CAV ORDER

Batch of these petitions call in question a solitary order dated 30-10-2024, passed by the LXXXI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru in Special C.C.No.565 of 2021 whereby the concerned Court grants pardon to accused No.1/Basavaraj Shivappa Muttagi and considers him as an approver under Section 306 of the Cr.P.C.

2. Petitioner in Criminal Petition No.12176 of 2024 is accused No.15; petitioners in Criminal Petition No. 12188 of 2024 are accused Nos. 8 to 14; petitioner in Criminal Petition No.12492 of 2024 is accused No.16 and petitioner in Criminal Petition No.12479 of 2014 is accused No.19. Therefore, accused Nos. 8 to 16 and 19 in all are before this court in these petitions. Since these petitions call in question a solitary order, they are taken up together and considered by this common order.

3. For the sake of convenience, the pleadings and contentions in Criminal Petition No.12176 of 2024, which are common in all the petitions, are noticed.

4. Adumbrated in brief, the factual background, as projected by the petitioner/s are as follows:- The history of the