IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 16206 OF 2025 BETWEEN:

1. KUSUMA V, D/O LATE VENKATAPPA, AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS, CEO/OWNER, EDITOR AND ANCHOR OF PRAJASHAKTI NEWS CHANNEL, R/AT KOTE, BEHIND ANJANAIYASWAMY TEMPLE, NEAR OLD MARKET, CHIKKAPET TUMKUR - 527 101.

2. DEEPAK K, S/O KOTTURAPPA K.C, REPORTER, PRAJASHAKTI NEWS CHANNEL, Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS, KARISHETTY R/AT KENKERE POST, Location: High Court of Karnataka HULIYARU HOBLI, CHIKKANAYAKANAHALLI, TUMKUR - 572 218.

…PETITIONERS (BY SRI. TAHIR, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. STATE BY NEW EXTENSION P.S., REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, ADVOCATE GENERAL OFFICE, HIGH COURT COMPLEX, OPPOSITE TO VIDHANA SOUDHA, BANGALORE - 560 001.

2. CHETHAN KUMAR G, POLICE OFFICER (PSI), AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, NEW EXTENSION P.S., TUMAKURU, TUMKUR - 572 101.

KARNATAKA.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.ANOOP KUMAR, HCGP FOR R1)

THIS CRL.P. IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR BEARING CRIME NO.162/2025 REGISTERED BY THE NEW EXTENSION P.S. AT ANNEXURE-A FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE P/U/S 353(2) R/W 3(5) OF BNS NOW PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE (SR.DN) AND C.J.M COURT AT TUMKUR WHEREIN THE PETITIONERS ARE ARRAYED AS ACCUSED NO.1 AND 2.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA

ORAL ORDER

The petitioners are before this Court, seeking the following prayer:

"Wherefore, the Petitioners most humbly prays before this Hon'ble Court be pleased to quash the FIR bearing crime no.162/2025 registered by the New Extention PS at Annexure-A, for the alleged offences under section 353(2) R/w 3(5) of BNS now pending on the files of ADDL CIVIL JUDGE (Sr.Dn.) AND CJM COURT, AT TUMKUR, wherein the petitioners are arrayed as accused no. 1 and 2 in the interest of justice and equity."

2. Heard Sri. Tahir, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Sri. Anoop Kumar, learned HCGP appearing for respondent No.1 and have perused the material on record.

3. Facts, in brief, germane are as follows:

The petitioners are accused Nos.1 and 2 - Chief Executive Officer and reporter, respectively of the media house - Prajashakti TV Kannada. The 2^nd respondent is the complainant. On 01-11-2025, the 2^nd respondent finds a link in the Social Media Monitoring Cell group, which is a video on the YouTube channel of Prajashakti TV Kannada. The allegation is that the said video targets one community and incites another.

Therefore, the subject crime is registered against the petitioners for the aforesaid offence.

4. The entire issue is now triggered by registration of the complaint against the petitioner. Therefore, I deem it appropriate to notice the complaint. It reads as follows:

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