IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3996 OF 2026 BETWEEN: SRINIVAS, S/O LATE PARAPPA, AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, R/O THALIKATTE VILLAGE, HOLALKERE TALUK, CHITRADURGA - 577 526.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. GIREESHA J. T., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Dig itally signed by

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY BY HOLALKERE P. S.

Location: REPRESENTED BY SPP, High Court of Karnataka HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001.

2. XXXX XXXX.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP FOR R1;

SRI. PAVAN KUMAR G., ADVOCATE FOR R2)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 528 BNSS PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN SPL.C (POCSO) NO. 173/2025 (CRIME NO. 205 OF HOLALKERE P.S.) ON THE FILE OF II ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, CHITRADURGA FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 64(2) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITHA, 2023, SECTIONS 4, 6 OF POCSO ACT AND SECTION 9 OF PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner is before this Court seeking the following prayer:

“Wherefore the petitio