Karnataka High Court
Mohammed Rafiq vs State Of Karnataka on 27 April, 2026
Author: M.Nagaprasanna
Bench: M.Nagaprasanna
-1-
NC: 2026:KHC:23317
CRL.P No. 5391 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 5391 OF 2026
BETWEEN:
MOHAMMED RAFIQ
S/O HASAN SAB
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS,
R/A BB STREET,
GANDI BAJAR,
DODDAPETE,
SHIVAMOGGA - 577202
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. RAKSHITH R., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. STATE OF KARNATAKA
BY KOTE PS
Digitally signed REP BY SPP
by PADMAVATHI
BK HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
Location: High BENGALURU - 560 001
Court of
Karnataka
2. VASANTH
CHC-28
POLICE OFFICER
KOTE POLICE STATION,
SHIVAMOGGA - 577 202
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP)
-2-
NC: 2026:KHC:23317
CRL.P No. 5391 of 2026
HC-KAR
THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528
BNSS) BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING
THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO QUASH
CHARGE SHEET FILED AGAINST THIS PETITIONER IN
C.C.NO.1606/2025 (CR.NO.201/2025) OF KOTE PS PENDING
ON THE FILE OF PRL. CIVIL JUGE (SR. DN) AND CJM AT
SHIVAMOGGA, FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER
SECTION 78 (3) OF KARNATAKA POLICE ACT.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
ORAL ORDER
Heard the learned counsel Sri. Rakshith R., appearing for the petitioner, Sri. Channappa Erappa, learned HCGP appearing for respondent No.1 and have perused the material on record.
2. The petitioner is before this Court, seeking the following prayer:
"Wherefore the petitioner above named humbly prays before the Hon'ble court to quash charge sheet filed against this Petitioner in C.C.No.1606/2025 (Cr.No.201/2025) of Kote PS pending on the file of Prl. Civil Judge (Sr.Dn.) and CJM, at Shivamogga for the offence punishable under section 78(3) of Karnataka Police Act in the interest of justice and equity."-3-
NC: 2026:KHC:23317 CRL.P No. 5391 of 2026 HC-KAR
3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the issue in the lis stands covered by the judgment rendered by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Crl.P.No.3759/2021 disposed on 07.06.2021, wherein it has held as follows:
1. Heard the learned Counsel for the petitioners and the learned HCGP for the respondent-State.
2. Brief facts of the case leading to the filing of this petition are, the respondent-Police on a credible information received by them on 05.03.2021 at about 3.00 p.m., with regard to conducting illegal Matka game in public place near Govinahal village bus stand, raided the spot and arrested the petitioners and also recovered an amount of Rs.12,600/- cash, one pen and one OC chit used for conducting the Matka game. Thereafter, a complaint was lodged and based on the same, case in Crime No.35/2021 was registered by Malebennur Police Station of Harihara Circle for the offence punishable under Section 78 of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. After investigation, charge sheet has been filed and the case is now pending before the Court of II Additional Civil Judge & JMFC, Harihara, in C.C.No.866/2021. Being aggrieved by the same, the petitioners have approached this Court.
3. Learned Counsel for the petitioners submits that there is absolutely no material in the charge sheet to proceed against the petitioners for the alleged offences.
He submits that there is no complaint received from any private party nor is there any statement recorded by the Investigation Officer of a private party who is said to have been cheated in the case. He has relied upon the order of this Court in Crl.P.No.9122/2017 connected with Crl.P.No.9125/2017 disposed of on 17.02.2018, wherein in identical circumstances, this Court has quashed the criminal proceedings. This Court in paragraph 2 of the said order, has observed as follows:
-4-NC: 2026:KHC:23317 CRL.P No. 5391 of 2026 HC-KAR "2. Therefore, looking to the above said facts and circumstances, it is accused No.1 who has disclosed the name of this petitioner that after accused No.1 playing 'matka' and getting money, he used to give the said money to the present petitioner. But there is absolutely no material in the FIR to show that whether the police have enquired any other person or public at large to ascertain whether the said factum stated by accused No.1 is true or not. Even after filing of the charge-sheet, the police have not collected any material with regard to the accused No.1 paying money collected by playing 'matka' to accused No.2. In this connection, the police have recorded the statement of many witnesses. However, on careful perusal of the statement of witnesses including the police witnesses, it could be seen that no body have got any personal or special knowledge about accused No.1 making payment in favour of accused No.2 after playing 'matka'. Even on careful perusal of the entire statements of witnesses, the prosecution has relied upon the statement of the co-accused which is not corroborated by any material on record. Therefore, there is absolutely no offence committed either under S.78(3) of the Karnataka Police Act or under S.420 of IPC, in so far as the petitioner herein is concerned.
Under the above said circumstances, I am of the opinion that the proceedings in C.C. Nos.276/2017 and 385/2016 on the file of the Prl. Civil Judge & JMFC Court, Sagara, Shivamogga Dist. in so far as the petitioner herein is concerned are liable to be quashed and accordingly they are quashed.
The petitions are allowed in the above terms."
4. I have carefully considered the material available on record.
5. From the charge sheet which is available on the file, it is seen that there is no statement of any independent person with regard to the petitioners indulging in conducting Matka. In the absence of any statement of an independent person that the petitioners were induldged in playing or conducting the Matka game and that petitioners had collected money from them, etc., they cannot be prosecuted for the alleged offences. Under -5- NC: 2026:KHC:23317 CRL.P No. 5391 of 2026 HC-KAR the circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that the impugned proceedings are liable to be quashed for the purpose of securing the ends of justice. The continuation of criminal proceedings would otherwise amount to abuse of process of law. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following order:
6. Criminal petition is allowed. The entire proceedings in C.C.No.866/2021 pending on the file of II Addl. Civil Judge & JMFC, Harihara, arising out of Crime No.35/2021 registered by Malebennur Police Station, for the offence punishable under Section 78 of Karnataka Police Act, 1963, stands quashed."
In the light of the order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court (supra) and for the reasons aforementioned, the following:
ORDER
(i) The Criminal Petition is allowed.
(ii) The proceedings in C.C.No.1606/2025 pending before the Principal Civil Judge (Sr.Dn.) and CJM, Shivamogga, stand quashed, qua the petitioner.
Sd/-
(M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE SJK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 139