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 this criminal petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C, with a prayer to quash the entire proceedings in Spl.S.C.(POCSO)No.77 of 2025 pending before the Court of Addl. Sessions Judge, FTSC-I(POCSOA), Chikkaballapura arising out of Crime No.22 of 2025 registered by Chikkaballapura Police Station, Chikkaballapura for offences punishable under Sections 363, 344, 376(2)(n) of IPC, Section 5(L), 5(J)(ii) and 6 of Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties. 3. FIR in the present case was registered against the petitioner for the aforesaid offences, based on the first information dated 18.03.2025, received from the respondent no. 2 herein, who is the elder sister of the victim girl, who was aged about 17 years 6 months as on the date of registration of FIR. After completing the investigation, charge sheet has been filed against the petitioner for the aforesaid offences and a case has been registered against him before the Court of Additional District and Session Judge and FTSC-1, Chikkaballapura in Spl.S.C.No.77 of 2025. With a prayer to quash the entire proceedings in the aforesaid case, the petitioner is before this Court.

4. Learned counsel for the parties jointly submit that, dispute between the parties has been amicably settled at the intervention of well-wishers and elders of both the parties and the petitioner has married the victim girl on 25.09.2025 after she has attained the age of majority. They submit that, marriage certificate of the petitioner and the victim girl is produced along with the petition at Annexure-E. They also submit that, parties have filed affidavit before this Court with a prayer to quash the entire proceedings in view of the settlement arrived between the parties. The parties who are present before the Court are identified by their respective advocates and it is submitted that, settlement arrived between the parties is voluntary without there being any undue influence or coercion. It is also submitted that, pendency of this petition has been causing untold hardship to the petitioner and the victim girl, who are now married and living together. The petitioner, victim girl, her elder sister, who is the first informant in the present case and the father of the victim girl have filed separate affidavits before this Court. In the affidavit of the victim girl, at paragraph nos.4 to 6, it is stated as follows: -

"4. I state that, during the proceedings, the victim attained majority and we got married on 25.09.2025 registered in the office of marriage Registrar, Belagavi South bearing document no.BES - HM01346 - 2025 - dated 10.11.2025. Further due to the intervention of the elders and well wishers of our respect