High Court of Karnataka (DB — Mohammad Nawaz & Venkatesh Naik T, JJ.; judgment per Mohammad Nawaz J.), 12.03.2026 — dismisses two State appeals arising out of the judgments of the I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ramanagara in Crl.A.No.14/2013 and Crl.A.No.22/2013. Crl.A.No.940/2018 (under S.378(1) and (3) Cr.P.C.) challenged the acquittal of accused Nos.1 and 3 (judgment dt. 25.09.2017), whereby their trial-court convictions — accused No.1 under S.326 r/w 34 IPC and accused No.3 under S.324 r/w 34 IPC (6 months RI and Rs.3,000/- fine each, judgment dt. 08.04.2013 in C.C.No.152/2002) — had been set aside; the appeal against respondent No.1 (Shivanna) had already abated v/o 14.06.2019. Crl.A.No.613/2025 (under S.419(1) & (3) BNSS) challenged the judgment dt. 03.11.2017 in Crl.A.No.22/2013, by which the State's appeal regarding accused Nos.2 and 4 was dismissed as not maintainable (no conviction or acquittal having been recorded against them) and the appeal regarding accused No.1 was disposed of as not surviving. The case arose out of a night assault on 30.12.2001 on tailor Krishnappa (PW.2) and his wife Venkatalakshmamma (PW.1) after a quarrel over PW.2 cutting a Neem tree. On re-appreciation, the High Court found: material improvements/contradictions in the evidence of PWs.1 and 2 vis-à-vis Ex.P1 (Ex.P1 nowhere mentions club assault by accused Nos.1 and 4 or any chopper); a doubt as to the genesis of the case owing to the discrepancy on when the complaint was lodged; panch witnesses PWs.3 and 4 hostile; eyewitnesses PWs.5 and 6 related to PW-2 and inconsistent with PWs.1 and 2, hence unsafe; and absence of medical corroboration (treating doctor not examined; no X-ray placed on record to prove grievous injury No.1 in Ex.P5). Held: the charges were not proved beyond reasonable doubt; both appeals were dismissed.
