Karnataka High Court
Abhimanyu Negi vs The State Of Karnataka on 27 February, 2026
Author: S Vishwajith Shetty
Bench: S Vishwajith Shetty
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NC: 2026:KHC:12337
CRL.P No. 3344 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3344 OF 2026
BETWEEN:
ABHIMANYU NEGI
S/O DEEPTHI NAIR NEGI @ DAS
AGED ABOUT 20 YEARS
OCC: STUDENT, R/O PRESENTLY AT
MANIPAL TQ AND DIST UDUPI
C/O: S/O DEEPTHI NAIR NEGI @DAS
102 VSNL APARTMENTS, PLOT NO.58/17
NEAR FORTIS HOSPITAL SECTOR-62
GAUTAM BUDDHA NAGAR, NOIDA DISTRICT
UTTAR PRADESH - 201 301.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI REYNOLD D'SOUZA, ADV.)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
THROUGH MANIPAL POLICE STATION
R/BY HCGP, HIGH COURT BUILDING
Digitally
signed by PRINCIPAL BENCH AT BENGALURU - 560 001.
NANDINI M S
Location: 2. SHIVAPRASAD
HIGH COURT S/O B. BHASKAR NAIK
OF
KARNATAKA AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS
OCC: AUTO DRIVER R/O HOUSE NO. 5-2-3
SHAMA MISSION COMPOUND
NEAR FATHIMA MANZIL, 76
BADAGUBELLU BAILOOR
TQ AND DIST UDUPI - 576 101
(IN FIR IT IS MENTIONED AS
ANUGRAHA HOUSE, NGO COLONY
5TH CROSS BEHIND, MAHISHAMARDHINI
TEMPLE, BALLOOR 76
BADAGUBETTU VILLAGE, UDUPI.
...RESPONDENTS
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NC: 2026:KHC:12337
CRL.P No. 3344 of 2026
HC-KAR
(BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP FOR R-1;
SMT. ANITA B.G, ADV., FOR R-2)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.P.C (U/S 528 BNSS)
PRAYING TO QUASH THE COMPLAINT, FIR AND ENTIRE
PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF CR.NO.25/2026 REGISTERED BY
MANIPAL P.S., FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 281,125(a),110 OF BNS,
2023, PENDING BEFORE THE LEARNED II ADDL. SENIOR CIVIL
JUDGE AND ACJM COURT, UDUPI, IN SO FAR AS THE
PETITIONER/ACCUSED IS CONCERNED.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY
ORAL ORDER
1. Accused is before this Court in this criminal petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023, with a prayer to quash the entire proceedings in Crime No.25/2026 registered by Manipal Police Station, Udupi District, for the offences punishable under Sections 281, 125(a), 110 of BNS, 2023.
2. Learned Counsel for the parties jointly submit that the dispute between the parties has been amicably settled, and the parties have today filed a joint memo along with the affidavit of the mother of the petitioner and the affidavit of respondent no.2 herein with a prayer to permit the parties to compound -3- NC: 2026:KHC:12337 CRL.P No. 3344 of 2026 HC-KAR the offence for which FIR has been registered against the petitioner. They submit that the petitioner is a student pursuing his B.Tech. Engineering Degree in Manipal Institute of Technology at Udupi. He is in custody for the last nearly two weeks. He is not only required to attend his classes, but he is also required to attend his examinations. They accordingly pray that the parties may be permitted to compound the offence for which FIR has been registered against the petitioner and the impugned criminal proceedings may be quashed.
3. The mother of the petitioner and respondent no.2 who are present before the Court at identified by their learned Advocates. Respondent no.2 has submitted that the settlement arrived between the parties is voluntary, without there being any undue influence or coercion, and he has received compensation from the mother of the petitioner for the damage caused to his vehicle in the accident in question.
4. FIR in the present case was registered against the petitioner for the aforesaid offences based on the first information received from respondent no.2 herein who has alleged that on the night of 14.02.2026 at about 10.55 p.m., -4- NC: 2026:KHC:12337 CRL.P No. 3344 of 2026 HC-KAR the car which was driven by the petitioner in a rash and negligent manner had dashed against his auto rickshaw, and thereafter dashed against seven bikes which were parked and in the said accident, respondent no.2 allegedly had suffered head injury. Petitioner is the driver of the offending car bearing registration No.HR-01-Z-5130. The parties have now filed joint memo reporting settlement and along with the joint memo, the affidavit of the mother of the petitioner and the affidavit of respondent no.2 is also filed. In paragraph nos.2 to 6 of the affidavit filed by respondent no.2, it is stated as under:
"2. I state that the disputes between myself and the Petitioner, which led to the registration, have been amicably settled with the intervention of elders and well- wishers. It may kindly be settled with the permission of the court.
3. I state that the said settlement has been arrived at voluntarily, without any threat, coercion or undue influence.
4. I further state that I have no objection if this Hon'ble Court is pleased to quash / dispose of the above proceedings arising out of Crime No.25/2026 in terms of the settlement with the permission of the court by exercising its inherent power under as per section 528 of BNSS, 2023 -5- NC: 2026:KHC:12337 CRL.P No. 3344 of 2026 HC-KAR
5. I am filing this affidavit to place the true facts before this Hon'ble Court.
6. I State that the contents of paragraphs 1 to 5 of the accompanying joint memo filed and duly signed by both me and the petitioner's mother with the authorization and his instruction as the petitioner is in Judicial custody from 15/02/2026 and signature of their respective counsels and the contents of this affidavit are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief."
5. Petitioner and respondent no.2 are totally strangers and the FIR was registered against the petitioner after the car which was driven by him had dashed against the auto rickshaw driven by respondent no.2. Respondent no.2 who is present in person before the Court has submitted that he has received compensation from the mother of the petitioner for the damage caused to his auto rickshaw in the accident in question. Petitioner is said to be a student pursuing his Engineering Degree in Manipal Institute of Technology at Udupi. Necessary documents are produced before this Court to show that petitioner is pursuing is Engineering Degree in Manipal Institute of Technology at Udupi. Respondent no.2 has submitted before the Court that he does not want to press his complaint further and the prayer made in the petition may be granted. -6-
NC: 2026:KHC:12337 CRL.P No. 3344 of 2026 HC-KAR
6. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of RAMGOPAL & ANOTHER VS. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH - (2022)14 SCC 531 has observed that, notwithstanding the limitations provided under Section 320 of Cr.P.C., in a given case, depending upon the facts and circumstances of the case and also the nature of the allegations and nature of the settlement arrived between the parties, this Court in exercise of its powers under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., can quash the criminal proceedings registered even for non-compoundable offences.
7. In view of the aforesaid, I am of the opinion that it is a fit case wherein this Court is required to exercise its inherent powers under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023, and quash the impugned criminal proceedings so as to do complete justice to the parties who are before the Court. Accordingly, the following order:
8. Petition is allowed. The entire proceedings in Crime No.25/2026 registered by Manipal Police Station, Udupi District, for the offences punishable under Sections 281, 125(a), 110 of BNS, 2023, is quashed.
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NC: 2026:KHC:12337 CRL.P No. 3344 of 2026 HC-KAR
9. The prison authorities are directed to release the petitioner from custody forthwith, if he is not required in any other case.
Sd/-
(S VISHWAJITH SHETTY) JUDGE KK