Karnataka High Court

Mallikarjunayya Gurumurthayya Math vs State Of Karnataka on 24 October, 2024

Author: M.Nagaprasanna

Bench: M.Nagaprasanna

                                                  -1-
                                                               NC: 2024:KHC:42808
                                                         CRL.P No. 13025 of 2023




                           IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

                             DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2024

                                               BEFORE
                             THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
                                CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13025 OF 2023
                      BETWEEN:

                      1.    MALLIKARJUNAYYA GURUMURTHAYYA MATH,
                            S/O GURUMURTHAYYA MATH,
                            AGE 50 YEARS, OCC: JOURNALIST,
                            R/O GADAD GALLI, JAMKHANDI,
                            DIST: BAGALKOT - 587 301.

                      2.    MALLIKARJUN B INDI,
                            AGE 65 YEARS, OCC: RETD.,
                            R/O OLD FOREST OFFICE,
                            NEAR GANESH TEMPLE, JAMKHANDI,
                            DIST: BAGALKOT - 587 301.

                      3.    JAGADEESH SHIVAYYA GUDUGUNTI,
                            S/O SHIVAYYA GUDUGUNTI,
                            AGED 68 YEARS, OCC: BUSINESS AND
                            MEMBER OF KARNATAKA LEGISLATIVE
Digitally signed by         ASSEMBLY, R/O ADARSH NAGAR,
NAGAVENI
Location: HIGH
                            HUNNUR ROAD, JAMKHANDI,
COURT OF                    DIST: BAGALKOT - 587 301.
KARNATAKA                                                          ...PETITIONERS
                      (BY SRI. GIRISH A. YADAWAD, ADVOCATE)
                      AND:

                      1.    STATE OF KARNATAKA,
                            JAMKHANDI TOWN PS,
                            TQ: JAMKHANDI, DIST: BAGALKOT - 587 301,
                            REPRESENTED BY SPP,
                            HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 01.

                      2.    JAGADEESHKUMAR,
                            S/O RACHAPPA HUDEDAMANI,
                               -2-
                                           NC: 2024:KHC:42808
                                     CRL.P No. 13025 of 2023




    AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS,
    OCC: GOVT. OFFICIAL GAZETTED,
    R/O GLBC OFFICER, NOW AT FLYING SQUAD,
    MINI VIDHANA SOUDHA,
    JAMKHANDI, DIST: BAGALKOT - 587 301.
                                          ...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. B.N. JAGADEESHA, ADLL. SPP FOR R1;
    R2 - SERVED)

     THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.PC PRAYING TO
QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN C.C.NO.1394/2023
REGISTERED AGAINST THE PETITIONERS ON THE FILE OF
PRL.CIVIL JUDGE AND J.M.F.C JAMKHANDI FOR THE OFFENCE
P/U/S 171H OF IPC AND SEC.127A OF REPRESENTATION OF
PEOPLES ACT.

    THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM:       HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA


                        ORAL ORDER

Heard Sri. Girish A. Yadawad, learned counsel appearing

for the petitioners, Sri. B.N. Jagadeesha, the learned Addl.SPP

appearing for the respondents and have perused the material

on record.

2. The petitioners are before this Court calling in

question the proceedings in C.C.No.1394/2023 registered for

offences punishable under Sections 171A of the IPC and under

Section 127A of the Representation of the People Act.

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3. The learned counsel for the petitioners would

submit that the issue in the case at hand stands covered by the

judgment rendered by this Court in Crl.P.No.12344/2023

disposed on 22.08.2024, wherein this Court has held as

follows:

"The afore-narrated facts are not in dispute. The issue lies in a narrow compass. The entire issue has now triggered on the complaint so registered by the 2nd respondent. The complaint reads as follows:

           "ಇವ    ೆ,
             ೕ      ಸ ಇ ೆಕ
           ¸ÁªÀ¼ÀV ¥ÉÆ°Ã¸ï oÁuÉ

ಾನು ಪವನ ಕುರ ಂಗ ೈಯ ಮೂವ ೊ!ಂದು ವಷ$ ವಲಯ ಅರಣ( ಅ)*ಾ ಜಮಖಂ- (7892 947234) ಬ/ೆದು*ೊಡುವ 12ಾ$3 ಏ ೆಂದ/ೆ,

