IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 06^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.495 OF 2013 BETWEEN:

LOHITH S/O K. R. PUPPEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, AGRICULTURIST R/O KABBIGERE VILLAGE AMBLE HOBLI, CHIKKAMAGALUR TALUK CHIKMAGALUR DISTRICT-577101.

...APPELLANT (BY SRI. MOHAN BHAT, ADV.)

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER CHIKMAGALUR RURAL POLICE STATION CHIKMAGALUR - 577101.

…RESPONDENT (BY SRI. B. LAKSHMAN, HCGP)

THIS CRL.A IS FILED U/S 14(A)(2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED: 26.3.13 PASSED BY THE ADDL. S.J., CHIKMAGALUR IN S.C.NO.90/2008 - CONVICTING THE APPELLANT/ACCUSED FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 376 OF IPC AND ETC.

THIS APPEAL HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR JUDGMENT ON 19.12.2025 AND COMING ON FOR "PRONOUNCEMENT OF ORDERS" THIS DAY, THE COURT, DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CAV JUDGMENT

1. The appellant has preferred this appeal against the judgment of conviction dated 26^th March, 2013 and order on sentence dated 27^th March 2013 passed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chikkamagaluru, in SC No.90 of

2008.

2. For the sake o