Criminal Petition (S.482 Cr.P.C. / S.528 BNSS, 2023) seeking quashing of the entire criminal proceedings in P.S. Crime No.261/2024 of Bailhongal Police Station, for offences punishable under Sections 118(1), 351(2), 352 of BNS-2023 (corresponding to Sections 323, 503, 504 IPC), pending in C.C.No.241/2025 on the file of the Principal Civil Judge and JMFC, Bailhongal, so far as the petitioner-arrayed accused is concerned — DISMISSED by the High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench (V. Srishananda, J.), by oral order dated 19.02.2026. Background: dispute between the parties over ancestral land bearing Survey No.24/2 of Pattihal K.S. village, Bailhongal Taluk, subject-matter of a partition suit initiated by respondent No.2 and pending before the Hon'ble Apex Court challenging the judgment of this Court; complaint by respondent No.2 dated 06.12.2024 registered as Crime No.261/2024; allegation that on 04.12.2024 at about 11.00 a.m. the petitioner demanded 6 acres of land, picked up a quarrel and obstructed enjoyment of land where sugarcane was being sown; charge sheet filed after investigation; Trial Magistrate took cognizance and issued process. Held: the incident alleged in Column No.17 of the charge sheet did take place, but who was the aggressor is a matter to be decided only after a full-fledged trial; admitted enmity exists between the petitioner and respondent No.2 on account of the division of the ancestral property; the grounds urged were not sufficient to quash the pending criminal proceedings. The Court expressly made clear that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits, leaving the parties at liberty to canvass all their contentions before the Trial Court in accordance with law. No precedents were cited or relied upon.