ಾನು ಜಮಖಂ-ಯ 5 ವಲಯ ಅರಣ( ಅ)*ಾ , 6ಾ78ೇ9ಕ ವಲಯ ಜಮಖಂ-, ಎಂದು *ಾಯ$ ವ$;ಸು<!ದು=, >ಾನ( ?@ಾ5)*ಾ ಗಳB Cಾಗೂ ?@ಾ5, ಚು ಾವEಾ ಅ)*ಾ ಗಳB Fಾಗಲ*ೋGೆ ರವರ ಆ8ೇಶದ Jೕ/ೆ ೆ ಕ ಾ$ಟಕ LMಾನಸNೆ Oಾವ$<ಕ ಚು ಾವEೆ-2023 ಜಮಖಂ LMಾನಸNಾ Pೇತ7-21ರ OಾವಳR CೋಬSಯ ¥ÁèTಂU ¸ÁÌ÷éV ಎಂದು ೇಮಕ >ಾ-ರು ಾ!/ೆ.

ಈ 3ವಸ 3 ಾಂಕ 28.04.2023 ರಂದು /ಾ<7 7.30 ಗಂGೆಯ ಸು>ಾ ೆ ಾನು ಮತು! ನಮX ತಂಡದ ಸದಸ(/ಾದ ಉJೕZ, ಎ . OಾವಳR PDO ಕಡಪ[ , ಲ\]ಣ ಇಮX- PC-IIII OಾವಳR ಇವ/ೊಂ3 ೆ ಚು ಾವEಾ 6ೆGೊ7ೕ ಂಗ >ಾಡು ಾಗ Nಾರ<ೕಯ ಜನ ಾ ಪ\ದ ಅಭ(_$2ಾದ 97ೕ ಜಗ3ೕZ ಗುಡಗುಂ[ರವರ ಚು ಾವEಾ ಪ7`ಾ/ಾಥ$ ಾR ಕವಟR ಾ7ಮದ ಸ*ಾ$ bಾ@ೆ ಎದುರುಗcೆ ಅನುಮ< ಇಲ58ೆ ಎರಡು JCBಗಳನು ಉಪdೕRe ಹೂ ಎರgರು ಾ!/ೆ ;ೕ ೆ ಚು ಾವEಾ ಅ)*ಾ ಗಳ ಅನುಮ< ಪcೆಯ8ೆ JCBಗಳನು ಪ7`ಾರ*ೆh ಉಪdೕReದು= ಚು ಾವEಾ ಯಮಗಳ ಉಲ5ಂಘ ೆ2ಾRರುತ!8ೆ.

ಆದ= ಂದ Nಾರ<ೕಯ ಜನ ಾ ಪ\ದ ಅ_$2ಾದ 1) 97ೕ ಜRೕZ ಗುಡಗುಂ[, ಪ\ದ ಪ7`ಾರ*ೆh ಅನುಮ< ಪcೆದು*ೊಂಡ 2) 97ೕ ಚಂದ7*ಾಂತ ತ ಉಪzÉå Oಾ।। ಜಮಖಂ-, Cಾಗೂ ಅನುಮ< ಪcೆಯ8ೆ ಉಪdೕReದ JCB ಾಹನಗಳ 3) ನಂ KA 48N 0276 ಮತು! 4) chassis number HAR3DXSSKO2981971 (ನಂಬರ 5ೕj

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ಆಳವ-eರುವk3ಲ5) >ಾ ೕಕರ Jೕ@ೆ ಚು ಾವEಾ ಯ>ಾವSಗಳನು ಉಲ5ಂಘ ೆ >ಾ-ದ ಬ ೆl ಸೂಕ! *ಾನೂನು ಕ7ಮ *ೈ ೊಳmಲು *ೋ 8ೆ.

¢£ÁAPÀ: 28.04.2023 ಸnಳ: OಾವಳR

ತಮX Lbಾoe,

(ಪವನ ಕುರ ಂಗ) ವಲಯ ಅರಣ( ಅ)*ಾ ಜಮಖಂ-"

The complaint alleges that a JCB was used to get the flowers showered upon the accused No.1, the candidate for the assembly elections at that point in time and this was done without the permission of the Election Officer. Broadly this is the complaint so registered. The police, after investigation, have filed a charge sheet against these petitioners and other accused. The summary of the charge sheet as obtaining in column No.17 reads as follows:

