Karnataka High Court
Prabhukant vs The State Of Karnataka on 26 March, 2026
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NC: 2026:KHC-K:2730
CRL.P No. 201917 of 2025
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. 201917 OF 2025
(482(Cr.PC)/528(BNSS))
BETWEEN:
PRABHUKANT
S/O HUSANAPPA DHANNA
AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC: TEACHER
R/O BHANKUR, SHAHABAD
NOW RESIDING AT HEERA NAGAR
HIRAPUR, KALABURAGI-585103
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. SANTOSH PATIL, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
Digitally signed by THROUGH KALABURAGI CITY
SHIVALEELA
DATTATRAYA UDAGI WOMAN POLICE STATION
Location: HIGH DIST KALABURAGI-585102
COURT OF
KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ADDL. SPP
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
KALABURAGI BENCH-585107
2. RESHMA W/O PRABHUKANT DHANNA
AGE: 30 YEARS, OCC: HOUSEWIFE
R/O HEERA NAGAR, HIRAPUR
KALABURAGI-585102
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI.GOPALKRISHNA B. YADAV, HCGP FOR R1;
SRI. K. H. RATHOD, ADV., FOR R2)
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NC: 2026:KHC-K:2730
CRL.P No. 201917 of 2025
HC-KAR
THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 528 OF BNSS (NEW), U/S.482
OF CR.P.C.(OLD), PRAYING TO A) QUASH THE ENTIRE
PROCEEDINGS IN C.C NO.11733/2025 PENDING ON THE FILE
OF I ADDL. CJ(JD) AND JMFC KALABURAGI, ARISING OUT OF
CRIME NO.56/2025 OF KALABURAGI CITY WOMAN PS,
DISTRICT KALABARUGI, REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCES
PUNISHABLE U/SEC.85, 115(2), 351, 352 OF BNS-2023 AND
U/SEC.3 AND 4 OF D.P. ACT, 1961.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
ORAL ORDER
The petitioner has filed this petition under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, 'BNSS, 2023') seeking following relief:
a) Quash the entire proceedings in C.C No.11733/2025 pending on the file of I-ADDL.
CJ(JD) & JMFC kalaburagi, arising out of Crime No.56/2025 of Kalaburagi City Woman PS, District Kalabarugi, registered for the offences punishable u/sec.85, 115(2), 351, 352 of BNS- 2023 and u/sec.3 and 4 of D.P. Act, 1961;
b) Pass any other appropriate order or directions as deemed fit by this Hon'ble Court under the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity.
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NC: 2026:KHC-K:2730 CRL.P No. 201917 of 2025 HC-KAR
2. On the basis of complaint filed by one Reshma, respondent No.1-Kalaburagi City Women Police have registered a case in Crime No.56/2025 against the petitioner-accused for the offences punishable under Sections 85, 115(2), 351, 352 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, 'BNS, 2023') and Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (for short, 'the D.P.Act'). Hence, the petitioner has filed this petition to quash the proceedings against him.
3. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner would submit that the allegation levelled against the petitioner is false and baseless. The petitioner being innocent is falsely implicated in the case by the complainant only to harass and humiliate him. There is a delay in lodging the complaint and the same is not properly explained. Earlier, the petitioner lodged a complaint against the complainant-Reshma and others in Crime No.75/2025 before Ashok Nagar Police Station, Kalaburagi on 02.05.2025 for the offences punishable -4- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2730 CRL.P No. 201917 of 2025 HC-KAR under Sections 189(2), 191(2) 191(3), 329(4), 127(2), 115(2), 118(1), 118(2), 352, 351(2), 351(3), 190 of BNS, 2023. The petitioner is a school teacher and is a respected person in the society. The complainant, in order to harass and humiliate the petitioner, has framed the petitioner in the instant case only to disrepute and cause annoyance. It is the complainant who has assaulted the petitioner to which the petitioner was admitted in the hospital and there are documents to prove the same. Hence, the complainant, by misusing the provisions of BNS-2023, has implicated the petitioner only to see that the petitioner faces difficulties in his job. The complainant has made general, vague and odd allegations against the petitioner. The police have charge-sheeted the petitioner. Although, there is no prima facie evidence against the petitioner to connect with the alleged offence except the cyclostyled statements of two witnesses, the initiation of criminal proceedings would be abuse of process of Court and the -5- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2730 CRL.P No. 201917 of 2025 HC-KAR same are liable to be quashed. On all these grounds, sought for allowing of the petition.
