Karnataka High Court
Sadique Anjum vs State Of Karnataka on 26 March, 2026
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NC: 2026:KHC-K:2731
CRL.P No. 200358 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
KALABURAGI BENCH
DATED THIS THE 26TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 200358 OF 2026
(482(Cr.PC)/528(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
1. SADIQUE ANJUM S/O ABDUL RAHEMAN
AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS
OCC: COMPUTER WORK
RESIDING AT WARD NO.6
ISLAM NAGAR , MANVI
DIST: RAICHUR-584123
2. RIJWAN RABBANI S/O MOHAMMED HANEEF
AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, OCC: COMPUTER WORK
RESIDING AT WARD NO.1
KURDI MANVI, DIST: RAICHUR-584203
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI.MOHAMMAD MUJTABA ZUBER, ADVOCATE)
Digitally signed by
SHIVALEELA AND:
DATTATRAYA UDAGI
Location: HIGH 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA
COURT OF
KARNATAKA BY MANVI PS
REPRESENTED BY HCGP
HIGH COURT BUILDING
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
KALABURAGI-585103
2. CHANDRAKANTHA
L.D TAHSILDAR MANVI
AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS
R/AT TAHSIL OFFICE MANVI
MANVI RAICHUR-584123
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI.JAMADAR SHAHABUDDIN, HCGP)
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NC: 2026:KHC-K:2731
CRL.P No. 200358 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 QUASH THE ENTIRE
PROCEEDINGS IN C.C. NO.332/2024 ARISING OUT OF CRIME
NO.0182/2023 REGISTERED BY RESPONDENT NO.1 MANVI
POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCE UNDER SECTION 66(C)
AND 66(D) OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT AND
SECTION 420 OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE PENDING ON THE
FILE OF HONOURABLE CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC MANVI IN SO
FAR AS RELATED TO THE PETITIONERS HEREIN IN THE
INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
ORAL ORDER
The petitioners who are accused Nos.3 and 5 in C.C. No.332/2024 arising out of Crime No.0182/2023, pending on the file of Civil Judge and JMFC Manvi, have filed this petition under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking following relief:
"Wherefore it is humbly prayed that this Hon'ble Court may graciously be pleased to quash the entire proceedings in C.C.No.332/2024 arising out of Crime No.0182/2023 registered by respondent No.1- Manvi Police Station for the offence under -3- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2731 CRL.P No. 200358 of 2026 HC-KAR Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act and Section 420 of IPC, pending on the file of Hon'ble Civil Judge and JMFC Manvi, insofar as related to the petitioners herein in the interest of justice and equity."
2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent No.1 - State.
3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners would submit that the petitioners have not committed any offence as alleged against them. The entire prosecution case is based on a generalized and omnibus allegation that certain computer centers in Manvi town unauthorisedly submitted applications under the Gruha Lakshmi Yojana, and the complainant does not disclose any specific overt act, role, or involvement attributable to petitioner Nos.1 and 2/accused Nos.3 and 5. The complaint dated 24.07.2023 does not allege that petitioners impersonated any person, dishonestly used any -4- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2731 CRL.P No. 200358 of 2026 HC-KAR unique identification, password or electronic signature, which is a mandatory requirement to attract offences under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of Information Technology Act. In the absence of any allegation or material to show dishonest inducement, deception or wrongful gain to petitioner Nos.1 and 2/accused Nos.3 and 5, the offence under Section 420 of IPC is not attracted and the continuation of the proceedings is wholly unsustainable in law. The charge sheet does not disclose that the petitioners had access to or misused any official Grama one login credentials nor does it specify from whom such credentials were obtained or how they were allegedly misused. Even if the entire allegation in the charge sheet is taken at their face value, they at best, disclose an alleged regulatory or procedural irregularity and do not constitute cognizable criminal offence. On all these grounds sought for allowing of the petition. -5-
NC: 2026:KHC-K:2731 CRL.P No. 200358 of 2026 HC-KAR
4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for respondent No.1-State opposed to the petition.
5. I have examined the materials placed before this Court.
6. On the basis of the complaint filed by Chandrakantha L.D, Tahsildar Manvi, the Manvi police have registered the case in Crime No.182/2023 against the owner of Surya Computer Center, owner of Lakshmi Computer Center and owner of Excel Computer Center for the commission of offence under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of Information Technology Act and Section 420 of IPC. After investigation, the Investigating Officer has submitted the charge sheet against accused Nos.1 to 5 for the aforesaid offences. Among five accused, the present petitioners are accused Nos.3 and 5. In the charge sheet at column No.17, it is alleged as follows: -6-
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Hಾ12ೆ -7- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2731 CRL.P No. 200358 of 2026 HC-KAR
7. On perusal of prosecution papers, it is clear that the Investigating Officer has not seized any applications said to have been filed by the beneficiaries for Gruha Lakshmi Yojana and none of the applicants who have submitted application for Gruha Lakshmi Yojana have not examined by the Investigating Officer. The Investigating Officer has not placed any materials to constitute the offence under Section 420 of IPC and Sections 66(C) and Section 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2008. Absolutely there are no prima facie materials to proceed against the petitioners for the alleged commission of offences. The continuation of proceedings against the petitioners without any prima facie materials amounts to abuse of process of law. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following:
ORDER
(a) The petition is allowed.
(b) The proceedings initiated against the petitioners/accused Nos.3 and 5 in -8- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2731 CRL.P No. 200358 of 2026 HC-KAR C.C.No.332/2024 arising out of Crime No.0182/2023 registered by the Manvi Police, for the commission of offence under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of Information Technology Act and Section 420 of IPC, pending on the file of Civil Judge and JMFC Manvi, is hereby quashed.
Registry is directed to send the copy of this order to the trial Court.
Sd/-
(G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE MSR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 36