Karnataka High Court
Akshay Sk Mp vs The State Of Karnataka on 30 July, 2024
Author: M.Nagaprasanna
Bench: M.Nagaprasanna
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NC: 2024:KHC:30020
CRL.P No. 4741 of 2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 30TH DAY OF JULY, 2024
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4741 OF 2024
BETWEEN:
1. AKSHAY SK MP
S/O. DR. SURESH KMP
AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS
R/AT NO. 204, 2ND CROSS
SULLA ROAD, MANOJ PARK
DHARWAD CITY, HUBBALLI - 580 023.
2. SURESH KMP @ SURESH PANDITH
ARADYAKAKUBALMATAD
S/O PANDITH ARADYA
AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS
R/AT NO. 204, 2ND CROSS
SULLA ROAD, MANOJ PARK
DHARWAD CITY, HUBBALLI - 580 020.
Digitally signed
by NAGAVENI
Location: HIGH 3. SHAILAJA @ SHAILAJA SURESH
COURT OF
KARNATAKA W/O DR. SURESH KMP
AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS
R/AT NO. 204, 2ND CROSS
SULLA ROAD, MANOJ PARK
DHARWAD CITY, HUBBALLI - 580 020.
4. AKHIL @ AKHIL TAMBAL
S/O JAGADEESH
AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS
R/AT NO.6364, AKSHAY COLONY
BEHIND CHETHAN COLLEGE
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NC: 2024:KHC:30020
CRL.P No. 4741 of 2024
VIDYANAGARA, DHARWAD CITY
HUBBALLI - 580 020.
5. NIKHIL @ NIKHIL DAMBAL
S/O MALLAPPA
AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS
R/AT NO. 8, RAJEEV NAGAR
OPP. CHETHAN COLLEGE
VIDYANAGARA, DHARWAD CITY
HUBBALLI - 580 020.
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. LETHIF B., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
REPRESENTED BY
DAVANAGERE WOMEN POLICE STATION
DAVANAGERE CITY
REPRESENTED BY SPP
HIGH COURT BUILDING
BENGALURU - 560 001.
2. POOJA
W/O AKSHAY SKMP
AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS
R/AT NO. 2799/12
BASAVESHWARA LAYOUT
DAVANAGERE - 577 004.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI JAGADEESHA B. N., ADDL. SPP FOR R1;
SRI ADIT CHANDANAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 OF THE CR.P.C PRAYING
TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN C.C.NO.810/2024 ON
THE FILE OF II ADDITIONAL SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND
J.M.F.C., DAVANAGERE FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 506, 498(A),
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NC: 2024:KHC:30020
CRL.P No. 4741 of 2024
504, 323, 354, 447 R/W 34 OF IPC AND SEC. 3 AND 4 OF
DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT OF DAVANAGERE WOMEN POLICE
STATION.
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 - accused Nos.1 to 5 are before this Court calling in question proceedings in C.C.No.810/2024, pending before the II Additional Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Davanagere, for the offences under Sections 506, 498A, 504, 323, 354, 447 r/w. 34 of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the D.P.Act.
2. Heard Sri Lethif B., learned counsel for petitioners, Sri Jagadeesha B.N., learned Additional State Public Prosecutor for respondent No.1 and Sri Adit Chandanagoudar, learned counsel for respondent No.2.
3. Before embarking upon the consideration of the issue in the lis on its merit, I deem it appropriate to notice the relationship between the petitioners and the complainant. -4-
NC: 2024:KHC:30020 CRL.P No. 4741 of 2024 Respondent No.2 is the complainant, wife of petitioner No.1 - accused No.1; accused Nos.2 and 3 are father in-law and mother in-law and accused Nos.4 and 5 are said to be the friends of accused No.1, the husband. Petitioner No.1 and complainant get married on 26.11.2020. It transpires that the relationship between accused No.1 and the complainant flounders and on floundering of such relationship, several proceedings are instituted both by the wife against the husband and the husband against the wife, as the case would be.
4. The issue in the lis is a complaint registered by the wife on 25.11.2023, alleging harassment and torture from all the petitioners on the score of demand of dowry. It then becomes a crime in Crime No.152/2023 for the offences under Sections 506, 34, 498A, 504 and 323 of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the D.P.Act. The police conduct investigation and file a charge sheet against all the five accused. Filing of the charge sheet before the concerned Court is what has driven the petitioners to this Court in the subject petition. -5-
NC: 2024:KHC:30020 CRL.P No. 4741 of 2024
5. Learned counsel for petitioners would vehemently contend that there is nothing in the complaint or the charge sheet that would meet the ingredients of Section 498A or 506, 504 of the IPC as alleged against the petitioners, particularly accused Nos.2 to 5. He would submit that if at all there are allegations it is only against the husband. He would submit that proceedings qua other accused be quashed as it would become an abuse of the process of the law. He seeks quashment of the proceedings.
