IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 128 OF 2023 BETWEEN:

NAVEEN SUVARNA @ NAVEEN S @ NAVEEN POOJARY, S/O LATE VASANTHPOOJARY AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/AT SRI DURGA NILAYA, NEAR VAIDYANATH NAGAR PACCHANADI VILLAGE MANGALURU - 575 001.

…APPELLANT (BY SRI. AJAY PRABHU M, ADVOCATE)

AND: Digitally signed by SUMA B N

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA Location:

HIGH COURT INSPECTOR OF POLICE, OF KARNATAKA MANGALURU RURAL POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDINGS, BANGALORE - 560 001.

2. THE VICTIM GIRL D/O KESHAVA ACHARYA AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS R/AT NEAR JAI SANTHOSHI MATHA BAJANA MANDIR, SANTHOSHNAGARA, VAMANJOOR POST, PACCHANADI VILLAGE, MANGALURU - 575 001, REP. BY FATHER OF KESHAVA ACHARYA.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VINAY MAHADEVAIAH, HCGP FOR R1;

SRI. B.V. SHRAVAN BHARADWAJ, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRL.A IS FILED U/S.374(2) OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION DATED 13.12.2022 AND ORDER OF SENTENCE DATED 14.12.2022, PASSED BY THE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE/FTSC II (POCSO) D.K., MANGALURU IN S.C.NO.134/2018, CONVICTING THE APPELLANT