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.1994/2019 C/W CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1918/2019 IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1994/2019:

BETWEEN:

1 . SANDEEP S/O NARAYAN GOWDA AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS OCC: FARMER R/O KIKKERI THIRTHAHALLI-577 432.

2 . ESHWARANAYAK S/O TAKANAYAK AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS OCC: FARMER R/O BILLODI HOSANAGARA-577 418.

3 . SHRINIDHI S/O NAGENDRANAYAK AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS OCC: LABOURER R/O BILLODI HOSANAGARA TALUK-577 418.

… APPELLANTS (BY SRI. RAJESH RAO K., ADVOCATE)

AND:

1 . STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THIRTHAHALLI P.S.

REPRESENTED BY S.P.P.

HIGH COURT COMPLEX BENGALURU-560 001. … RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP)

THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 374(2)

OF CR.PC PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION DATED 26.09.2019 AND SENTENCE DATED 30.09.2019, PASSED BY THE III ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE, SHIVAMOGGA, IN S.C.NO.28/2018, CONVICTING THE APPELLANT/ACCUSED NOS.1 TO 3 FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 323 R/W 34 OF IPC AND SECTION 302 R/W 120B OF IPC.

IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1918/2019:

BETWEEN:

1 . SATHISH K.N., S/O NAGAP