IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 21^ST DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 103432 OF 2024 (482(CR.PC)/528(BNSS))

BETWEEN:

1. LAKSHMANAN GANESHAN S/O. LATE M.R. LAKSHMANAN AGE. MAJOR, OCC. ASST. MANAGER, R/O. NO.368-A, RUKMINI SADANA, 2^ND CROSS, (RIGHT) M.V. NAGAR, KOPPAL ROAD, BALLARI-583101.

2. T. BHEEMANNA S/O. LATE THIMMAPPA AGE. 54 YEARS, OCC. ASST. MANAGER, SHANKARGOUDA POLICE HOUSE, 3^RD CROSS LEFT, KALIDAS NAGAR, KOPPAL, KARNATAKA-583231.

3. G.R. LAWHALE S/O. R.P. LAWHALE AGE. MAJOR, OCC. THE THEN DY. GENERAL MANAGER, NO.4, SOGONENT, RAMAKRISHANAPPA ROAD, NEAR DODEGUNTHA CIRCLE, COX TOWN, BENGALURU-560008.

…PETITIONERS Digitally signed by CHANDRASHEKAR L K A A X T M TI A M N ANI (BY SRI. S.V. YAJI, ADVOCATE)

L C o o c u a r t t i o o n f : K H ar ig n h ataka, Dharwad Bench. AND:

CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, BANK SECURITIES AND FRAUDS CELL, NO.36, CBI COMPLES, 2^ND FLOOR, BALLARI ROAD, GANGANAGAR, BENGALURU-560032.

R/BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, STANDING COUNCIL, GROUND FLOOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, DHARWAD.

…RESPONDENT (BY SRI. NEELENDRA D. GUNDE, ADVOCATE)

THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF CR.P.C., PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE RECORDS AND ALLOW THIS PETITION AND QUASH THE CHARGE SHEET FILED AGAINST THE PETITIONERS AS ACCUSED NO.5, 6 AND 7 DATED 26.08.2011 WHICH IS REGISTERED AT SPL.C.B.I. CC NO.24/2013 BEFORE THE III RD ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS SPECIAL JUDGE DHARWAD, FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE U/S 120B R/W 420, 467, 468, 471 AND 511 OF IPC AND SECTION 7, 13(2), R/W 13(1) (D) OF PC ACT, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

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

ORAL ORDER

(PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.SRISHANANDA)

Heard Sri.S.V.Yaji, learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri.Neelendra D. Gunde, learned counsel for the respondent/Central Bureau of Investigation (hereinafter ‘CBI’ for short).

2. Present petitioners are accused Nos.5 to 7 who are Deputy General Manager, Cashier and Assistant Manager of Union Bank of India who have been charge sheeted for the offences punishable under Section 120B read with Section 420, 467, 468 and 471 of Indian Penal Code.

3. They have approached this Court with the following prayer by filing a petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C.:

“Wherefore, it is humbly prayed that this Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to call for the records and be pleased to allow this petition and quash the charge sheet filed against the petitioners as accused No.5, 6, and 7 dated 26.08.2011 which is registered at Spl. CBI CC No.24/2013 before the IIIrd Addl. District and Sessions Special Judge Dharwad for the offence punishable under Section 120B read with 420, 467, 468, 471 and 511 of IPC and Section 7, 13(2) R/w 13(1)(D) of PC Act in the interest of justice and equity.”

4. Facts in the nutshell which are utmost necessary for disposal of the present petition are as under:

4.1. Accused No.8 filed an application for sanction of loan with the Union Bank of India, Ballary Branch.

4.2. Loan application was serviced and as against the security of the immovable property, loans were being sanctioned at different interval of time.

4.3. Loan account was serviced without proper sanction from the Board, as the branch did not have the power to sanction the loan amount beyond the branch limit. Therefore, the loan request was recommended by the branch to the higher authorities.

4.4. It is alleged that the loan became irregular and at that juncture, an internal enquiry was held in the bank by the Vigilance Department of the Union Bank of India and they found lot of irregularities in servicing the loan request of accused No.8 and filed a report.

4.5. Based on the report, the Board of Union Bank of India decided to initiate criminal action against accused No.8 and other employees of the Union Bank of India who have all recommended the loan and present petitioners who are not named as accused in the FIR were