Karnataka High Court
Chintala Srinivasa Rao vs The State Of Karnataka on 25 March, 2026
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NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654
CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
KALABURAGI BENCH
DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 200443 OF 2026
(482(Cr.PC)/528(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
1. CHINTALA SRINIVASA RAO
S/O LATE VENKATESHWARLU
AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS
OCC: BUSINESS
R/O FLAT NO.A-601 AND C 1001 OF
RAJAPUSHPA REGALIA
HAVING ITS ADDRESS AT KOKAPET
HYDERABAD
2. RATNAKUMARI W/O CHINTALA SRINIVAS RAO
AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS,
OCC: HOUSEHOLD
R/O FLAT NO.A-601 AND C 1001
Digitally signed by
SHIVALEELA OF RAJAPUSHPA REGALIA
DATTATRAYA UDAGI
HAVING ITS ADDRESS AT KOKAPET
Location: HIGH
COURT OF HYDERABAD
KARNATAKA
3. RAVI MARUTHI VARAPRASAD RAO
S/O NAGESHWAR RAO
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS,
OCC: BUSINESS
R/O FLAT NO.A-601 AND C 1001
OF RAJAPUSHPA REGALIA
HAVING ITS ADDRESS AT KOKAPET
HYDERABAD
4. CHIRAKURI ANIL S/O BRAMHAYYA
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS,
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NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654
CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026
HC-KAR
OCC: BUSINESS
R/O 5-27/30, BALAJI RESIDENCY
SAI NAGAR, MARTURU
PRAKASAM DISTRICT
5. RAVI NANDAN MURARI
S/O RAVI MARUTHI VARA PRASAD
AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS,
OCC: PVT. EMPLOYEE
R/O FLAT NO.A-601 AND C 1001
OF RAJAPUSHPA REGALIA
HAVING ITS ADDRESS AT KOKAPET
HYDERABAD
6. CHIRAKURI ASHRITHA D/O ANIL
AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS,
OCC: PVT. EMPLOYEE
R/O 5-27/30, BALAJI RESIDENCY
SAI NAGAR, MARTURU, PRAKASAM DISTRICT
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. LIYAQAT FAREED USTAD., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
THROUGH THE P.S.I,
SINDHANOOR TOWN POLICE STATION
RAICHUR
2. SMT. SRUJANA W/O VISHWATEJA
AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS,
OCC: ENGINEER
R/O FLAT NO.101, MY HOME AVATAR
APARTMENT NANAKRAMGUDA,
HYDERABAD
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. JAMADAR SHAHABUDDIN, HCGP)
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NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654
CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026
HC-KAR
THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/SEC. 482 OF CR.P.C (OLD)
U/SEC. 528 OF BNSS (NEW) PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS
PETITION AND TO QUASH ALL THE PROCEEDINGS IN CRIME
NO.60 OF 2026 OF THE SINDHANOOR TOWN PS, RAICHUR, SO
FAR AS THE ACCUSED NOS. 2 TO 7/PETITIONERS HEREIN ARE
CONCERNED FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES PUNISHABLE
UNDER SECTION 85, 54, 74, 109(1), 115(2), 351(2), 352, R/W
3(5) DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT, 1961 (U/S 3,4) AND TO PASS
ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE ORDERS AS MAY BE NECESSARY,
TILL THE FINAL DISPOSAL OF THIS PETITION.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
ORAL ORDER
The petitioners who are accused Nos.2 to 7 in crime No.60/2026 of Sindhanoor Town Police Station, Raichur, have filed this petition under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking the following relief:
"Therefore, it is most humbly prayed that, this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to allow this petition and to quash all the proceedings in Crime -4- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654 CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026 HC-KAR No.60/2026 of the Sindhanoor Town PS, Raichur, so far as the Accused Nos.2 to 7/petitioners under Section 85, 54, 74, 109(1), 115(2), 351(2), 352 read with Section 3(5) Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (under Section 3, 4) and to pass any other appropriate orders as may be necessary, till the final disposal of this petition, in the interest of justice."
