'If This Permitted, Tomorrow HC Building Not Safe: Karnataka High Court Remarks On Man's Claim Over Alleged Land Sale Housing Police Quarter

While hearing a man's plea challenging an FIR over alleged sale of land housing Malleshwaram police quarters, the Karnataka High Court on Thursday (June 4) orally remarked that if such claims are permitted then tomorrow even high court building would not be safe. 

When the matter was taken up, Senior Counsel Aruna Shyam appearing for the accused person Srinath Nagaragadde, submitted before Justice M.Nagaprasanna that all documentary evidence, including encumbrance certificate, stood in their favour.

He submitted that in the matter, police quarter was situated in a place where the accused no. 1 lady who was the original owner, had entered into sale agreement with other individuals. 

“…There is nothing, no documents with prosecution to show that the land belongs to police department,” the counsel contended.

At this stage the bench orally said that the land has been with the police department since 1950; there is a police quarters built within the premises and policemen have been living there, the court added.

“…If this is permitted, then tomorrow this building [High Court's] is not safe,” the Court orally observed.

However, Shyam said that as per the land records, from the 1950s, are in the name of another woman, and that her ancestors had owned the property.

“…Policemen are living there. But we have the documents,” he submitted. To this the court orally said, “So policemen are encroachers?”.

“Let them (state) show a single piece of evidence, we will withdraw the petition...” Adv. Aruna Shyam replied. At this stage the court orally said, "Your courage should be appreciated, police quarters, you sell away...You have sold quarters which are police quarters, and policemen are living there". 

Shyam said that allegation was made against agreement holder, but police had not arrested the vendor.

According to the petitioner, the original owner of the land had entered into a sale agreement with certain other individuals including the petitioner who have now been arraigned as accused. The property, however, contains police quarters where police personnel have been residing, and the state claims the land has belonged to the police department since the 1930s.

An FIR was registered against the petitioner for offences under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), 329(3), 61(2), 351(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 which relate to cheating, forgery, criminal trespass, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, and common intention etc.

To hear the matter further on merits, the court adjourned the matter to next Tuesday.

Case Title: Srinath Nagaragadde v. State of Karnataka & Anr.

Case Title: CRL.P 5408/2026