Karnataka High Court Weekly Roundup: April 28 - May 04, 2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 154 to 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 163

Nominal Index:

Hemanth Datta @Hemantha AND State of Karnataka. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 154

Prof Govindan Rangarajan & Others AND Dr D Sanna Durgappa & ANR. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 155

Newspace Research And Technologies Private Limited AND State of Karnataka & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 156

Puttanagowda AND Kubergouda. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 157

Dr Madhukar G Anagur AND State of Karnataka & ANR. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 158

M MOSER DESIGN ASSOCIATES INDIA PVT LTD AND State of Karnataka & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 159NEIL PATEL DIGITAL LLC Vs. PRADEEP KUMAR RAJARATHINAM. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 160

X & others AND State of Karnataka & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 161

Kanaka Lakshmi B M AND State of Karnataka. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 162

SRI C T RAVI v/s STATE BY BAGEWADI P S AND OTHERS. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 163

Judgments/Orders

Non-Supply Of Grounds Of Arrest In Writing Enough To Challenge Arrests Effected Before SC's Order In Prabir Purkayastha's Case: Karnataka HC

The Karnataka High Court has held that non-service of grounds of arrest in writing with respect to any alleged offence even on a non-habitual offender shall be adequate grounds to contest the lawfulness of any arrest effected, even prior to the pronouncement of the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Prabir Purkayastha.

For context the Supreme Court in Prabir Purkayastha's case postulated that an arrest in terms of Article 22(1) of the Constitution must be followed by communication of grounds of arrest, in writing, as soon as may be, to enable an effective challenge to the fetters imposed on his natural right to liberty.

Karnataka HC Quashes SC/ST Act Case Against Infosys Co-Founder For Role In Alleged Discrimination, Wrongful Removal Of Ex-IISc Professor

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

Case No: WP 2550/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 155

The Karnataka High Court has quashed proceedings initiated under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, against Infosys co-founder S Krish Gopalakrishnan and 15 others, who are members of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) following allegations by a former professor D. Sanna Durgappa, of wrongful dismissal from service and caste-based discrimination.

Justice Hemant Chandangoudar allowing the petition filed by the accused 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.”

Karnataka HC Directs State To Operate Cyber Command Centres To Combat Cyber Crimes, Says It Would Usher New Beginnings To Tackle New Age Crime

Case Title: Newspace Research And Technologies Private Limited AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WRIT PETITION No.8403 OF 2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 156

The Karnataka High Court has asked the State Government to make operation cyber command centres, by appointing appropriate officers manning such centres in order to tackle the emergence and growth of cyber crime.

A single judge, Justice M Nagaprasanna said “If a cyber command centre is established to combat cyber crimes and strengthen cyber security, it would usher a new beginning of tackling the new age crime with new age investigating centres. This is the paradigm shift that is imperative.”

It added “It is only then the State will leap forward to tackle the emergence and growth of cyber crime, failing which, the citizen who has been a victim of cyber crime or cyber frauds will never get justice. Therefore, the State shall endeavour to give life to the cyber command centres or constitute a separate wing to tackle cyber crime like the CCB, which could be a cyber crime investigation bureau.”

Section 219 CrPC Doesn't Mandate Common Trial Of Two Separate Cheque Dishonour Complaints Merely Because Accused Is Same: Karnataka HC

Case Title: Puttanagowda AND Kubergouda

Case No:CRIMINAL PETITION NO.102651 OF 2023

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 157

The Karnataka High Court has said that Section 219 of Criminal Procedure Code does not mandate that two cases of cheque bouncing, being prosecuted by two different complainants arising from separate causes of action, can be tried together only for the sole reason that the accused person is the same.

Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar held thus while dismissing a petition filed by one Puttanagouda who had challenged a trial court order which rejected his application for a single trial of the two cases registered under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against him. According to the petitioner, the alleged offences in the two cases were committed within a span of one year.

Karnataka High Court Quashes Case Against Ex-Chancellor Of Alliance University Over Alleged Misuse Of Domain Name

Case Title: Dr Madhukar G Anagur AND State of Karnataka & ANR

Case No: CRIMINAL PETITION No.11024 OF 2023.

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 158

The Karnataka High Court has quashed a case registered under provisions of the Information Technology Act, against Dr Madhukar G Angur, Ex-Chancellor of Alliance University, accusing him of misusing the nomenclature, seals, intellectual property of the University and making false claims that he is the Chancellor of the University.

A single judge, Justice M Nagaprasanna allowed the petition and quashed the offence registered for offences punishable under Sections 465 and 468 of the IPC and Sections 66 and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The court said “If the facts obtaining in the case at hand, the complaint and summary of the charge sheet are noticed, the complaint is registered to wreak vengeance against the petitioner in a seemingly civil dispute, rendering it a colour of crime.”

Karnataka High Court Directs Union Govt To Take Steps For Blocking 'Proton Mail' In India

Case Title: M MOSER DESIGN ASSOCIATES INDIA PVT LTD AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 2358/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 159

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the Union of India to initiate process to block Proton Mail in India.

