Karnataka High Court Recalls Order Quashing SC/ST Case Against Infosys Co-Founder For Role In Alleged Wrongful Removal Of Ex-IISc Professor

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (July 17) recalled its order quashing proceedings under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act intiated against Infosys co-founder S Krish Gopalakrishnan and others who are members of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), following allegations of wrongful dismissal, caste-based discrimination made by a former professor. 

Among others named in the FIR are IISc faculty members, including Govindan Rangarajan, Sridhar Warrier, Sandya Vishwswaraih, Hari K V S, Dasappa, Balaram P, Chattopadyaya K, Pradeep D Sawkar, and Manoharan.

 Justice S R Krishna Kumar passed the order on the application filed by the complainant to recall the April 16 order passed by a co-ordinate bench, on the ground that the complainant was not heard by the court before passing the quashing order.

The court said, “Learned Senior counsel for petitioners would not dispute that when the matter was disposed neither the respondent no 1 or his counsel were present physically or through video conferencing and that they were heard on that day.”

Following which it said “In that view of the facts and circumstance without expressing any opinion and in order to provide one more opportunity to respondent no 1 (complainant) to make submissions on the merits of the matter. I deem it just and appropriate to recall the final order and restore the petition on the file subject to condition that the respondent no 1 would proceed with the matter on the next date of hearing. Relist on August 7, subject to the condition that respondent no 1 will make submission on that date. The interim order granted earlier (staying the proceedings) is extended till the next date of hearing.”

It may be noted that the coordinate bench had allowed the petition filed by the accused and said “On perusal of the complaint, it is clear that the allegations made against the petitioners do not constitute offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.”

The complainant Dr D Sanna Durgappa had claimed that he was falsely implicated in a honey trap case in 2014, leading to his dismissal from IISC. He also alleged caste-based abuse and threats. Gopalakrishnan serves as Chairman of the IISc Council since 2022.

The co-ordinate bench had allowed the petition and quashed the case, reserving liberty to the petitioners to file an appropriate petition before Advocate General, seeking permission to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against the complainant.

Case Title: Prof Govindan Rangarajan & Others AND Dr D Sanna Durgappa & ANR

Case No: WP 2550/2025

Appearance: Senior Advocate S S Ramdas for Advocate Syed Kashif Ali for Petitioners

Advocate Manoj S N for Respondent.