HIGH S/O MR. SHIVAPPA SANNER, COURT OF KARNATAKA RESIDING AT DOOR NO.3, 3RD FLOOR, 1ST MAIN, 3RD CROSS, 3RD BLOCK, 3RD PHASE, NEAR APEX BANK, BANGALORE NORTH, BANGALORE-560 079.
4. MR. GANGADHAR. N AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, S/O MR. SANJEEVA POOJARY, RESIDING AT DOOR NO. 6-13/A, SUGANDHA, NEKKILAR HOUSE, BANTWALA TALUKU, VITTAL KASABA VILLAGE, VITTAL, -2- DAKSHINA KANNADA, KARNATAKA-574 243.
5. MR. A.E. IQBAL
AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, C/O MR. IBRAHIM, RESIDING AT DOOR NO.1-152, GADI CHOWKA, NEAR ABOOBAKKAR SHOP, KOTEPURA D ROAD, KOTEPURA, ULLAL, MANGALORE, KARNATAKA-575 020.
6. MR. VIJAY PRAKASH AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, C/O M.K. MOHAN DAS, RESIDING AT DOOR NO.3-54/3A, MADAKA HOUSE, MUNNUR, KUTHAR, MANGALORE, DAKSHINA KANNADA - 575 017. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. HARSHA G., ADVOCATE FOR SRI. SACHIN B.S., ADVOCATE) AND:
1. SUMESH KUMAR S/O. K.R. RAJAN, AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, ADVOCATE, OFFICE MAHENDRA ARCADE, K.R. RAO ROAD, KARANGLAPADI, MANGALORE D.K-575 003. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. ASHOK KUMAR SHETTY K., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528
BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN CC.NO.723 OF 2016 ARISING OUT OF PCR. NO.27 OF 2010 ON THE FILE OF JMFC (III COURT) MANGALORE, PURSUANT TO THE COMPLAINT FILED BY RESPONDENT FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 193, 201, 211, 212, 219, 220, -3- 323, 342, 348, 500, 504, 506, 120(B) READ SECTION 149 OF IPC AS PER DOCUMENT NO.1. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR REPORTING SETTLEMENT, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR
ORAL ORDER
The petitioners who are facing Trial for the offences punishable under Sections 193, 201, 211, 212, 219, 220, 323, 342, 348, 500, 504, 506 and 120B r/w Section 149 of IPC are before this Court seeking relief.
2. The respondent/Complainant filed a private complaint
under Section 200 of Cr.P.C., alleging that, he is a practicing lawyer, and, on February 2, 2010, he was forcibly taken by police officers from the Ullal Police Station while attending a court proceeding. He was allegedly detained, threatened, and physically assaulted by police officers, including Sub-Inspector T.D. Nagaraj and Inspector Lingappa Poojari, who pressurised him to falsely confess involvement in a stone-pelting incident at a mosque. Despite denying any connection to the case, the complainant claims he was illegally confined, mistreated, and later falsely implicated in the case. He also states that his arrest and photograph were deliberately publicized in the media to damage his professional and personal reputation.
3. The learned Magistrate referred the complaint to the Police for investigation under Section 156(3) of Cr.PC. The Police registered the FIR for the aforesaid offences, and the -4- case has been registered in CC No. 723 of 2016 on the file of JMFC (III Court) Mangalore.
4. The Parties are present before this Court and they
have filed application under Section 302 read with Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure for compounding of the offences stating that with an intervention of well wishers and friends, they have amicably settled the dispute between them, and in terms of the settlement, the respondent has agreed to withdraw all the allegation, and has no objection for quashing the impugned proceedings.
5. The application is placed on record.
6. Though the offences alleged against the
petitioners/accused are cognizable and non-compoundable, however, having regard to the fact that the parties have amicably settled the dispute among themselves, it would be a futile exercise, if the petitioners are subjected to trial, since the probability of conviction of the petitioners/accused are remote and bleak in view of the settlement. Therefore, the continuation of criminal proceedings against the accused/petitioners will be an abuse of the process of law. Accordingly, I pass the following:
ORDER
i) Criminal Petition is allowed; -5- ii) The impugned proceedings in C.C.No.723/2016, on the file of the JMFC-III Court, Mangalore, insofar it relates to the accused/petitioners herein is hereby quashed. Sd/- (HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR) JUDGE HR