6. Per contra, Sri Adit Chandanagoudar, learned counsel for respondent No.2 - complainant would refute the submissions to contend that the allegations against the husband, father in-law and mother in-law are clearly narrated in the complaint and the summary of the charge sheet so filed after the investigation. He would therefore submit that it is a matter of trial for all the petitioners to come out clean. He would further submit that insofar as accused Nos.4 and 5 are concerned, they are the friends of accused No.1 who have helped accused No.1 in meeting out such torture and therefore, -6- NC: 2024:KHC:30020 CRL.P No. 4741 of 2024 justifies the drawing of the charge sheet against these accused Nos.4 and 5 as well.
7. Learned Additional State Public Prosecutor would take this Court through the statement of the complainant under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C., to demonstrate that the narration in the complaint is clear with the events that have lead to registration of the complaint and the conduct of investigation, which lead filing of the charge sheet. He would seek dismissal of the petition.
8. At this juncture, learned counsel for petitioners submits that insofar as petitioner Nos.1 to 3 - the husband, father in-law and mother in-law are concerned, he would not press the petition and would avail such remedy as is available in law. In that light, who remains in the array of accused are, accused Nos.4 and 5 who are said to be the friends of the husband - accused No.1.
9. The afore-narrated facts are not in dispute and requires no reiteration. The marriage between the two -7- NC: 2024:KHC:30020 CRL.P No. 4741 of 2024 happens on 26.11.2020 and it flounders later, is a matter of record. To consider the case of accused Nos.4 and 5, it is necessary to notice the summary of the charge sheet. The summary of the charge sheet as obtaining in column No.17 reads as follows:
"17. ೇ ನ ಸಂ ಪ ಾ ಾಂಶ ಈ ೋ ಾ ೋಪಣ ಪ ಾಲಂ ನಂ: 14 ರ ನಮೂ ದ ಾ -1 ರವರನು ಹುಬ"#$, ನಗರದ ಮ&ೋಜ (ಾಕ* #204ರ +ಾ¹,ಾದ J-1 ರವ ೊಂ -ೆ &ಾಂಕ:-26-11-2020 ರಂದು ಹುಬ"#ಯ ಾಟ0 ೌಂ ಕ2 ೆ ಾಟ*ನ ಮದು+ೆ 3ಾ4 ೊಂ4ರು5ಾ ೆ. ಮದು+ೆ-ೆ ಎ1, ಎ2 7ಾಗೂ ಎ3 ರವರ 8ೇ4 ೆಯಂ5ೆ ವರದ 9ೆ,ಾ: ಾ 6 7ಾಗೂ ಾ 7 ರವರು 16 ಲ; ರೂ ನಗದು ಹಣ, ರೂ. 10 ಲ; 3ೌಲ<ದ ಬಂ-ಾರದ ಒಡ+ೆಗಳನು 7ಾಗೂ 3 ೆ @ 3ೌಲ<ದ 8ೆ#$, ಾ3ಾನುಗಳನು 7ಾಗೂ ರೂ.1 ಲ; 3ೌಲ<ದ ಬAೆ ಗಳನು ಎ-1-ೆ Bೕ4 7ಾಗೂ ಮದು+ೆಯ ಖಚು*Eಂದು ರೂ. 30 ಲ; ಹಣವನು ನಗದು ರೂಪದ ಾ -06 ರವರು ಾ 08 ಸಮುFಖದ ಎ-1, ಎ-2 7ಾಗೂ ಎ-3ರವG-ೆ Bೕ4 ಮದು+ೆ 3ಾ4 ೊ ರು5ಾ ೆ.
