HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO.9356 OF 2025 (482(CR.PC)/

528(BNSS))

C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO.9844 OF 2025 IN CRL.P NO. 9356/2025 BETWEEN:

M/S. REWARD360 GLOBAL SERVICES PVT. LTD., HAVING OFFICE AT: FORTUNE SUMMIT BUSINESS PARK, PLOT NO.244, 6^TH FLOOR, WEST SIDE, HOSUR RD, BENGALURU-560 068.

REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE MR. TENZIN KHANGSAR.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI.GAURAV GANAPATHY C.G, FOR SRI.ANAND MUTTALLI, ADVOCATES)

AND:

VIJAYALAKSHMI 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA M KANKUPPI R/BY SOUTH EAST CEN POLICE STATION, Digitally signed by THROUGH STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, VIJAYALAKSHMI M KANKUPPI HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001.

Location: HIGHCOURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH DHARWAD

2. LAKSHMIPATHI, S/O. DHAMODHAR NAIDU, AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS, R/AT.NO.3-8, CR KANDIGA JANGAMAIAHGARI OORU, PENAMURU, CHITOOR, ANDHRA PRADESH-517 001.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.ANOOP KUMAR M.V., HCGP FOR R1; SRI.P.PRASANNA KUMAR, SR. COUNSEL FOR SRI.CHETAN JADHAV, ADVOCATE FOR R2)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 CR.PC,1973, PRAYING TO I. CALL FOR THE RECORDS IN C.C.NO.11286/2024 HC-KAR PENDING BEFORE THE 45^TH ADDITIONAL CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE. II. SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 19.04.2025 PASSED BY THE HON’BLE 45^TH ADDITIONAL CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE IN C.C.NO.11286/2024, WHEREIN THE TRAIL COURT HAS REJECTED THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER UNDER SECTION 451 R/W. 457 OF CR PC (ANNEXURE A). III. DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE THE SEIZED ARTICLES SUBJECTED TO PF NO.43/2023, PF NO.44/2023, PF NO.45/2023, PF NO.46/2023 MENTIONED IN THE TABLE BELOW IN FAVOUR OF THE PETITIONER.

IN CRL.P NO. 9844/2025 BETWEEN:

B. LAKSHMIPATHI S/O. B. DAMODAR NAIDU, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, OCCUPATION: BUSINESS, R/O NO.3-8, C.R. KANDIGA, JANGAMAIAHGARI OORU, PENUMURU, CHITTURU, ANDRA PRADESH-517126.

PRESENTLY RESIDING AT NO.604, H.R.COVIVIN, P.G., WHITE ROSE LAYOUT, HC-KAR WHITE FIELD, BENGALURU-560066.

...PETITIONER (BY SRI.P.PRASANNA KUMAR, SR. COUNSEL FOR SRI.CHETAN JADHAV, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SOUTH EAST CEN P.S, REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001.

2. MRS.BEDISHA KARMAKAR, W/O. KARMAKAR, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION: EMPLOYEE IN PVT. FIRM, R/O. FORTUNE SUMMIT BUSINESS PARK, HOSUR MAIN ROAD, BENGALURU-560030.

...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.ANOOP KUMAR M.V., HCGP FOR R1;

SRI.GAURAV GANAPATHY C.G., FOR SRI.ANAND MUTTALLI, ADVOCATE FOR R2)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF CR.P.C, PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE RELEVANT RECORDS AND TO SET ASIDE THE ENTIRE ORDER DATED 19.04.2025 PASSED BY THE LEARNED XLV ADDL CJM, BENGALURU IN C.C.NO.11286/2024 THEREBY REJECTING THE APPLICATION DATED 27.05.2024 FILED BY THE PETITIONER UNDER SECTIONS 451,457 OF CR.P.C. FOR RELEASE OF ARTICLES IN P.F.NOS.43, 45, 46/2023 WITH A DIRECTION TO RELEASE THE ARTICLES OF THE PETITIONERS, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND ETC.

THESE CRIMINAL PETITIONS HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED ON 02.12.2025, COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT OF JUDGMENT THIS DAY, COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ HC-KAR

CAV ORDER

1. These Criminal Petitions arise out of a common order dated 19.04.2025 passed by the learned XLV Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru. Since the reliefs sought in both the petitions are indentical and arise out of the same set of facts, they are taken up together and disposed of by this common order.

2. Crl.P. No.9356/2025 is filed by M/s Reward

360 Global Services Private Limited, the de-facto complainant, whereas Crl.P. No.9844/2025 is filed by Sri Bodhuluru Lakshmipathi, the accused, in respect of the very same crime.

3. The petitioners have invoked the inherent jurisdiction of this Court under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C (Section 528 of the BNSS, 2023) seeking to set aside the impugned order and for consequential release of the seized articles.

HC-KAR

4. The criminal procee