IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1231 OF 2023 (C)

BETWEEN:

GURUMURTHY M.R @ GURU @ GOMBE S/O RAGHU AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS R/A AMBEDKAR VEEDHI ALAMPUR VILLAGE CHIKKAMAGALURU - 577 101.

…APPELLANT (BY SRI NIRMALA KRISHNA, ADV.)

AND:

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BANAKAL POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001.

2. LAKSHMI W/O GANESH B.D.

Digitally signed by NANDINI M AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS S R/A BETTEGERE VILLAGE Location: HIG H COURT OF BANAKAL HOBLI KARNATAKA MUDIGERE TALUK CHIKKAMAGALURU - 577 113.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R-1;

SRI A PUNEETH KUMAR, ADV., FOR R-2)

THIS CRL.A IS FILED U/S.374(2) CR.P.C PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT AND CONVICTION SENTENCE DATED 31.07.2021 IN SPECIAL CASE (POCSO) NO.14/2020 ON THE FILE OF THE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC I CHIKKAMAGALURU CONVICTED FOR OFFENCE P/U/S.376(2)(n),450,506 OF IPC AND SEC.5(j)(ii),5(L),6 OF POCSO ACT 2012 AND ACQUIT THE APPELLANT.

THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR DICTATING ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUS