1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF JULY, 2022
BEFORE
THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR
CRIMINAL PETITION NO.7438/2019
BETWEEN:
1.
MR. P. MANI
S/O PATTABHIRAMAN,
AGED ABOUT 71 YEARS,
2.
MRS. SEETHA MANI, W/O P. MANI,
AGED ABOUT 74 YEARS,
PETITIONERS 1 AND 2 ARE R/AT NO.EM12,
GOPALAN HABITAT SPLENDOUR,
ITPL MAIN ROAD, KUNDALAHALLI,
BANGALORE-560 037.
...PETITIONERS
(BY SMT. PRAMILA NESARGI, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR
SRI MUNISWAMY GOWDA S.G., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1.
STATE OF KARNATAKA
BY ASHOKPURAM POLICE STATION,
MYSURU CITY, MYSURU,
REPRESENTED BY SPP,
HIGH COURT BUILDING,
BENGALURU-560 001.
2.
MRS. H.R. RUPASHREE
@ RUPASHREE HEGGADADEVANAKOTE,
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS,
D/O. B.S. RANGAIYENGAR,
2
W/O MURARI MANI,
BOTH THE RESPONDENTS ARE RESIDING AT
NO.102, RAJARAJESWARI NAGAR
BEML LAYOUT, II STAGE, BOGADI
MYSURU-570 022.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI S. VISHWAMURTHY, HCGP FOR R-1;
SMT. REVATHI SHIVAKUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R-2)
THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF
THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, PRAYING TO QUASH THE
PROCEEDINGS IN C.C.NO.5420/2019 ON THE FILE OF V
ADDITIONAL I CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN.) AND J.M.F.C., JLB ROAD,
MYSURU REGISTERED FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER
SECTIONS 341, 323, 354(B), 504 R/W 34 OF IPC IN CRIME
NO.27/2019 OF ASHOKNAGAR POLICE STATION, SO FAR AS
PETITIONERS ARE CONCERNED.
THIS CRIMINAL PETITION COMING ON FOR DICTATING ORDERS
THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
Fir was lodged by the second respondent alleging that on
14/03/2019, at around 12.00 pm, when the second respondent
came out of the family court, the advocate of her husband came
to her and picked up a quarrel with the second respondent by
stating that why she is not settling the matter but continuing the
proceedings in G&W No.29/2016 and at that point of time, there
were exchange of words during which it is alleged that her
husband's advocate, his junior, petitioner No.1 and petitioner
3
No.2 abused her in filthy language and assaulted her, pulled by
holding her hand and pulled her clothes.
2.
The Police during the course of investigation
recorded the further statement of the second respondent and
also the complainant's witnesses. The police after investigation
filed a charge sheet against the petitioners-accused Nos.3 and 4
for the offences punishable under sections 341, 323, 354B, 504
and 34 of IPC alleging that on 14.03.2019, when the
complainant came out of the Court at that point of time, the
husband's counsel i.e., accused No.1 without any reasons picked
up a quarrel and stated that as to why she is continuing the case
against her husband and asked her to settle the matter and
when she asked the accused No.1 as to why he was behaving
rudely with her, he abused her in filthy language and thereafter
all the accused pulled her hand and assaulted her and also pulled
her clothes.
3.
Smt. Pramila S. Nesargi, learned senior counsel
appearing for the petitioners' counsel would make the following
submissions:
4
i.
In the absence of any specific allegation that the
alleged injury on the neck of the second respondent was caused
due to the assault made by the petitioners-accused, the filing of
the charge sheet for the offence punishable under Section 323 of
IPC is impermissible.
ii.
The dispute between the parties arises out of the
marital discord between the second respondent and the son of
the petitioners-accused who is the husband of the second
respondent.
iii.
The alleged incident has taken place at about 12
noon and the second respondent has not brought to the notice of
the Court concerned with regard to the alleged incident which
clearly implies that the FIR was lodged as an afterthought to
falsely implicate the petitioners-accused and with revengeful
intent.
4.
On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the
respondent No.2 would make the following submissions:
5
i.
The charge sheet material clearly discloses the
commission of the offences alleged against the petitioners-
accused.
ii.
The charge sheet material clearly discloses that by
pulling her clothes in a public place, the petitioners have
outraged the modesty of the second respondent which is an
offence punishable under Section 354 of IPC. In support,
reliance is placed on the decision of the Apex Court in the case of
Tarkeshwar Sahu v State of Bihar reported in 2006 (8) SCC 560
(Paras-39 to 43).
5.
The FIR and the charge sheet material clearly
discloses the commission of the offences alleged against the
petitioners -accused and this Court cannot hold a mini trial and
go into the genuineness of the allegation in exercise of its power
under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. In support, reliance is placed on
the decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Kaptan
Singh -vs- State of UP reported in 2021 9 SCC 35 and in the
case of Rishipal v State of U.P., reported in (2014) 3 SCC (CRI)
17.
6
6.
I have examined the submissions made by the
learned counsel appearing for the parties.
7.
The only allegation in the FIR lodged by the second
respondent against the petitioners No.3 an 4 is that they along
with the other accused held her by their hands and pushed and
dragged her around and also they held the neck of the second
respondent and chocked and pushed and pulled her clothes
again and again and outraged her modesty.
8.
The wound certificate produced along with the
charge sheet discloses that the second respondent has suffered
multiple small abrasions over t