HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25^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.967 OF 2018 C/W.

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1890 OF 2017 IN CRL.A NO.967/2018:

BETWEEN:

1. PUTTAIAH S/O BYRAIAH R/O MALLAPURA VILLAGE AREHALLI HOBLI, BELUR TALUK HASSAN DISTRICT-573 201.

…APPELLANT Digitally signed (BY SRI. ANIRUDH CHAMUNDA, ADVOCATE –

by DEVIKA M [AUTHORIZED BY HCLSC])

Location: HIGH COURT OF AND:

KARNATAKA

1. JAVARAIAH S/O BYRAIAH AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS

2. BOOMESH S/O JAVARAIAH AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS THE APPELLANT NOS.1 AND 2 ARE R/O MALLAPURA VILLAGE AREHALLI HOBLI, BELUR TALUK HASSAN DISTRICT-573 201.

HC-KAR

3. PRASANNA S/O BASAVAIAH AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS R/O ANKIHALLI BIKKODU HOBLI, BELUR TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT-573 201. 4. STATE BY AREHALLI P.S.

BELUR TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. C.H. JADHAV, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. L. SRINIVASA BABU, ADVOCATE FOR R1 TO R3;

SMT. RASHMI PATEL, HCGP FOR R4)

THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 372 OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO MODIFIED THE JUDGMENT DATED 16.10.2017, PASSE