"17. *ೇeನ ಸಂqಪ! Oಾ/ಾಂಶ

ಸ ) *ೋಟ$ ಸXಳ eೕJಯ ಹ3= 6ೈr OಾವಳR ೕಸ sಾEೆಯ ಾ(1!ಯ 5 ಬರತಕh sಾEೆTಂ8ಾ ಪtವ$*ೆh 20 r.vೕ ಅಂತರದ 5 ಕವಟR ಾ7ಮದ ಸರ*ಾ bಾ@ೆಯ ಎದುರುಗcೆ 3 ಾಂಕ: 28/04/2023 ರಂದು /ಾ<7 19.30 ಘಂGೆ ಸು>ಾ ೆ ಇದರ 5 8ೋwಾ/ೋಪಣ ಪತ7 *ಾಲಂ:ನಂ: 14 ರ 5 ನಮೂ3eದ `ಾ Oಾ ನಂ: 1 ಮತು! 3 4 ಇವರು ಚು ಾವEಾ 6ೆGೊ7ೕ ಂಗ >ಾಡು ಾಗ 8ೊwಾ/ೋಪಣ ಪತ7 *ಾಲಂ ನಂ: 12 ರ 5., ನಮೂ3eದ Fಾ ಜ ಪ ಅಭ(_$2ಾದ ಜಗ3ಶ 9ವAiÀÄå ಗುಡಗುಂ[ Oಾ|| ಜಮಖಂ- ಇವರು Cಾಗೂ ಚಂದ7*ಾಂತ ತವನ¥Àà ಉ6ಾದ(ಯ Oಾ|| ಕವಟR ಇವರು ಪ\ದ ಪ7`ಾರ*ೆh ಅನುಮ< ಪcೆದು*ೊಂ-ದು=, ಸದ ಯವರು ಹೂ ಎರಚಲು ಅನುಮ< ಪcೆಯ8ೇ ಆ6ಾ3ತ D£ÀA: 3 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 4 ೇದವರು xೆe1 >ಾ ೕಕ Cಾಗೂ `ಾಲಕರು ಇದು= ಆ6ಾ3ತ ಅನಂ: 4 ೇದವನು ತನ xೆey ಾಹನ*ೆh ೋಂದz ಸಂ{ೆ( ಬ/ೆTಸ8ೇ 8ೊwಾ/ೋಪಣ ಪತ7 *ಾಲಂ ನಂ: 11 ರ 5 ನಮೂ3eದ xೆey ಾಹನಗಳನು ಹೂ ಎರಚಲು ಉಪdೕRe ಚು ಾವEಾ ೕ< ಸಂ; ೆ ಉಲ5ಂಘ ೆ >ಾ-ದ ಅಪ/ಾಧ.

ಕಲಂ: 171 (Cೆ}) ಐ.1.e, ಮತು!, 192(ಎ) ಎ• «í *ಾ€=."

It now becomes necessary to consider whether the complaint or the summary of the charge sheet would

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make out an offence under Section 171H of the IPC. Section 171H of the IPC reads as follows:

"171-H. Illegal payments in connection with an election.--Whoever without the general or special authority in writing of a candidate incurs or authorizes expenses on account of the holding of any public meeting, or upon any advertisement, circular or publication, or in any other way whatsoever for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of such candidate, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees:

Provided that if any person having incurred any such expenses not exceeding the amount of ten rupees without authority obtains within ten days from the date on which such expenses were incurred the approval in writing of the candidate, he shall be deemed to have incurred such expenses with the authority of the candidate."

Section 171(h) deals with illegal payments in connection with an election. The allegation is not that the petitioners indulged in any illegal payments being made. It is the usage of the vehicles aforesaid, for the purpose of showering of flowers in the campaign for election. The usage of vehicles is what is now become the bone of contention.

8. As observed hereinabove, Section 171H has certain ingredients of distribution of money during the election campaign that is not the complaint, that is not the charge laid against the petitioners nor the ingredients of Section 171H of the IPC is met even to its remotest sense in the case at hand.

9. The other offence that is alleged against the petitioners is the offence under Section 192A of the MV Act. It is an admitted fact that the vehicles did not belong to these petitioners, but to accused Nos.3 and 4 who are alleged to have used the vehicles without number plates. Therefore, it is for those accused to answer the said charge and not these petitioners.

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10. In that light permitting further proceedings against these petitioners for the aforesaid offences would become an abuse of the process of the law and result in miscarriage of justice.

11. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: