Karnataka HC Quashes SC/ST Act Case Against Infosys Co-Founder For Role In Alleged Discrimination, Wrongful Removal Of Ex-IISc Professor

The Karnataka High Court has quashed proceedings initiated under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, against Infosys co-founder S Krish Gopalakrishnan and 15 others, who are members of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) following allegations by a former professor D. Sanna Durgappa, of wrongful dismissal from service and caste-based discrimination.

Justice Hemant Chandangoudar allowing the petition filed by the accused said “On perusal of the complaint, it is clear that the allegations made against the petitioners do not constitute offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.”

Among others named in the FIR are IISc faculty members, including Govindan Rangarajan, Sridhar Warrier, Sandya Vishwswaraih, Hari K V S, Dasappa, Balaram P, Hemalata Mhishi, Chattopadyaya K, Pradeep D Sawkar, and Manoharan.

Dr D Sanna Durgappa had claimed that he was falsely implicated in a honey trap case in 2014, leading to his dismissal from IISC. He also alleged caste-based abuse and threats. Gopalakrishnan serves as Chairman of the IISc Council since 2022.

The bench said “Respondent No.1 was terminated from service for sexual harassment after a departmental inquiry, which was later converted into resignation. The termination was challenged by respondent No.1 before this Court in W.P. No.19594/2015. In that proceeding, the parties filed a joint memo, and as per the terms of the settlement, the termination was converted into resignation. Respondent No.1 was entitled to all terminal benefits arising from the resignation. Respondent No.1 also agreed to withdraw all the proceedings and complaints lodged with various authorities, such as the National Commission for SC/ST, the Karnataka State Commission for SC/ST, the Additional DGP Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement, and the Dy.SP CRE Cell, among others.”

Further it said “Following the settlement, all terminal benefits were released in favor of the complainant. The disposal of the writ petition based on the joint memo has attained finality. Despite this, respondent No.2 filed two similar complaints under Section 200 of the Cr.P.C.”

Noting that “Registration of the crime based on these complaints was challenged by some of the petitioners/accused before this Court in W.P. Nos.63878/2016 and 10835/2017. This Court, by orders dated 30.10.2023 and 07.06.2022, quashed the registration of the FIR, holding that the dispute between the parties arose out of the termination of respondent No. 1, which was later converted into resignation, although the matter was given a criminal color.”

It held “The present private complaint, which makes similar allegations except for the inclusion of additional accused Nos.16 and 17, who allegedly threatened the complainant to quit the service, is an abuse of the process of law. The filing of a third complaint with similar allegations is clearly a vexatious attempt to harass the petitioners for having terminated the complainant's service, which was subsequently converted into resignation. Therefore, the dispute between the parties is essentially civil in nature, albeit presented with a criminal color.”

Accordingly it allowed the petition and quashed the case, reserving liberty to the petitioners to file appropriate petitioner before the Advocate General seeking permission to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against the complainant.

Appearance: Senior Advocate S S Ramdas for Advocate Syed Kashif Ali for Petitioners

Advocate Manoj S N for R1.

HCGP M R Patil for R2.

Case Title: Prof Govindan Rangarajan & Others AND Dr D Sanna Durgappa & ANR

Case No: WP 2550/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 155

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