Allowed¶12

Mr Vijay Kumar v. the State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC14 Oct 2025CRL.P/11405/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

S.482 Cr.P.C. quashing — SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act Ss.3(1)(s), 3(1)(z) — IPC Ss.504, 506 — misuse of SC/ST Act in loan-recovery dispute — SARFAESI Act recovery/notice serving — interested witnesses — improper police investigation — charge sheet quashed — High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru — M.I. Arun, J. — Vijay Kumar v. State of Karnataka (Pulikeshinagara PS) and Suresh Babu D.M. — CRL.P No. 11405 of 2022 — Special Case No.2200/2022 — Crime No.248/2022 — Manipal Housing Finance Syndicate Ltd. — decision dated 14.10.2025 (corrected vide court order dated 02.04.2026).

What did the court decide?

Criminal petition allowed; proceedings in Special Case No.2200/2022 pending on the file of the Additional City Civil Judge and Sessions Court (CCH-71), Bengaluru, quashed. ¶12

Mr Vijay Kumar Vs the State of Karnataka — Banking and Recovery | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Criminal petition allowed; proceedings in Special Case No.2200/2022 pending on the file of the Additional City Civil Judge and Sessions Court (CCH-71), Bengaluru, quashed.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the complaint dated 13.08.2022, FIR in Crime No.248/2022 dated 14.08.2022 and the charge sheet pending as Special Case No.2200/2022 against the petitioner for offences under Ss.3(1)(s), 3(1)(z) of the SC/ST (POA) Act and Ss.504, 506 IPC ought to be quashed.

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Court's answer

Perusal of the charge sheet, the list of witnesses and the Section 161 Cr.P.C. statements disclosed that the eye witnesses were alleged to be interested witnesses, being close relatives or friends of respondent No.2.

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Ratio / Principle

The learned HCGP for respondent No.1, though justifying the police action, was unable to dispute that only interested witnesses had spoken in favour of the complainant, nor that the matter primarily arose out of the transaction between respondent No.2 and the financial institution.

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Key takeaways

The documents produced showed that the dispute was primarily about non-repayment of the loan amount by respondent No.2 to the financial institution.ratio¶11
Respondent No.2 filed the complaint misusing the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.ratio¶11
The police failed to investigate the matter properly and filed the charge sheet against the petitioner based merely on statements of the complainant's close relatives and friends.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Petition No.11405 of 2022 under Section 482 Cr.P.C. (M.I. Arun, J.) allowed; proceedings in Special Case No.2200/2022 before the Additional City Civil Judge and Sessions Court (CCH-71), Bengaluru — arising from complaint dated 13.08.2022 and FIR in Crime No.248/2022 dated 14.08.2022 of Pulakeshinagar Police Station for offences under Sections 3(1)(s) and 3(1)(z) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Sections 504, 506 IPC — quashed. Respondent No.2 had defaulted on a home loan from M/s. Manipal Housing Finance Syndicate Ltd.; SARFAESI proceedings were initiated, and the petitioner, an employee of the lender, had gone to respondent No.2's residence only to serve notice personally. On perusal, the eye witnesses were interested witnesses (close relatives/friends of the complainant); the HCGP could not dispute this or that the matter arose from the loan transaction; the dispute was primarily one of loan non-repayment; the complaint constituted misuse of the SC/ST (POA) Act provisions; and the police investigation was improper. The Court therefore held it a fit case to quash the proceedings against the petitioner.

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NC: 2025:KHC:41161 CRL.P No. 11405 of 2022

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 14^TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN

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CRIMINAL PETITION NO.11405 OF 2022

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(482 (Cr.PC)/528(BNSS))

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BETWEEN:

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Digitally signed by GEETHA P G Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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MR. VIJAY KUMAR S/O SRI SAMPATH D AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS RECOVERY AGENT MANIPAL HOUSING FINANCE SYNDICATE LTD. NO.116, NORTH BLOCK MANIPAL CENTER DICKENSON ROAD BANGALORE-560 042 REGISTERED OFFICE AT: MANIPAL HOUSE MANIPAL.

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI. B.S. MAHENDRA, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY PULIKESHINAGARA POLICE STATION BANGALORE REP. BY SPP, HIGH COURT, BANGALORE-1.

