IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE H.P. SANDESH AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.8 OF 2019 CONNECTED WITH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.917 OF 2018 CRL.A. NO.8/2019:

BETWEEN:

MALLIKARJUNA S/O. THIMMAPPA AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS OCC: AGRICULTURIST AND ALSO AUTORICKSHAW DRIVER RESIDENT OF GUDISALAPALLI VILLAGE D. HIREHAL MANDAL, RAYADURGA TALUK ANANTHAPUR DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH - 515 865.

…APPELLANT (BY SRI P.B. UMESH, ADVOCATE, FOR SRI R.B. DESHPANDE)

AND:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THALAK POLICE STATION CHITRADURGA DISTRICT-577 543 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001.

…RESPONDENT (BY SRI VIJAYAKUMAR MAJAGE, S.P.P-II)

CRL.A. NO.917/2018:

BETWEEN:

1. SURESHA S/O. THIMMA REDDY AGED ABOUT 21 YEARS OCC: AGRICULTURIST RESIDENT OF GUDISALAPALLI VILLAGE D. HIREHAL MANDAL, RAYADURGA TALUK ANANTHAPUR DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH STATE - 515 865.

2. PAMPANA GOWDA @ GOWDA S/O. GOVAPPA AGED ABOUT 21 YEARS OCC: AGRICULTURIST RESIDENT OF GUDISALAPALLI VILLAGE D. HIREHAL MANDAL, RAYADURGA TALUK ANANTHAPUR DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH STATE - 515 865.

…APPELLANTS (BY SRI P.B. UMESH, AD