IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 883 OF 2025 BETWEEN:

1. MRS. KATHERINE CARL AGED 31 YEARS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS AMIDHA PRINCY FLORIDA D/O MR. SUDHIR KUMAR NO. 341, 2^ND CROSS

5^TH MAIN, NGEF EAST BANGALORE - 560 038 …COMPLAINANT (BY SRI PRUTHA BHARATHI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by

1. MR. RAKESH CHRISTOPHER VEERENDRA KUMAR K M AGED 38 YEARS Location: PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS High Court RAKESH RAJAN. D of Karnataka S/O LATE N. DAS APT. NO. 401, SKS INFINITY NO.121, 3^RD 'A' CROSS KASTURI NAGAR BANGALORE - 560 043 …ACCUSED (BY SRI MANU SHANKAR B., ADVOCATE FOR SMT. P BHAGYA LAKSHMI, ADVOCATE)

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 10 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971 PRAYING TO INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ACCUSED AS HE HAS WILLFULLY DISOBEYED THE ORDER OF I^ST ADDL. PRINCIPAL JUDGE, FAMILY COURT, BANGALORE, DATED 04.09.2024 PASSED IN M.C. 5505/2024 AND PUNISH THE ACCUSED.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)

1. The complainant has filed the present complaint alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 04.09.2024 passed by the learned I Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, Bengaluru in M.C.No.5505/2024.

2. The said petition was disposed of by taking on record the memorandum of settlement entered into between the parties. In terms of the said settlement, the accused was at liberty to visit the child weekly twice on every Sunday and Monday at a common place. The complainant alleges that the said arrangement was being adhered to. However, on 02.07.2025, the accused, under the pretext of visiting the child, removed the child from her custody. It is alleged that, thereafter, the accused has declined to hand over the child to her, despite several appeals made by her in this regard. 3. It is the accused's case that the complainant had voluntarily handed over the child to him as she did not wish to take the responsibility of his custody. He has also annexed some WhatsApp messages in support of his plea. Most importantly, the accused has thereafter moved the Family Court and filed a petition for custody of the minor child in G and WC No.260/2025. The learned Family Court had passed an interim order dated 19.07.2025, granting an exparte injunction restraining the complainant from forcibly taking away the child from the custody of the accused.

4. This Court is informed that the learned Family Court has disposed of the said petition, and granted custody of the child to the accused.

5. In the given circumstances, we do not consider it apposite to initiate any proceedings under the Contempt to Courts Act, 1971.

6. The complaint is, accordingly, closed.

7. We, however, clarify that this order would not preclude the complainant from availing any remedy, that is otherwise available, albeit in accordance with law.

Sd/-

(VIBHU BAKHRU)

CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/-

(C.M. POONACHA)

JUDGE KMV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 6