Dismissed

The State of Karnataka by v. Channaiah

Karnataka HC16 Sept 2026CRL.A/1411/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court of Karnataka dismissed the State's appeal against acquittal of two respondents charged under IPC Sections 279, 337, 338, 304A for a fatal road accident. The court found the prosecution evidence unreliable: key witnesses were hearsay, contradicted each other on mechanical defect versus negligent driving, and the eyewitness could not identify the driver. The Trial Court's appreciation of evidence was upheld and the appeal was dismissed at the admission stage.

What did the court decide?

Appeal dismissed at admission stage; acquittal of respondents upheld

The State of Karnataka by Vs Channaiah — Criminal Trial and Appeal | Karnataka HC (2026)

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:50416 CRL.A No. 1411 of 2024

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CNR: KAHC010378772024

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16^TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1411 OF 2024 (A-)

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BETWEEN:

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY

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TARIKERE POLICE REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING

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BENGALURU-560001

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…APPELLANT

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(BY SRI. K. NAGESHWARAPPA, HCGP.)

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AND:

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Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYAN N Location: High Court of Karnataka

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CHANNAIAH S/O LATE RAMAIAH AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS R/O DOOR NO.31, BANASANDRA TURUVEKERE TALUK TUMKUR DISTRICT-572227.

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ANIRUDD M P S/O LATE PUTTASWAMY AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS R/O 38/55, 13TH E CROSS KANTIRAVA COLONY AGRAHARA DASARAHALLI BENGALURU-560010.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY R1 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED, SRI. K. N. SHASHIDHAR, ADV. FOR R2.)

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:50416 CRL.A No. 1411 of 2024

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CNR: KAHC010378772024

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CRL.A. FILED U/S.378(1) (3) CR.P.C BY THE S.P.P FOR THE STATE PRAYING THAT THIS HONBLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO MAY BE PLEASED TO GRANT LEAVE TO APPEAL AGAINST THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT AND ORDER DATED 09.01.2024 PASSED IN C.C.NO.195/2018 C/W C.C.NO.677/2020 ON THE FILE OF THE SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND PRINCIPAL JMFC TARIKERE ACQUITTING THE RESPONDENT/ACCUSED FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S/ 279,337,338,304-A OF IPC AND ETC.

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THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA

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ORAL JUDGMENT

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1. Heard on admission.

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The State has preferred this appeal against the judgment of acquittal dated 09.01.2024 passed in CC.No.195/2018 clubbed with CC.No.677/2020 by the Senior Civil Judge and Principal JMFC., Tarikere (for short, 'the Trial Court').

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The Tarikere Police have submitted the charge sheet against the accused for the commission of offence under Sections 279, 337, 338, 304(A) of IPC. It is alleged by the prosecution that, on 14.05.2017 around 09.45 pm, the deceased Umesh Babu S/o Maruthi being the driver of

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3 - NC: 2026:KHC:50416 CRL.A No. 1411 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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CNR: KAHC010378772024

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Lorry bearing No.KA-14/A-0891 has parked the same left

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side of the road near by B.Ed College of Gantekanive village due to cut of vacuum pipe. He secured the Mechanics i.e, CWs.9 and 10 from Bhadravathi and getting repaired his lorry was sitting in-front of the lorry and was focusing mobile torch light. At that time, the accused No.1 herein drove his lorry bearing No.KA-14/B-5679 in rash and negligent manner, so as to endanger to human life and dashed the lorry of the deceased from his back which was parked for repair. Due to which, the lorry bearing No.KA-14/A-0891 moved further and ran on the driver Umesh Babu. He sustained grievous injuries in the said accident and was taken to Government Hospital, Bhadravathi. The Mechanics i.e., CWs.9 and 10 also sustained simple injuries.

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Accused No.2 drove his Swift Dezire Car bearing No.KA-02/ML-8966 in rash and negligent manner and dashed the same to lorry bearing No.KA-14/B-5679. Due to which, the cleaner of said lorry i.e., CW.9 sustained

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:50416 CRL.A No. 1411 of 2024

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CNR: KAHC010378772024

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grievous injuries and thereby the accused No.1 herein has committed the offences punishable under Sections 279, 337, 338 and 304A of IPC. Whereas the accused No.2 has committed the offences punishable under Sections 279 and 338 of IPC.

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To prove the guilt of the accused prosecution has examined, in all, 12 witnesses as PW.1 to PW.12. 19 documents were marked as Exs.P1 to P19. Statement under Section 313 of Cr.P.C was recorded. Accused have totally denied the evidence appearing against them. However, they did not choose to lead any defence evidence on their behalf.

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Having heard the arguments on both sides, the Trial Court has acquitted the accused. Being aggrieved by the judgment of acquittal, State has preferred this appeal.

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The learned HCGP, Sri Nageshwarappa K has submitted his argument that the impugned judgment and order of acquittal passed by the Trial Court is illegal,

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:50416 CRL.A No. 1411 of 2024

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CNR: KAHC010378772024

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perverse and contrary to law, evidence and materials on

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record. PW7 and PW9 who are the eye witnesses have clearly deposed as to the rash and negligent driving of the accused. The accused has not given any explanation at the time of recording statement under Section 313 of Cr.P.C. Same is not considered by the Trial Court. PW5-the Motor Vehicle Inspector, has clearly deposed that there is no mechanical defect and system is in working condition. It clearly goes to show that the Court below have passed the judgment mechanically and acquitted the accused. On all these grounds, it is sought to allow the appeal.

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I have examined the materials placed before this Court. The Trial Court has clearly observed that, the prosecution has cited 32 witnesses in the charge sheet and out of them 12 witnesses were examined. PW1 is the sister of the deceased and informant as well. She supported the case of the prosecution in-part and she never deposed anything about the second accident. However, she is only a hearsay witness. Her evidence does

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:50416 CRL.A No. 1411 of 2024

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CNR: KAHC010378772024

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not require much discussion. PW2 is the person who has

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conducted fault investigation. PW3 is cited as eyewitness in the charge sheet. But he has not deposed anything as to the alleged accident. PW4 is also alleged to be another eyewitness. He has deposed something about the alleged incident and specifically stated that he was not present at the time when the car dashed against the tanker lorry. In the cross examination, he admitted that since the road runs in upward direction, the vehicle used to run slowly in

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the spot of accident. It means there is no scope to drive the vehicles in high speed near the spot of accident. The evidence of PW6 is formal in nature. He has deposed only

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as to registration of the crime. PW8 is said to be another witness to the spot and seizure mahazar. PW7 is one of the mechanic. He has deposed that vehicle bearing Lorry bearing No.KA-14/A-0891 was parked beside the road due

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to brake failure. Whereas the M.V Inspector stated that

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the accident has not caused due to mechanical issue. The evidence of PW5 and PW7 do not corroborate each other.

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HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:50416 CRL.A No. 1411 of 2024

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CNR: KAHC010378772024

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PW9 another mechanic who was present at the spot has admitted that, he has not seen the driver of the vehicle. No one has shown the driver to him. PW10 who is alleged to be the cleaner of offending lorry, has specifically deposed that accident took place due to rash and negligent driving of lorry by accused No.1. But his evidence is not supported by other witnesses.

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A careful examination of the entire evidence of the prosecution witnesses, I am of the opinion that the Trial Court has properly appreciated the evidence on record in accordance with law and facts. Hence, I do not find any legal or factual error in the impugned judgment of acquittal passed by the Trial Court. Hence, the appeal is dismissed at the stage of 'Admission' itself.

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Sd/(G BASAVARAJA) JUDGE

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DHA LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 51

The State of Karnataka by v. Channaiah

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The State of Karnataka by v. Channaiah

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