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NC: 2026:KHC:16720 CRL.P No. 2723 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23^RD DAY OF MARCH, 2026

BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA

CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 2723 OF 2026 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)

BETWEEN:

AXIS BANK LTD., A BANKING COMPANY CARRYING ON THE BANKING BUSINESS

UNDER THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949 INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT 1956

3RD FLOOR, OPP SAMARTHESHWAR TEMPLE LAW GARDEN. ELLIS BRIDGE AHMEDABAD - 380 006

AND HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT 'TRISHUL' AND HAVING ONE OF ITS

BRANCH OFFICE AT D.NO.5-25-92 BRODIPET - 522 002

REPRESENTED BY ITS BRANCH HEAD MR. PRADEEP KUMAR YEDLA

AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS Digitally signed by ALSO AT: S/O AN TAPE YULE

NANDINI M S

6-2-34/3, BANDEMUDI UWI STREET Location:

HIGH COURT GANGANAMMA PATA, TENALI OF GUNTUR ANDRA PRADESH - 522 201.

KARNATAKA …PETITIONER

(BY SRI UNNIKRISHNAN M, ADV.)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BY WHITEFIELD CEN CRIME POLICE STATION, WHITEFIELD DIVISION

BANGALORE CITY REPRESENTED BY SPP

HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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BANGALORE 01.

2. MR. MUNIREDDY O S/O OBALA REDDY

AGED ABOUT 86 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.13

GREENWOOD REGENCY KAIKONDRA HALLI, SARJAPURA ROAD

BELLANDUR, BENGALURU - 560 035 KARNATAKA.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. B. PUSHPALATHA, ADDL SPP FOR R-1)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNSS)

PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DTD 08.12.2025, PASSED BY THE HONBLE 47TH ACJM, BENGALURU, IN CR.NO.529/2025 i.e ANNEXURE-C IN TERMS OF WHICH, THE PETITIONER IS DIRECTED TO DEFREEZE THE SAVINGS/ CURRENT ACCOUNT BEARING A/C NO.923010030047694 MAINTAINED IN THE PETITIONER BANK AND TRANSFER THE SAME TO THE ACCOUNT OF THE RESPONDENT NO.2

i.e A/C.00000010258238403, STATE BANK OF INDIA, BANGALORE.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA

ORAL ORDER

Heard Sri. Unnikrishnan M., learned counsel for the

petitioner and Smt. Pushpalatha B., learned Additional State Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent No.1 and have

perused the material on record.

2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner

submits that in all identical cases coordinate benches have allowed the petitions and remitted the matter back to the office

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of the learned Magistrate to permit the petitioner to file his objections with liberty to appear and then consider applications filed under Sections 451 and 457 of Code of Criminal

Procedure, 1973.

3. I deem it appropriate to quote the orders so passed

in Crl.P.No.1787/2023 dated 14.12.2023:

"ORDER

The Petitioner which is a Financial Institution is before this Court challenging the order passed by 1st Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on an application filed under Sections 451 and 457 of Cr.P.C. by the complainant/respondent No.2 directing the petitioner-Bank to defreeze the amount belonging to the accused and transfer the said amount to the bank account of the

complainants/respondent No.2.

2. The petitioner’s concern is that the order passed by the Jurisdictional Magistrate cannot be executed because it surpasses the specified release amount, and numerous courts across the Country have issued directives to the investigating agencies to unfreeze the bank

accounts of the accused therein.

3. Learned Special Public Prosecutor on instructions would suggest that the matter may be remanded to the Jurisdictional Courts to consider the application filed under Sections 451 and 457 of Cr.P.C. afresh, by affording an

opportunity of hearing to the petitioner.

4. Admittedly, multiple cases are registered against the accused herein within the State and across the country and there are multiple orders passed by the Jurisdictional

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Magistrates directing the petitioner to unfreeze the account of the accused and transfer the amount to the bank account of the complainants. The passing of m