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.2119/2018 BETWEEN:

NAGARAJA REDDY, S/O LATE MUNI REDDY, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, R/O MUDENAHALLY VILLAGE, HAROHALLI HOBLI, KANAKAPURA TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-562117. … APPELLANT (BY SRI. HASHMATH PASHA, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. KARIAPPA N.A., ADVOCATE)

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY HAROHALLY POLICE STATION, KANAKAPURA TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-562117, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, 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 AND ORDER OF CONVICTION AND SENTENCE DATED 04.10.2018 PASSED BY THE II ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, RAMANAGARA TO SIT AT KANAKAPURA IN S.C.NO.39/2012 - CONVICTING THE APPELLANT/ACCUSED FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 302 OF IPC.

THIS APPEAL HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR JUDGMENT ON 21.02.2026 THIS DAY, THE COURT PRONOUNCED THE FOLLOWING:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.P.SANDESH AND HON'BL