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NC: 2026:KHC:17283 CRL.P No. 3497 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 26^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026

BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV

CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3497 OF 2026 BETWEEN:

1. G.T DINESH KUMAR S/O THIPPE RUDRAPPA, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS,

FLAT NO.A1-107, BLOCK-A, VAISHNAVI NORTH, HEBBAL,

BENGALURU-560 024

(CURRENTLY PETITIONER IS IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY)

… PETITIONER (BY SRI. SANDESH J. CHOUTA, SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR

SRI SUNIL KUMAR S., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by VIDYA G R

1. DIRECTOR OF ENFORCEMENT, Location:

HIGH REP. BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, COURT OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, KARNATAKA

BENGALURU ZONAL OFFICE, 3^RD FLOOR, B BLOCK, BMTC,

SHANTHINAGARA-TTMC, K H ROAD, SHANTHINAGARA, BENGALURU-560 027

… RESPONDENT (BY SRI. ARAVIND KAMATH, ASG FOR

SRI MADHUKAR DESHPANDE, ADVOCATE)

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NC: 2026:KHC:17283 CRL.P No. 3497 of 2026

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THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 407 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 447 BNSS, 2023) PRAYING TO TRANSFER THE ECIR/BGZO/25/2024 DATED 01.10.2024 FOR OFFENCE P/U/S 3 AND 4 PMLA 2002 PENDING ON THE FILE OF LXXXI ADDITIONAL CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND SPECIAL COURT EXCLUSIVELY TO DEAL WITH CRIMINAL CASES RELATED TO ELECTED FORMER AND SITTING MPs/MLAs IN THE STATE OF KARNATAKA (CCH-82) TO THE FILE OF THE LEARNED PRINCIPAL CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU (CCH-1) FOR TRIAL AND

DISPOSAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW AND ETC.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV

ORAL ORDER

The present petition is filed seeking transfer of

ECIR/BGZO/25/2024 dated 01.10.2024 for the offence punishable under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 [for short, 'PMLA, 2002'] pending on the file of LXXXI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Court exclusively to deal with Criminal cases related to Elected Former and Sitting MPs/MLAs in the State of Karnataka (CCH-82) to the file of learned Principal City Civil & Sessions Judge, Bengaluru (CCH-1), which is the competent Court and other than the

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NC: 2026:KHC:17283 CRL.P No. 3497 of 2026

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designated Court to deal with the cases relating to Elected

Members.

2. The only grievance raised by the petitioner is

that the proceedings ought to be transferred from the designated Court dealing with cases of Elected Representatives to the other competent Court. It is submitted that insofar as the predicate offence relating to certain Elected Representatives, Final 'B' Report was filed by the Karnataka Lokayukta as against such Elected Representative, which has been accepted by the trial Court. It is submitted that, if that were to be so, the other accused being non-elected Members, the Special Court constituted to take up matters relating to Elected Members loses jurisdiction and the matter must be relegated under Section 43(1) of PMLA, 2002 to the Court of Principal City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, which deals with the

regular matters.

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3. Sri Sandesh Chouta, learned Senior Counsel

appearing on behalf of petitioner submits that, since the trial Court which is now Special Court dealing with the cases of Elected Representatives is continuing with the

matter, necessary order is required to be passed.

4. Sri Arvind Kamath, learned Additional Solicitor

General of India appearing for Sri Madhukar Deshpande for the respondent-Directorate of Enforcement would submit that the acceptance of Final 'B' Report is a matter of challenge before this Court by way of petition and in the event said petition is allowed, the proceedings stand restored against the Elected Member and the proceedings other than before the trial Court would have to be continued before the designated Court dealing with the cases of Elected Members. Accordingly, it is submitted that the matter may be deferred in the same stage so that the interim order passed earlier staying the proceedings of

trial Cou