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Sareeta vs The State
2026 Latest Caselaw 1282 Kant

Citation : 2026 Latest Caselaw 1282 Kant
Judgement Date : 13 February, 2026

[Cites 14, Cited by 0]

Karnataka High Court

Sareeta vs The State on 13 February, 2026

                                                 -1-
                                                            NC: 2026:KHC-K:1413
                                                       CRL.P No. 200095 of 2026


                      HC-KAR




                                 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
                                        KALABURAGI BENCH
                           DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
                                              BEFORE
                               THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K
                               CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 200095 OF 2026
                                      (482(Cr.PC)/528(BNSS))
                      BETWEEN:

                      1.   SAREETA
                           W/O NARASIMHULU SIRUVATI,
                           AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC: HOUSEHOLD,
                           R/O KUNCHAWARAM, TQ: CHINCHOLI
                           NOW RESIDING AT HO.NO 1-891/72/2,
                           GANESH NAGAR, OPP TO P AND T QUARTERS,
                           KALABURAGI-585103

                      2.   ARCHIT KUMAR @ MEETU
                           S/O NARASIMHULU SIRUVATI,
                           AGE:19 YEARS, OCC: STUDENT,
Digitally signed by        R/O MAHADEVAPPA GOUDA LAW COLLEGE,
SHIVALEELA
DATTATRAYA                 BIDAR, BIDAR-585401
UDAGI
Location: HIGH
COURT OF
KARNATAKA             3.   RAHUL
                           S/O NARASIMHULU SIRUVATI,
                           AGE: 15 YEARS, OCC: STUDENT,
                           BOSE MILITARY SCHOOL,
                           HOUSING BOARD COLONY,
                           DIST: KALABURAGI-585102

                                                                 ...PETITIONERS
                      (BY SRI. SHIVASHARANA REDDY., ADVOCATE)
                            -2-
                                      NC: 2026:KHC-K:1413
                                 CRL.P No. 200095 of 2026


HC-KAR




AND:

1.   THE STATE
     THROUGH KUNCHAWARAM P.S
     TQ: CHINCHOLLI,
     DIST: KALABURAGI-585103
     (REPT BY ADDL SPP
     HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
     AT KALABURAGI BENCH)

2.   SMT. SHREEDEVI
     W/O MOHAN KADAMANCHI,
     AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC: HOUSEHOLD,
     R/O KUNCHAWARAM, TQ: CHINCHOLI,
     DIST: KALABURAGI-585305

                                          ...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. G.B.YADAV, HCGP FOR R1;
NOTICE TO R2 SERVED BUT UN-REPRESENTED)

     THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 OF CR.P.C. (OLD), U/SEC.
528 OF BNSS (NEW), PRAYING TO, ALLOW THE PETITION AND
QUASH THE ENTIRE FIR, COMPLAINT AND CHARGE SHEET AND
ITS PROCEEDINGS INITIATED THEREOF AGAINST THE
PETITIONERS IN CRIME NO.45/2023 REGISTERED IN
C.C.NO.1422/2024 OF RESPONDENT NO.1 KUNCHAWARAM P.S.
TALUK-CHINCHOLI PENDING ON THE FILE OF PRL. CIVIL
JUDGE AND JMFC, AT CHINCHOLLI FOR THE OFFENCES
PUNISHABLE U/S 143,147,341,504,506 R/W 149 OF IPC AND
ETC.

       THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:


CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K
                                -3-
                                               NC: 2026:KHC-K:1413
                                       CRL.P No. 200095 of 2026


HC-KAR




                         ORAL ORDER

This criminal petition is filed under Section 528 of

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to quash the

proceedings against the petitioners/accused Nos.1 to 3 in

C.C.No.1422/2024, arising out of Crime No.45/2023,

registered by Kunchawaram Police for the offences

punishable under Sections 143, 147, 341, 504 and 506

r/w Section 149 of IPC.

2. The factual matrix of the case is, respondent

No.2 lodged a complaint before respondent No.1-Police

alleging that on 07.09.2023 at about 11.00 a.m., when the

petitioners are constructing a compound wall to their

house premises, the complainant and her husband

questioned the same. At that time, these petitioners

abused the complainant in filthy language and when her

husband came to pacify the quarrel, they given life threat

to him. As such, she lodged the complaint on 26.12.2023,

which registered in Crime No.45/2023 for the

aforementioned offences. Subsequently, respondent No.1-

NC: 2026:KHC-K:1413

HC-KAR

Police laid a charge sheet against the petitioners.

Accordingly, the learned magistrate took cognizance of the

aforesaid offences. Being aggrieved by the same, the

petitioners are before this Court.