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3ಾನ ಕ+ಾ: _ಂ ೆ 3ಾ4ರು5ಾ ೆ ¢£ÁAPÀ :-23/01/2021 gÀAzÀÄ ¸ÀAeÉ 4.00 UÀAmÉ ಸಮಯದ , ಾ -1 ರವರು ತಮF ತವರು ಮ&ೆಯ ರು+ಾಗ ಎ-1 ಆ ೋaತನು ಕು4ದು ಬಂದು ಾ -01 ರವG-ೆ ಅ+ಾಚ< ಶಬJಗ#ಂದ Bಂ , ಾ -01 ರವರ ಎಡ ೆ&ೆ -ೆ ಎರಡು 8ಾG Pೋ ಾ: 7ೊbೆ ರುವOದು, ಾ -07 ರವರು ಎ-01 ರವರನು ತbೆಯಲು ಬಂ ಾಗ ಾ - 07 ರವರನು ಸಹ Pೋ ಾ: ದc" Bಂ ರುವOದು, &ಾಂಕ:-23/03/2021 ರಂದು ಾ -01 ಗd*9ೆ,ಾ:ದುJ, ಾ -1ರವG-ೆ ಎ-2 7ಾಗೂ ಎ-3 ರವರು SeಾVಂQ-ೆ ಅವ ಾಶ Bೕಡ ೇ ೈ_ಕ+ಾ: 3ಾನ ಕ+ಾ: _ಂ ೆ 3ಾ4ರು5ಾ ೆ. &ಾಂಕ:01/06/2021 ರಂದು ಾ -01 -8- NC: 2024:KHC:30020 CRL.P No. 4741 of 2024 ರವG-ೆ ಎ-1 ರವರು Bನ ತಂ ೆ 5ಾf-ೆ 7ೇ# 10 ಲ; ಹಣ 7ಾಗೂ 1 ಲ;ದ gನ ದ ಆಭರಣಗಳನು 3ಾ4 ೕಮಂತ ಾಯ* ೆi 3ಾಡುವಂ5ೆ 8ೇ4 ೆಯB ದುJ, ಅದರಂ5ೆ ಾ -06 ರವರು ಎ-1 ರವG-ೆ ರೂ.36,000/-ಗಳ 3ೌಲ<ದ ಒಂದು ಬಂ-ಾರದ ಉಂಗುರವನು Bೕ4ರು5ಾ ೆ.
&ಾಂಕ:07/03/2021 ರಂದು ಾ -01 ರವರು ತವರು ಮ&ೆಯ ಇರು+ಾಗ ಎ-1 ರವರು ತಡ ಾQV 12.00 ಗಂAೆ-ೆ 7ಾಗೂ 2 ಗಂAೆ ಸಮಯದ , Zೕ[ೆ Zೕ[ೆ Nೕ0 3ಾ4 ಅ+ಾlಾ< ಶಬJಗ#ಂದ 8ೈಯು5ಾ Bೕನು ಗಂಡು ಮಗುS-ೆ ಜನF Bೕಡ ಲ, ಎಂದ ೆ Bೕನು ಇ .-ೆ +ಾ(ಾm ಬರ[ೇ 8ೇಡ ಅಂ5ಾ 3ಾನ ಕ _ಂ ೆ Bೕ4ರುವOದು, ಾ -01 ರವG-ೆ Nೕ0 3ಾ4 Bನ ತಂ ೆ-ೆ ಹಣವನು ೊಡಲು 7ೇಳU ಅಂ5ಾ _ಂ ೆಯನು 3ಾ4ದJGಂದ ಾ -06 ರವರು ಮಗಳ @ೕವನ lೆ&ಾ :ರ[ೆಂದು ಾ -06 ರವರು +ಾಸSದJ ಮ&ೆಯನು 3ಾG ರೂ.20,00,000/-ಗಳನು ಾ -06 ರವರು ಾ -08 ರವರ ಸಮ;ಮದ°è, ಎ-1 ರವG-ೆ ಹಣವನು Bೕ4ರು5ಾ ೆ. &ಾಂಕ:-25/11/2021 ರಂದು ಾ -01 ರವರು 7ೆಣುY ಮಗುS-ೆ ಜನF Bೕ4ದುJ, ಎ-1 ಎ-2 7ಾಗೂ ಎ-3 ರವG-ೆ ಾ -06 7ಾಗೂ ಾ -07 ರವರು ಾ -01 7ಾಗೂ ಮಗುವನು ಕ ೆದು ೊಂಡು 7ೋಗಲು ಬB ಎಂದು ೇ# ೊಂಡರೂ ಸಹ 8ಾರ ೇ ಎ-1, ಎ-2 7ಾಗೂ ಎ-3 ರವರು ಾ -01 ರವG-ೆ ೈ_ಕ+ಾ: 3ಾನ ಕ+ಾ: _ಂ ೆ 3ಾ4ರು5ಾ ೆ.