4. On the basis of the complaint filed by Reshma, the Women Police Station, Kalaburagi City have registered the case in Crime No.56/2025 against the petitioner for the commission of offence under Sections 85, 115(2), 351, 352 of BNS, 2023 and Sections 3 and 4 of D.P.Act, 1961. After registration of the case, the Investigating Officer has conducted the spot panchanama and recorded the statement of witnesses and on thorough investigation, the Investigating Officer has submitted the charge sheet against the accused for the aforesaid offences. In column No.17, it is alleged against the present petitioner as under:
" ಾನ ಾ ಾಲಯದ ಾ ೆ ಒಳಪಡುವ ಕಲಬುರ ನಗರದ ಮ ಾ ೕಸ #ಾ$ೆ ºÀ%&ಯ ಆ (ೈ* ಕಲಬುರ ನಗರದ ೕ+ಾನಗಳ ೕ+ಾಪ,ರ
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% ಾಂಕ:23.04.2025 ರಂದು +ಾQ3 9 ಗಂWೆ ೆ ೕ+ಾಪ,ರದ ೕ+ಾನಗರದ 6 ಈ 0ೋ.ಪತ3ದ -4ಾಲಂ ನಂ:14 ರ 6 ನಮೂದು ಾ7ದ 8ಾ9 ನಂ:01 ೆದ&ವರು ಗಂಡನ ಮ ೆಯ 60ಾ&ಗ ಆ+ೋ ತನು -ನ> ತವರು ಮ ೆMಂದ ಹಣ, ಬಂ ಾರ ತಂದು 4ೊಡು ಅಂFಾ 4ೇJ0ಾಗ ನನ> ತವರು ಮ ೆಯವರು ಬಡವG0ಾ&+ೆ ಎ 6ಂದ ತರುವLದು ಅಂFಾ 8ಾ9 ನಂ:01 ೆದ&ವರು ಆ+ೋ ತ- ೆ ಅಂ0ಾಗ K ರಂ7 ನನ ೆ ಅ ೆ;ಾ6 =ೇಳKೇಡ ನನ ೆ Xದಲು ಹಣ ಮತು ಬಂ ಾರ ತಂದು 4ೊಡು ಇಲ6%ದ&+ೆ -ನ ೆ ZಡುFೆ ೆ ಅಂFಾ =ೆದG4ೆ =ಾ* [ಾ* ನಂ:01 ೆದ&ವG ೆ ತನ> 4ೈMಂದ =ೊ\ೆಬ\ೆ ಾ7ರುFಾ ೆ.
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5. The alleged incident took place on 23.04.2025 at 09.00 p.m. in Heera Nagar, Hirapur, Kalaburagi. On perusal of FIR pertaining to Crime No.75/2025 filed by the present petitioner Prabhukant against the accused Nos.1 -7- NC: 2026:KHC-K:2730 CRL.P No. 201917 of 2025 HC-KAR to 9, which accused No.5 Reshma is one of the accused. This crime number is pertaining to the crime took place on 25.04.2024. After lapse of 7 days, the complainant has lodged a complaint to the police on 02.05.2025 against the accused for the commission of offences under Sections 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 329(4), 127(2), 115(2), 118(1), 118(2), 352, 351(2), 351(3), 190 of BNS-2023. The present petition is pertaining to crime No.56/2025 which had taken place on 23.04.2025. Hence, the incident is not at all relevant to Crime No.75/2025 of Ashok Nagar Police Station, Kalaburagi. Therefore, on this ground the proceedings cannot be quashed. On perusal of the materials placed before this Court, I do not find any ground to quash the proceedings as sought for. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following:
ORDER The petition is dismissed.
Sd/-
(G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE SDU,MSR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 27; CT-BH