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HC-KAR

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MR. SURESH BABU D.M. S/O SRI C.D. MUTHU SWAMY AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS R/AT NO.15, KENCHAPPA ROAD CROSS FRAZER TOWN BANGALORE-560 005.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. NAGESHWARAPPA K., HCGP FOR R.1; SRI. S.S.MULIMANI, ADVOCATE FOR R.2. (ABSENT))

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THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, PRAYING TO QUASH THE COMPLAINT DATED 13.08.2022 AND FIR IN CRIME NO.248/2022 DATED 14.08.2022 REGISTERED BY PULAKESHINAGAR POLICE STATION, BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE 3(1)(s), 3(1)(z) SC AND ST ACT (POA) AND IPC UNDER SECTIONS 504 AND 506 AGAINST THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO.1, ETC.

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THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING/VIDEO CONFERENCING THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN

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NC: 2025:KHC:41161 CRL.P No. 11405 of 2022

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HC-KAR

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ORAL ORDER

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Respondent No.2 had availed a home loan from

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M/s. Manipal Housing Finance Syndicate Limited and has

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mortgaged his property as a security for the loan.

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The petitioner is an employee of the said M/s. Manipal Housing Finance Syndicate Limited.

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Respondent No.2 has committed default in repayment of the loan. Consequently, M/s. Manipal Housing Finance Syndicate Limited has initiated appropriate proceedings under the provisions of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 ( 'SARFAESI Act' for short) t o recover the loan by attaching and selling the mortgaged property. In this regard, the petitioner being an employee of M/s. Manipal Housing Finance Syndicate Limited, was sent to serve notice on respondent No.2 personally.

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NC: 2025:KHC:41161 CRL.P No. 11405 of 2022

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HC-KAR

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The allegation made by respondent No.2 against the

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petitioner is that at the time of serving the notice, the petitioner has abused respondent No.2 verbally as he belonged to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe and has threatened to murder him.

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Based on the complaint lodged by respondent No.2, Special Case No.2200/2022 has been registered on the file of the Additional City Civil Judge and Sessions Court (CCH-71), Bengaluru. Aggrieved by the same, the present petition is filed with the following prayer:

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"WHEREFORE the Petitioner pray that this Hon'ble court be pleased to quash the Complaint dated 13.08.2022 and FIR in Crime No.248/2022 dated 14.08.2022 registered by Pulakeshinagar Police Station Bangalore for the Offence 3(1)(s), 3(1)(z) SC and ST Act (Prevention of Atrocities) and IPC U/s 504, 506 against the Petitioner/Accused No.1 and charge sheet dated in Crime No.248/2022 which is now pending in S.C.No.2200/2022 on the file of the 71^st City Civil Judge and Session Court at Bangalore in the interest of justice and equity."

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NC: 2025:KHC:41161 CRL.P No. 11405 of 2022

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HC-KAR

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6. The charge alleged against the petitioner by the prosecution as per the charge sheet is as under:

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"��ಾ�ದು�ಾರರು ತಮ� ಕುಟುಂಬ�ೊಂ��ೆ �ೆಂಗಳ�ರು ನಗರ ಪ�ಲ�ೇ ನಗರ !"ೕ# $ಾಣ - ಸರಹ�(�ೆ )ೇದ �ೆಂಚಪ, ರ)ೆ- �ಾ.#ನ ಮ/ೆ ನಂ : 15 ರ"0 1ಾಸ1ಾ2ರು3ಾ-4ೆ . ��ಾ�ದು�ಾರರು ಆ� �ಾ.6ಡ 8ಾ9�ೆ )ೇದವ4ಾ2ರು3ಾ-4ೆ . ��ಾ�ದು�ಾರರು 3ಾವ� 1ಾಸ1ಾ2ರುವ ಮ/ೆಯನು< �ೆಂಗಳ�ರು ನಗರದ =�ೆನ>? ರ)ೆ-ಯ"0ರುವ ಮ@AಾB CೌEಂF Gೈ/ಾ?> Eಂ=�ೇI "JKೆL ಸಂ)ೆMಯ"0 ಅಡOಾನ ಇಟುQ 2003 ಂದ 2005 ರ ನಡು1ೆ ಒಟುQ 45 ಲS ರೂ Tತ-ದ ಹಣವನು< CೋU Vೋ? ಆ2 ಪWೆದು�ೊಂ=ರು3ಾ-4ೆ . ��ಾ�ದು�ಾರರು 2019 /ೇ )ಾ"Xಂದ CೋU Vೋ?ನ ಮರು Aಾವ9ಯನು< ಸಮಪ�ಕ1ಾ2 Oಾಡ�ೇ ಇದು(ದಂದ ಮ@AಾB CೌEಂFGೈ/ಾ?> Eಂ=�ೇI "JKೆL ಸಂ)ೆMಯ ಮುಖZ ಕ[ೇ*\ಂದ ಕಲಂ : 13 SERFAEISI ACT2002 ರ ಅ=ಯ"0 ��ಾ�ದು�ಾರ*�ೆ Vೋ? ಹಣವನು< ಕಟುQವಂ3ೆ ಇಲ01ಾದ4ೆ ಮ/ೆಯನು< ಜ^-Oಾಡುವ��ಾ2/ೋ_ೕ#ಕಳ`aಸVಾ2ರುತ-�ೆ .