2. The learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the complaint and the proceedings initiated against the petitioners constitute an abuse of the process of law. As per the complaint, it is alleged that the petitioners were present in Sindhanoor town around 10.00 p.m. on 26.01.2026 which is absolutely false and baseless. The petitioners were not present in Sindhanoor or at the place of alleged incident at the relevant point of time. On the date and time of the alleged incident, the petitioners were physically present in Hyderabad, and their presence is clearly established through CCTV footage from their residential premises and surrounding areas. No such alleged incident took place. The 2nd respondent has -5- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654 CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026 HC-KAR invented this false story only to attract the jurisdiction of Sindhanoor Police Station, which is abuse of the process of law and unsustainable. The present complaint was lodged after an inordinate delay of over one month on 18.02.2026 from the date of alleged incident i.e, 26.01.2026 which is nothing but an afterthought and lodged with an ulterior motive. The present FIR is liable to be quashed on the ground of lack of jurisdiction, as no cause of action arose, either partly or wholly, in the Sindhanoor town. Both parties reside in Hyderabad. She is working in Hyderabad at JP, Morgan and Company therefore, there is no iota of cause of action arose within the jurisdiction of Sindhanoor town. Hence the impugned FIR is liable to be quashed.
3. The complaint was filed with a malafide intention to harass the petitioners due to matrimonial disputes and to exert pressure. The dispute between the parties is purely matrimonial in nature. Criminal law cannot be used as a tool for settling personal scores. Even if the entire complaint is taken at its face value, no offence -6- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654 CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026 HC-KAR is made out against the petitioners. On all these grounds, the petitioner sought for quashing the proceedings.
4. To substantiate his argument, he relied on the decision of Co-ordinate Bench of this Court passed in Criminal Petition No.201773/2025 dated 13.03.2026.
5. I have examined the materials placed before this Court. On the basis of the complaint filed by Smt.Shrujana, the Sindhanoor Police registered the case in Crime No.60/2026 against accused Nos.2 to 7 for the commission of offence under Section 85, 54, 74, 109(1), 115(2), 351(2), 352, read with Section 3(5) Dowry Prohibition Act, 1951.
6. The substance of FIR is as under:
