IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 4^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 100082 OF 2015 (C)

BETWEEN:

SURESH S/O SURYANARAYAN KARADE, AGE:56 YEARS, OCC: VILLAGE ACCOUNTANT OF HIREMUNAVALLI, R/O: SAUNDATTI, DIST: BELAGAVI …APPELLANT (BY SRI. A.M. GUNDAWADE, ADVOCATE)

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY SPECIAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH, AT: DHARWAD.

THROUGH LOKAYUKTA PI, ELAGAVI.

…RESPONDENT CHANDRASHEKAR (BY SRI. SANTOSH B. MALAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE)

LAXM AN KATTIMANI THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED U/S 374(2) OF CR.P.C.

SEEKING TO ALLOW THE APPEAL AND TO PASS JUDGMENT OF Digitally signed by ACQUITTAL BY SETTING ASIDE THE JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION AND CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI ORDER OF SENTENCE PASSED BY THE IV-ADDL. DIST. & SESSIONS &

Date: 2026.02.13 SPL. JUDGE (PCA), BELAGAVI, IN SPL. CASE NO.19/2013 FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES PUNISHABLE U/S 7, 13(1)(D) R/W 13(2) OF PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT, 1988.

THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR FURTHER HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

ORAL JUDGMENT

(PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA)

1. Heard Sri.A.M.Gundawade, learned counsel appea