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Vೋ? ಹಣ ಮರುAಾವ9�ೆ ಸಂಬಂbEದಂ3ೆ ��ಾ��ಮತು- ಮ@AಾB CೌEಂF Gೈ/ಾ?> Eಂ=�ೇI "JKೆL ಸಂ)ೆMಯ ನಡು1ೆ 1ಾZಜZ ಇದು( ��ಾ�ದು�ಾರರು ಈ ಸಂಬಂಧE_E6B �ೋI� ಘನE . E . Cೆf 31 /ೇ /ಾZ�ಾಲಯದ"0ನ"0ಓ . ಎ# ನಂ : 7546/2019 ರ"0 ಮ@AಾB CೌEಂF Gೈ/ಾ?> Eಂ=�ೇI "JKೆL ಸಂ)ೆMಯ iೕVೆ �ಾ1ೆಯನು< ಹೂ=ರು3ಾ-4ೆ . ಘನE . E . Cೆf 31 /ೇ /ಾZ�ಾಲಯವ� ಈಬ�ೆj 6kಾರlೆ ನWೆE �/ಾಂಕ : 22-10-2019 ರಂದು "Issue edparte temporary injuction order against the defendant restraining him or anybody representing him, his agents servents or anybody claiming under him from interfering with the plaintiffs peaceful possession and enjoyment over the suit schedule property as prayed for in I.A. NO.1 till next date of hearing" ಎಂಬು�ಾ2 ಆ�ೇಶCೊರ=Eರುತ-�ೆ .

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NC: 2025:KHC:41161 CRL.P No. 11405 of 2022

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2025:KHC:41161 CRL.P No. 11405 of 2022

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HC-KAR

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)ೇ*ದವ4ಾ2ರುವ��ಲ0 . ಆದ(*ಂದ ಆ4ೋ^ಯ 6ರುದr iೕಲqಂಡ ಕಲಂ *ೕ3ಾZ �ೋˆಾ 4ೋಪಣಪ_Q ಸ"0Eರುತ-�ೆ ."

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Counsel for respondent No.2 is absent.

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The case of the petitioner is that respondent No.2 borrowed loan from the financial institution and committed default in repayment of the same. The provisions under the SARFAESI Act have been invoked to recover the loan by attaching and selling the property mortgaged. The petitioner had gone to the residence of respondent No.2 to serve notice on behalf of the financial institution personally upon respondent No.2. It is submitted in the course of the arguments that the petitioner was not even aware as to which community respondent No.2 belonged. It is further submitted that respondent No.2 instead of paying the loan has been trying his best to avoid repayment of the loan by filing frivolous case and the present case is also filed with the sole purpose of avoiding repayment of the loan. It is also submitted that the jurisdictional police without investigating the case properly has filed the charge sheet.

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NC: 2025:KHC:41161 CRL.P No. 11405 of 2022

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HC-KAR

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Perusal of the charge sheet and the list of witnesses

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mentioned along with it and the statements of the witnesses recorded under Section 161 of Cr.P.C. reveal that the eye witnesses are alleged to be interested witnesses who are either close relatives or friends of respondent No.2.

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Learned HCGP for respondent No.1, though justifies the action of the Police, is unable to dispute the fact that only interested witnesses have spoken in favour of the complainant. He is also not in a position to deny the fact that the matter primarily arose out of the transaction between respondent No.2 and the financial institution.

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Perusal of the documents produced reveal that the dispute is primarily about non-repayment of the loan amount by respondent No.2 to the financial institution.

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The petitioner being an employee of the financial institution has gone to the residence of respondent No.2 to serve notice upon Chim with the sole intention of initiating

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9 - NC: 2025:KHC:41161 CRL.P No. 11405 of 2022

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HC-KAR

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the recovery process. Respondent No.2 has filed the complaint misusing the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The police have failed to investigate the matter properly and based upon few statements made by the close relatives and friends of the complainant, charge sheet has been filed against the petitioner. Hence, under the given peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the opinion that it is a fit case to quash the proceedings pending against the petitioner.

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