3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and

learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent-

State. Though notice is served to respondent No.2, she

remained absent.

4. Apart from urging several contentions, learned

counsel for the petitioners primarily contended that

petitioner No.1 i.e., accused No.1 lodged a complaint

against the complainant, her husband and family members

on 07.09.2023 while constructing the compound wall to

their house. The said complaint was registered in Crime

No.33/2023 dated 07.09.2023 for the offences punishable

under Sections 143, 147, 341, 504, 506, r/w 149 of IPC.

As a counter blast for the said complaint, the present

complaint has been lodged by the complainant after lapse

NC: 2026:KHC-K:1413

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of 110 days with the similar allegations. Accordingly, he

prays to allow the petition.

5. Per contra, learned High Court Government

Pleader opposed the petition on the ground that, as a

counter complaint, this case has been filed for the incident

held on 07.09.2023. However, the delay in filing the

complaint is for the reason that the husband of

complainant is Public Prosecutor, as such, she afraid to

lodge the complaint due to the consequences of criminal

case. Accordingly, he submits that there are prima facie

materials forthcoming against the petitioners and now the

charge sheet has been laid against the petitioners, the

proceedings cannot be quashed. Hence, he prays to

dismiss the petition.

6. I have given my anxious consideration both on

the submissions made by the learned counsel for the

respective parties and the documents available on record.

NC: 2026:KHC-K:1413

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7. It is the case of the complainant that when the

petitioner/accused No.1 and her family members were

constructing the compound wall to their house, the

complainant and her husband questioned the same, as

such the alleged incident was caused. In respect of the

said incident, petitioner No.1 i.e., accused No.1 lodged the

complaint, which was registered against the complainant

and her family members in Crime No.33/2023 as stated

supra. In the said complaint, it is categorically stated that

the complainant and her husband questioned the

construction of compound wall and made an attempt to

assault the petitioners by abusing them in filthy language.

Later, after 110 days of registration of the said FIR, the

present complaint is lodged by the complainant as a

counter blast. The delay in lodging this complaint has not

been properly explained by the complainant except stating

that, since her husband is a Public Prosecutor, she afraid

of the consequences of criminal proceedings. The said

explanation is not a probable one. On overall perusal of

NC: 2026:KHC-K:1413

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the complaint averments and other charge sheet

materials, except the vague and omnibus allegations

against this petitioners, absolutely there are no prima facie

case made out against the petitioners for the offences

they have been charge sheeted.

8. It is now well settled that, continuation of

criminal proceedings against any person on the basis of a

frivolous or vexatious complaint is something very serious.

This would tarnish the image of the person against whom

false, frivolous and vexatious allegations are leveled. The

Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Mohammad Wajid v.

State of U.P. reported in 2023 SCC OnLine SC 951,

held that whenever an accused comes before the Court

invoking either the inherent powers under Section 482 of

Cr.P.C or extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of

constitution to get the FIR or criminal proceedings

quashed essentially on the ground that such proceedings

are manifestly frivolous or vexatious or instituted with the

ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance, then in such

NC: 2026:KHC-K:1413

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circumstance, Court owes a duty to look into the FIR with

care and a little more closely. It will not be just enough for

the Court to look into the averments made in the

FIR/complaint alone for the purpose of ascertaining

whether the necessary ingredients to constitute the

alleged offence are disclosed or not. On the other hand,

the Court owes a duty to look into many other attending

circumstance emerging from the record of the case over

and above the averments and, if need be, with due care

and circumspection try to read in between the lines. The

Court while exercising its jurisdiction under Section 482 of

Cr.P.C or Article 226 of Constitution need not restrict itself

only to the stage of a case, but is empowered to take into

a count the overall circumstances leading to the

initiation/registration of the case as well as the materials

collected in the course of investigation.

9. I am of the considered view that, even if entire

allegation in the FIR and other documents taken into

consideration on its face value, no case has been made

NC: 2026:KHC-K:1413

HC-KAR

against the petitioners for the offences alleged against

them. Hence, continuation of proceedings against

petitioners/accused Nos.1 to 3 is abuse of process of

Court. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following;


                                           ORDER
      i.        The petition is allowed.

      ii.       The               proceedings             against             the
                petitioners/accused             Nos.1         to        3      in
                C.C.No.1422/2024,             arising      out     of       Crime
                No.45/2023,            registered     by      Kunchawaram
                Police,       for    the   offences       punishable        under

Sections 143, 147, 341, 504 and 506 r/w Section 149 of IPC, is hereby quashed.

Sd/-

(RAJESH RAI K) JUDGE

MSR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 14 CT-BH

 
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