IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.P.SANDESH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.751/2018 C/W.

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.318/2018 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.606/2018 IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.751/2018:

BETWEEN:

1 . H.V. PUTTARAJU @ PUTTI S/O LATE VENKATESH, AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS DASA GOWDARA STREET, KOTE, HOLENARASIPURA TOWN-573 211. … APPELLANT (BY SRI. C.H.HANUMANTHARAYA, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1 . STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HOLENARASIPURA TOWN POLICE STATION, HOLENARASIPURA, HASSAN DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU-560001. … RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP)

THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 374(2)

OF CR.PC PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT DATED 19.12.2017 PASSED BY II ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, HASSAN IN S.C.NO.49/2010 - CONVICTING THE APPELLANT/ACCUSED NO.6 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 143, 144, 147, 148, 114, 504, 506, 302 R/W SECTION 149 OF IPC.

IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.318/2018:

BETWEEN:

1 . B. SATHISHA @ DADA S/O LATE BYRAPPA, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, MADIVALA STREET, PETE PRESENTLY RESIDING NEAR GREEN WOOD CONVENT, HOUSING BOARD COLONY, HOLENARASIPURA TOWN. 2 . NAGARAJA @ KULLA S/O SOMANNA, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, RESIDENT OF CHITTANAHALLI ROAD, DASAGOWDARA STREET, KOTE, HOLENARASIPURA TOWN.

3 . H.J. KUMARA @ OLE KUMARA S/O JAVARAPPA @ JAVAREGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, RESIDENT OF VAKKARANE BAVI STREET, KOTE, HOLENARASIPURA TOWN.

4 . S. MANJUNATHA @ HOTTE MANJA S/O SUBBEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, SLN TEMPLE ROAD, DALAVAYI STREET, HOLENARASIPURA TOWN. … APPELLANTS (BY SRI. M.N.MADHUSUDHAN, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1 . STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HOLENARASIPURA TOWN POLICE STATION, HOLENARASIPURA, HASSAN DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. … RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP)

THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 374(2)

OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT DATED 19.12.2017 PASSED BY THE II ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, HASSAN IN S.C.NO.49/2010 - CONVICTING THE APPELLANTS NO.1 TO 4/ACCUSED NO.2 TO 5 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 143, 144, 147, 148, 114, 504, 506 AND 302 R/W SECTION 149 OF IPC.

IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.606/2018:

BETWEEN:

1 . SATHISHA @ ASPATRE SATHISHA S/O LATE GOPALAKRISHNA AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS D-GROUP EMPLOYEE GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL DASAGOWDARA STREET, HOLENARASIPURA TOWN-573211. … APPELLANT (BY SRI. C.H.HANUMANTHARAYA, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1 . STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HOLENARASIPURA TOWN POLICE STATION, HOLENARASIPURA HASSAN DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU-560001. … RESPONDENT (BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL. SPP)

THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 374(2)

OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT DATED 19.12.2017 PASSED BY THE II ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, HASSAN IN S.C.NO.49/2010 - CONVICTING THE APPELLANT/ACCUSED NO.1 FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SEECTIONS 143, 144, 147, 148, 114, 504, 506 AND 302 R/W SECTION 149 OF IPC.

THESE APPEALS HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR JUDGMENT ON 25.02.2026 THIS DAY, THE COURT PRONOUNCED THE FOLLOWING:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.P.SANDESH AND HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T

CAV JUDGMENT

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.P.SANDESH)

Heard learned counsels for the appellants and learned Additional Special Public Prosecutor for the respondent-State.

2. These appeals are filed against the judgment of conviction and sentence passed in S.C.No.49/2010 on the file of the II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Hassan dated 19.12.2017 convicting the accused persons for the offence punishable under Sections 143, 144, 147, 148, 114, 504, 506 and 302 read with Section 149 of IPC and imposing life imprisonment against accused Nos.1 to 6 and to pay fine of Rs.20,000/- each for the offence punishable under Section 302 read with Section 149 of IPC, imposing simple imprisonment for one year for the offence punishable under Sections 144 and 148 read with Section 149 o