ಾ ೆ ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ರವರ ೊ ೆ ೆ ಾಂಕ:30/06/2025 ರಂದು ಮದು ೆ ಶ ಯ ಾ ದು ಆ ೋ ತರು 1 ೆ.!. ಬಂ ಾರ, 1 ೋ# ರೂ$ಾ% &ಾಗೂ 10 ಎಕ ೆ ಜ*ೕನನು+ ೊಡುವಂ ೆ -ೇ ೆ ಇ#/ದು , AiÀiÁð ಯ ತಂ0ೆ, ಾ%ಯವರು ಭ2ಷ4ದ 5ತದೃ7/%ಂದ 500 ಾ8ಂ ಬಂ ಾರ, 25 ಲ: ರೂ$ಾ% ೊಡಲು ಒ < ೊಂಡು ಾಂಕ 13/08/2025 ರಂದು = ಾಥ ವನು+ 15 ಲ: ರೂ$ಾ% ಖಚು ಾ -7- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654 CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026 HC-KAR ೆರ ೇABದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ಸEಲ< ನಗಳ ನಂತರ ಆ ೋ ತರು 800 ಾ8ಂ ಬಂ ಾರ &ಾಗೂ 20 ಎಕ ೆ ಜ*ೕನು 50 ಲ: ರೂ$ಾ% ನಗದು ಹಣ ೕ ದ ೆ ಾತ8 ಈ ಮದು ೆ ಸEಲ< ಇಲJ ದ ೆ ಇಲJ ಎಂದು &ೇKದ Aಂದ ಾ ಯ ತಂ0ೆ ಾ%ಯವರು = ಾಥ ಾಯ ಕ8ಮ ಾ ೊಂ ದ Aಂದ ಬಂzsÀÄ--ಾಂಧವA ೆ ಆಮಂತ8ಣವನು+ ೊ#/ದ Aಂದ ಅ ಾಯ ಾN ಒ < ೊಂ ದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ಪPನB ಆ ೋ ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ಈತ ೆ 150 ಾ8ಂ ಬಂ ಾರ ಮತುC 5 ಲ: ರೂ$ಾ% ಮದು ೆ ಬQೆ/ ಾN ೊಡ-ೇಕು ಅಂತ &ೇKದ Aಂದ ಾ ಯ ತಂ0ೆ ಾ%ಯವರು 130 ಾ8ಂ ಬಂ ಾರ ಮತುC 5 ಲ: ರೂ$ಾ% ಮದು ೆ ಬQೆ/ ಾN ೊ#/ದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ಮದು ೆ ಇನೂ+ ಒಂದು ಾರ ಇರು ಾಗ ಆ ೋ ನಂ.5 ಈತನು ತನ+ ಇಬRರು &ೆಣುS ಮಕTK ೆ ಸಂಪ80ಾಯದಂ ೆ ಅವAಬRರ ನಡು ೆ 10 ಲ:
ರೂ$ಾ%ಗಳನು+ ೊಡ-ೇಕು ಇಲJ ದ ೆ ಈ ಮದು ೆ -ೇಡ ಎಂದು &ೇKದ Aಂದ ಮದು ೆ ಸಂದಭ ದUJ ೊಡುವP0ಾN ಒ < ೊಂ ದು ಾಂಕ:10/10/2025 ರಂದು ಾ ಮತುC ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ಈತನ ಮದು ೆಯು &ೈದ ಾ-ಾW£À ಾ ೇಂದ8 ನಗರದ ಹನು ಾX ಗು ಯ ಎದುರುಗYೆ ಆನಂದ ಕ ೆEನZX &ಾಲ+UJ ಜರುNದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ಆ ೋ ತರು ತಮ[ ಮ ೆಯUJ =8ೕ ಸತ4 ಾ ಾಯಣ ಪ\ ೆಯನು+ ಾ 0ಾಗ ಆ ೋ ನಂ.3 ರವರು ಾ ೆ Éà ಸೂ]ೇ ನಮ[ ಮಗ ೆ 1 ೋ# ವರದ:^ೆ ೇK0ೆ ವP ೕವP ೇವಲ 50 ಲ: ರೂ$ಾ% ೕ ೕA ಇನು+ 50 ಲ: ರೂ$ಾ% ತರುವಂ ೆ 0ೈ5ಕ ಮತುC ಾನBಕ 5ಂ_ೆ ೕ ದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ಾಂಕ:12/10/2025 ರಂದು ಾ ಯ ೈ ಾ5ಕ !ೕವನ ಾಯ ಕ8ಮ ೆT ಬಂ0ಾಗ ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ಈತನು ೈ ಾ5ಕ !ೕವನದUJ ೊಡN ೊಳ`0ೆ ಉ0ೆ ೕಶಪ\ವ ಕ ಾN ೈ ಾ5ಕ !ೕವನವನು+ ಸು_ಾCN0ಾ ೆಂದು ೆಪ &ೇK bರಸTABದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ಸEಲ< ನಗಳ ನಂತರ ತನ+ ಗಂಡ ೊಂ ೆ ೈ ಾ5ಕ !ೕವನವನು+ ನYೆಸಲು -8- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654 CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026 HC-KAR ಪ8ಯb+B0ಾಗ ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ಈತನು ಾ cಾರ¼ÀÆA ೆ ಜಗಳ ೆ ೆದು ೈ%ಂದ &ೊYೆ ಬYೆ ಾ ೊಲುJವ ಉ0ೆ ೕಶ ಂದ ಕುbC ೆಯನು+ ತನ+ ೈಗKಂದ dN ಾN 5 ದು ೊಲJಲು ಪ8ಯb+Bದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ಈತನು ನಪPಂಸಕ ೆಂದು ೊbCದ ರೂ ಕೂಡ ಮುe ಟು/ ಉ0ೆ ೕಶಪ\ವ ಕ ಾN ಮದು ೆ ಾ ದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ನಂತರ ಾಂಕ: 09/01/2026 ರಂದು ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ಈತನು ಾ cಾರK ೆ ೕನು ಇನೂ+ &ೆe ನ ವರದ:^ೆ ಾN 20 ಎಕ ೆ &ೊಲ &ಾಗೂ 50 ಲ: ರೂ$ಾ%ಗಳನು+ ೆ ೆದು ೊಂಡು -ಾ ಎಂದು &ಾಗೂ ಉKದ ಆ ೋ ತರು ಈ ಸೂ]ೆಯನು+ ಮ ೆ%ಂದ &ೊರ ೆ &ಾಕು ನ ೆ -ೇ ೆ ಹುಡುNಯನು+ ೋ ಮದು ೆ ಾಡು ೆCೕ ೆ ಎಂದು ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ಈತ ೆ ಪ8gೋದ ೆ ೕ ದ Aಂದ ಆತನು &ೊYೆ §qÉ ªÀiÁr ಮ ೆ%ಂದ &ೊರ &ಾhದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ಅ ಾಯ ಾN ಾ 0ಾರಳi ತನ+ ಅಜjನ ಮ ೆ BಂಧನೂAನUJ ಬಂದು ಾಸ ಾNದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ಆ ನಂತರ ಆ ೋ ನಂ. 1 Aಂದ 4 ೇದವರು ಾಂಕ:26/01/2026 ರಂದು ಾb8 10:00 ಸು ಾA ೆ ಪಂgಾ%b ಾಡಲು Bಂಧನೂರು ಬಂ ದು ಆಗ ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ಈತನು ಸಂ_ಾರ ಾಡುವP ಲJ ೆಂದು ವರದ:^ೆಯ ಹಣದ ಉ0ೆ ೕಶ ಂದ ನ+ನು+ ಮದು ೆ ಾNರು£É ಎಂದು &ೇKದು ಆಗ ಾ cಾರಳ ತಂ0ೆಯು ನನ+ ಮಗಳ !ೕವನವನು+ &ಾಳi ಾ ೕA ಎಂದು &ೇK0ಾಗ ಆ ೋ 1 Aಂದ 4 ರವರು Éà ಸೂ]ೆಮಕT]ೇ ಾವP ಸುಳi` &ೇK ಮದು ೆ ಾ ರು ೆCೕ ೆ ಈಗ ಏನು ಾ ೊಳi`bCೕ ಾ ಎಂದು
-ೈದು ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ಈತನು ಾ ಯ ತಂ0ೆ ೆ ಅªÁZÀå ಾN -ೈದು ಕ$ಾಳ ೆT &ೊYೆ ದು ಆ ೋ ನಂ.2 ಾ ಯ ಾ%ಯ Bೕ ೆಯನು+ &ಾಗೂ ಆ ೋ ನಂ.3 ರವರು ತlೆಯ ಕೂದಲನು+ 5 ದು ಎ]ೆ0ಾ ಾನ ೆT ಕುಂದುಂಟು ಾ ದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ನಂತರ ಆ ೋ ನಂ. 2 ಈತನು ಪಂgಾ%bಯUJ 5Aಯರ ಸಮ:ಮ 5 ೋ# ಪA&ಾರ ಮತುC -9- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654 CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026 HC-KAR 800 ಾ8ಂ ಬಂ ಾರದ ಆಭರಣಗಳನು+ &ಾಗೂ ಆ ೋ ನಂ.1 ಈತ ೆ ೊ#/ದ 130 ಾ8ಂ ಬಂ ಾರದ ಆಭರಣಗಳನು+ ಾಪm ೊಡುವP0ಾN ಒ < ೊಂ ದು ಒಂದು ಾರದ ನಂತರ ಅದನು+ ೊಡುವP ಲJ ಏನು ಾ ೊಳi`bCೕ ಾ ಾ ೊK` ಎಂದು -ೆದA ೆ &ಾhದು ಇರುತC0ೆ. ಅಂತ ಗಣhೕಕೃತ ದೂAನ _ಾ ಾಂಶದ nೕUಂದ oಾ^ೆ UÀÄ ೆ+ ನಂ. 60/2026.
ಕಲಂ:85, 54, 74, 109(1), 115(2),352,351(2) ಸ5ತ 3(5) d.ಎX.ಎm-2023 ಮತುC ಕಲಂ:3,4 . ಾp ಅ ಯUJ ಪ8ಕರಣ 0ಾಖUB ೊಂ ದು ಇರುತC0ೆ.
7. On careful examination of the materials placed before this Court, it is crystal clear that the place of the incident is near Baba Ramadev Temple, Raghavendra Nilaya, the complainant grandfather's house in Sindhanoor town, Raichur, Karnataka 584 128. This alleged incident occurred at a distance of two kilometers from Sindhanoor Police Station.
8. The arguments advanced on behalf of the petitioners may be considered by the Investigating Officer during the course of investigation. At this stage, it is not just and proper to quash the proceedings on the basis of
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NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654 CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026 HC-KAR the grounds urged by the learned counsel for the petitioners.
9. The learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are residing in Hyderabad, and on the date of commission of offence, they were not present on spot. However, at this stage, there is no material before this Court to conclude that the accused were not present at the time of the alleged commission of offence.
10. Only after investigation the Investigating Officer can ascertain the presence of the accused at the time of the alleged incident. Viewed from many angles, I do not find any legal grounds to quash the proceedings.
11. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following:
ORDER i. The petition is dismissed. ii. The petitioners are at liberty to seek quashing of the proceedings in accordance with law, if
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NC: 2026:KHC-K:2654 CRL.P No. 200443 of 2026 HC-KAR the Investigating Officer submits the chargesheet against them.
Sd/-
(G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE TIN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 3 CT-BH