Sharanabasavangouda Patil v. the State of Karnataka
Case brief
What is this about?
Oral order dated 14.03.2025 by Justice N.S. Sanjay Gowda, High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench (Neutral citation: NC: 2025:KHC-D:4795), in Criminal Petition No.100501 of 2025. Sharanabasavangouda Patil, aged 50, owner of Arun Traders, R/o APMC Koppal (Accused No.2), represented by Sri B.C. Jnanayya Swami, Advocate, sought quashing of the entire criminal proceedings in C.C. No.654/2023, arising out of P.C.R. No.486/2021, pending before the Addl. Civil Judge and JMFC, Koppal, for an offence punishable under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955; the respondent was the State of Karnataka through the Assistant Director of Fertilizer Inspector cum Assistant Agriculture, Koppal, represented by the State Public Prosecutor, by Sri Ashok Kattimani, AGA. Noting a co-ordinate Bench decision in Crl.P. No.100082/2024 holding that cognizance could not be taken unless the Company was arraigned as accused (proceedings against the first accused having been quashed therein), the Court held the same reasoning equally applicable and allowed the petition, quashing the entire criminal proceedings; pending interlocutory applications were disposed of.