A single judge, Justice M Nagaprasanna allowed the petition filed by M Moser Design Associated India Pvt Ltd, seeking a direction to the Union Government to take such steps as are necessary to ban the use of Proton Mail in India.

It said “Mandamus issued to respondents to initiate proceedings under section 69A of the IT Act read with Rule 10 of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguard of blocking Access of Information by Public) to block proton mail.”

Karnataka High Court Grants Ex-Parte Injunctions In Favour Of Neil Patel Digital LLC In Dispute Over Breach Of LLP Agreement

Case Title: NEIL PATEL DIGITAL LLC Vs. PRADEEP KUMAR RAJARATHINAM

Case Number: AP.IM 4/2025(KAHC010291822025)

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 160

The Karnataka High Court bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj has passed ex-parte injunctions under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, in favour of Neil Patel Digital LLC (“NPD LLC”).

The disputes had arisen from breach of the covenants of a Limited Liability Partnership Agreement. The LLP Agreement contained various negative covenants restricting the Respondent No. 1 in respect of, among other things, transfer of funds beyond stipulated limits, appointment of key managerial personnel, induction of partners, etc.. Alleged violations of these covenants by the Respondent No. 1, including suspicious transactions, gave rise to disputes inter se the parties.

Karnataka High Court Quashes POCSO Complaint Lodged By Sister Against Her Brothers Over Property Dispute

Case Title: X & others AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: CRIMINAL PETITION No.6965 OF 2024

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 161

While quashing an FIR registered on the complaint of a woman under POCSO Act against her brothers, the Karnataka High Court noted that the siblings were fighting over property and it was in this light the crime was registered as a counter-blast which cannot be accepted.

Justice M Nagaprasanna allowed the petition and quashed the prosecution initiated against the petitioners under Sections 8(Punishment for sexual assault) and 12(Punishment for sexual harassment) POCSO Act and Sections 354(Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 506(criminal intimidation) and 34(common intention) of the IPC.

Karnataka High Court Grants Bail To Deputy Superintendent Of Police Booked For Abetting Lawyer's Suicide

Case Title: Kanaka Lakshmi B M AND State of Karnataka

Case No: CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4873 OF 2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 162

The Karnataka High Court recently granted bail to Deputy Superintendent of Police Kanaka Lakshmi B M, who is accused of abetting the suicide of an advocate Jeeva S.

Justice S Vishwajith Shetty allowed the petition filed by the police officer who is booked under sections 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 108 of BNS, 2023.

"SPP has fairly brought to the notice of this Court that investigation of the case is already completed and draft charge sheet is prepared and submitted before this Court in compliance of the order passed in Crl.P.No.12695/2024. He also has submitted that State Government has also granted sanction as provided under Section 218 of BNSS, 2023, to prosecute the petitioner and therefore, charge sheet will be filed before the jurisdictional Court forthwith. The maximum punishment for the alleged offence is imprisonment for a period of ten years. Since the petitioner is a Government Servant there cannot be any apprehension that she is likely to flee away from justice," it noted.

Karnataka HC Refuses To Quash Case Against BJP Legislator CT Ravi For Allegedly Abusing Female Congress Leader In State Council

Case title: SRI C T RAVI v/s STATE BY BAGEWADI P S AND OTHERS

Case No: CRL.P 791/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 163

The Karnataka High Court on Friday (May 2) refused to quash a case registered against BJP Legislator CT Ravi booked for allegedly using derogatory words against Congress Legislator Laxmi Hebbalkar inside State Council at Belagavi.

Dismissing Ravi's plea, Justice M Nagaprasanna while pronouncing the order said, "Alleged word spoken, if spoken or gesture made if made against the women, the complainant, certainly outrages her modesty and it above all cannot have any nexus to the functioning of the house or relation to the transaction of the house, no nexus no privilege, petition dismissed.”

Ravi was arrested on December 19, 2024 under Section 75 and 79 of the BNS, after he moved the High Court questioning his arrest he was directed to be forthwith released on bail. Following which he has moved the court seeking to quash the offence. .

Ethical Conduct Must Be Maintained In Privileged Discussion Of Legislature, Criminal Acts In The House Are Not Immune From Prosecution: Karnataka HC

Case title: SRI C T RAVI v/s STATE BY BAGEWADI P S AND OTHERS

Case No: CRL.P 791/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 163

The Karnataka High Court has held that criminal acts inside the Legislative House are not immune from prosecution and there is no absolute immunity that Legislators can claim.

A single judge, Justice M Nagaprasanna held thus while refusing to quash a case for outraging the modesty of a woman, registered against BJP Legislator CT Ravi booked for allegedly using derogatory words against Congress Legislator Laxmi Hebbalkar inside the State Council at Belagavi.

It said “Spoken word in the Legislature by the Legislators would ordinarily come within the immunity under Article 194(2) of the Constitution of India, but not in certain exceptional circumstances. Judicial review is permissible even in cases where the parliamentary privilege is projected, but not in all circumstances, only on a case to case basis.”