&ಾಂಕ:-24-11-2023 ರಂದು ಮnಾ<ಹ ಸು3ಾರು 12.30 ಗಂAೆ-ೆ ಕ¤ì Eೕಶ0 ಸಮಯದ ,, ಾ -01 ರವರು ಎ-1, ಎ-2 7ಾಗೂ ಎ-3 ರವರು Bೕ4ರುವ qರುಕುಳ 7ಾಗೂ _ಂ ೆಯ ಬ-ೆ], ೋ *ನ 7ೇ#ದJನು ಸ_ಸ ೆ ಎ-1 ರವರು ಾ -01 ರವರು ೋಟ* ಆವರಣ ಂದ 7ೊರಬಂದು 7ೈಸೂiM rMs -ೆ ಮnಾ<ಹ 3.15 ರಂದು ಾ -01 ರವರು ಾGನ ಹQರ ಬಂ ಾಗ ಎ-1 ರವರು ಾ -01 ರವG-ೆ _ಂ ೆ¬ÄAzÀ ಬಂದು 8ೆB -ೆ ಮುt 3ಾ4 Pೋ ಾ: ಗು J "ನನ ನು ಕುಡುಕ ಎಂದು ಕ ೆಯುQೕ,ಾ 7ಾಗೂ ನನ ಅಪu ಅಮFನ ಬ-ೆ] ಎಲGಗೂ ºÉýwÛÃAiÀiÁ, £Á£ÀÄ ¤£ÀߣÀÄß fêÀ ¸À»vÀ ©qÀĪÀÅ¢®è. ºÉýzÀµÀÄÖ ºÀt vÀgÀĪÀ AiÉÆÃUÀåvɬĮèzÀ ©üPÁj ¤Ã£ÀÄ, CzÀÄ AiÀiÁªÀ jÃw ¤Ã£ÀÄ ಬದುಕುQೕvೕ &ಾನು &ೋಡು5ೇ&ೆ. ನಮF ಹುಬ"#$ ಹುಡುಗG-ೆ 7ೇ# Bನ ಮತು Bನ ತಂ ೆ 5ಾfಯನು @ೕವ ಸ_ತ ಉ#ಸುವO ಲ,'' ಎಂದು @ೕವ 8ೆದG ೆ 7ಾq ಾ -01 ರವರ ತ[ೆಯ ಎಡwಾಗ ೆi qSಯ Zೕ[ೆ ಬಲ+ಾ: 7ೊbೆದು ಾ -01 ರವರನು Pೋ ಾ: ತ#$, ೆಳ-ೆ cೕ# ಾ3ಾನ< &ೋವOಂಟು 3ಾ4ರುವOದು, ಎ-1 ರವರ Pೊ5ೆ:ದJ ಎ-4 7ಾಗೂ ಎ-5 ರವರು ಅವಳನು ಎQ ೊಂಡು 7ೋ: ಇವ5ೇ ªÀÄÄV¹ ©qÉÆÃt JAzÀÄ ºÉzÀj¸ÀĪÀÅzÀÄ, ಾ -01 ರವರು ಎ-1 ರವರ 7ೊbೆತ ಂದ ೆಳ-ೆ c ಾJಗ ಎ-1 ರವರು Pೋ ಾ: ಬಲ 5ೊbೆ-ೆ PÁ°¤AzÀ Pಾ4 7ೊbೆ ರುವOದು, ಾ -01 gÀªÀgÀÄ J-1 gÀªÀjUÉ d£À £ÉÆÃqÀÄwÛzÁÝgÉ JAzÀÄ ºÉýzÁUÀ J-1 gÀªÀgÀÄ ¤£ÀUÉ J°èzÉ ªÀiÁ£À ªÀÄAiÀiÁðzÉ JAzÀÄ ºÉý ¸ÁQë-1 gÀªÀgÀ ಎ ೆಯ Zೕ[ಾ"ಗದ ಬAೆ -ೆ ೈ 7ಾq ಅದನು qೕಳUವ ಉ ೆJೕಶ ಂದ Pೋ ಾ: ಎXೆದು ಾ -1 §mÉÖ -9- NC: 2024:KHC:30020 CRL.P No. 4741 of 2024 ಹGದು ಾವ*ಜBಕ ಸyಳದ ಾ -01 ರವರ 3ಾನ ೆi ಧ ೆi ಉಂAಾಗುವ GೕQಯ ವQ* ರುವOದು. ಾ -01 ರವರು @ D¸ÀàvÉæಯ°è gq5ೆ{ಯನು ಪbೆದು ಮ&ೆ-ೆ 7ೋ:
ಮ&ೆಯ SeಾVಂQ ಪbೆಯು+ಾಗ ಪOನಃ ಅ ೇ ಾQV 8.40 ರ ಸಮಯದ , ಎ-4 7ಾಗೂ J- 5ರವರು ಾ -01 ರವರ ಮ&ೆಯ ಹQರ ಅಕVಮ+ಾ: ಬಂದು ಾ -01 ರವರ ಮ&ೆಯ 8ಾ:ಲು Pೋ ಾ: ಬbೆ ದುJ ಾ -01 ರವರ ತಂ: ¨ÁVಲು 5ೆ-ೆದು &ೋ4 ಾಗ ಎ-4 7ಾಗೂ ಎ-5 ರವರು ಪ}Pಾ ಎ , ಕG ಅವಳನು ಉ#ಸುವO ಲ ಅಂ5ಾ Pೋ ಾ: qರುlಾ4 (ಾVಣ 8ೆದG ೆ ºÁQgÀÄವOದು ಇದುವ ೆ:ನ ಾ ಾರರ 7ೇ# ೆಗ#ಂದಲೂ 7ಾಗೂ ಾ~ಾnಾರಗXೆಂದಲೂ ಆ ೋಪ ದೃಡಪಟ Zೕ ೆ-ೆ ಎ-1ರವರ Sರುದ€ PÀ®A: 498(A), 323, 504, 506, 354, gÉ/« 34 L¦¹ ºÁUÀÆ PÀ®A 3 & 4 r.¦ DPïÖ jÃvÁå, J-2 ºÁUÀÆ J-3 «gÀÄzÀÞ PÀ®A:
498(A) gÉ/« 34 L¦¹ ºÁUÀÆ PÀ®A 3 r.¦ DPïÖ jÃvÁå, ºÁUÀÆ J-4 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ J-5 gÀªÀgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ PÀ®A: 506, 447, gÉ/« 34 jÃvÁå ಈ ೋ ಾ ೋಪಣ ಪ ಯನು ತ,ಾG 3ಾನ< &ಾ<,ಾಲಯ ೆi B+ೇ ೊಂ4ರು5ೇ&ೆ.
µÀgÁ:- ಸದG ಪVಕರಣದ . ಈ ೆಳಕಂಡ ಾಖ[ಾQಗಳU ಬರುವOದು 8ಾq ಇರುತ+ೆ.
1. ºÀÄಬ"#ಯ •ಾ5ಾ ಉ5ಾರ ಬರುವOದು 8ಾq ಇರುತ ೆ.
2. ¸Áಲ ಪbೆ ರುವ ಬ-ೆ], 8ಾ<ಂqನ ಾಖ[ಾQ ಬರುವOದು 8ಾq ಇರುತ ೆ.
ಸದG ಾಖ[ೆಗಳನು ಪbೆದು ೊಂಡು ಘನ &ಾ<,ಾಲಯ ೆi Slಾರ9ಾ ಾಲ ೊಳ-ಾ: ಕಲಂ:
173(8) .ಆƒ a Gೕತ< ಘನ &ಾ<,ಾಲಯ ೆi ¸À°èಸ[ಾಗುವOದು"
In the entire summary what is narrated is, allegations against accused Nos.1 to 3 and insofar as accused Nos.4 and 5 are concerned, the only allegation is that, they have abetted or helped accused No.1 to meet out such torture against the wife
- complainant. This would not meet the ingredients as alleged against accused Nos.4 and 5. Therefore, permitting further trial against accused Nos.4 and 5 would become an abuse of the process of law and miscarriage of justice.
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NC: 2024:KHC:30020 CRL.P No. 4741 of 2024
10. For the aforesaid reasons, the following:
ORDER a. The criminal petition is allowed in-part.
b. The proceedings in C.C.No.810/2024, pending before the II Additional Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Davanagere, only against petitioner Nos.4 and 5 -
accused Nos.4 and 5 are concerned, stand quashed.
c. The petition filed by petitioner Nos.1 to 3 - accused Nos.1 to 3, stands disposed as not pressed, reserving liberty to avail of such remedy as is available in law.
Ordered accordingly.
Sd/-
(M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE NVJ List No.: 1 Sl No.: 11 CT:SS