IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 1804 OF 2026 BETWEEN:

SRI CHETHAN MELINAMANI S/O KAREPPA AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS R/A AMBEDKAR GALLI KANVI KARAVINAKOPPA POST HUKKERI TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT - 591 309.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI N. DEVENDRA, ADV.)

AND:

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ALL WOMEN POLICE STATION CHIKKABALLAPUR, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 560 001.

D igitally

2. XXX signed by NANDINI M …RESPONDENTS S (BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPP, HCGP FOR R-1;

Location:

HIGH SRI SRINATH B.V, ADV., FOR R-2)

COURT OF KARNATAKA THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.P.C (U/S 528 BNSS)

PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR IN CR.NO.22/2025 LATER REGISTERED AS SPL.SC.NO.77/2025 ON THE FILE OF ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND FTSC-1 (POCSO) CHIKKABALLAPUR, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 363,344,376(2)(n) OF IPC, U/S 5(L),5(J)(ii),6 OF POCSO ACT, 2012, U/S 9 OF PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT, 2006, AT ANNEXURE-A.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S VISHWAJITH SHETTY

ORAL ORDER

1. Accused is before this Court in thi