HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 21^ST DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE M G UMA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 6498 OF 2019 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8218 OF 2019 IN CRL.P No. 6498/2019:

BETWEEN:

SRI. SRINIVAS S/O. DASAPPA AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, RESIDING AT 56, 15^TH MAIN, 15^TH CROSS, J.C. NAGAR, KURUBARAHALLI, BENGALURU-560086.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. VASANTH MADHAVA S., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by PRASHANTH N V THE STATE OF KARNATAKA Location: H igh Court of BY KORMANGALA P.S, BANGALORE Karnataka REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, KARNATAKA HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE-560001.

…RESPONDENT (BY SMT. SOWMYA R., HCGP)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 OF THE CR.P.C PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 19.09.2016 IN CR.NO.484/2015 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE COURT OF THE XLV ADDITIONAL CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE BENGALURU THEREBY TAKING COGNIZANCE AGAINST THE PETITIONER UNDER 120-B, 420, 468, 471, 511 R/W SECTION HC-KAR

34 OF IPC R/W SECTION 59, 61, 62, 63(A) KARNATAKA STAMP ACT-1957 AND SECTION 04, 05, 06 OF THE KARNATAKA STAMP (FRANKING IMPRESSION OF STAMPS) RULES 2000, AND CONSEQUENTLY QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS PENDING THEREON.

IN CRL.P NO. 8218/2019:

BETWEEN:

SRI KRISHNA B D S/O HUCHHAIAHA, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, HOUSE NO.156, 6^TH BLOCK, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU-95.

...PETITIONER (BY SRI. VASANTH MADHAVA S., ADVOCATE)

AND:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY KORMANGALA P.S., BANGALORE REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, KARNATAKA HIGH COURT BUILDING, BANGALORE-560 001.

...RESPONDENT (BY SMT. SOWMYA R., HCGP)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 CR.P.C PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 20.09.2016 IN CR.NO.484/2015 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE COURT OF THE XLV ADDITIONAL CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE, AT BENGALURU THEREBY TAKING COGNIZANCE AGAINST THE PETITIONER BY REGISTERING C.C.NO.21505/2016 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 120B, 420, 468, 471, 511 R/W 34 OF IPC, SECTION 59, 61, 62, 63(A) KARNATAKA STAMP ACT AND SECTION 04, 05, 06 OF THE KARNATAKA STAMP (FRANKING IMPRESSION OF STAMPS) RULE AND HC-KAR CONSEQUENTLY QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS PENDING THEREON. I.A.NO.1/2019 FOR STAY.I.A.NO.1/2019 FILED BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING TO STAY THE FURTHER PROCEEDINGS IN C.C.NO.21505/2016, ON THE FILE OF THE XLV A.C.M.M., AT BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 120B,420,468,471,511 R/W 34 OF IPC, SECTION 59,61,62,63(A) KARNATAKA STAMP ACT AND SECTION 4,5,6 OF THE KARNATAKA STAMP (FRANKING IMPRESSION OF STAMPS) RULE, UNTIL DISPOSAL OF THE ABOVE CRL.P FOR THE REASONS STATED THEREIN.

THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE M G UMA COMMON ORAL ORDER Petitioner - accused No.2 in Crl.P.No.6498/2019 and petitioner - accused No.1 in Crl.P.No.8218/2019 in C.C.No.21505/2016 on the file of the learned XLV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 120(B), 420, 468, 471 and 511 read with Section 34 of IPC, under Sections 59, 61, 62 and 63(A) of Karnataka Stamp Act, 1957 and under Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Karnataka Stamp (Franking Impression of Stamps) Rules 2000, are seeking to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against them.

HC-KAR

2. Heard Sri. Vasanth Madhava S., learned counsel for the petitioners, Sri. , learned HCGP for respondent. Perused the materials on record.

3. In view of the rival contentions urged by the learned counsel for both the parties, the point that would arise for my consideration is:

"Whether the petitioners have made out any grounds to allow the petitions and to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against them?"

My answer to the above point is in the 'Affirmative' for the following:

REASONS

4. It is the contention of prosecution that CW.1 being the Police Inspector in CCB, Bengaluru received a credible information that huge quantity of 2 rupees stamp papers which are pre franked, with notary seal and signature are stored in shop No.58 of Srinidhi Enterprises. According