Karnataka High Court Stays Order Directing Probe Against State Home Minister G Parameshwara In 'Illegal Betting' Case

The Karnataka High Court in an interim order on Thursday (April 23) stayed a magistrate court's order which had directed police investigation over allegations against Karnataka Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara  for "illegally betting" Rs. 500 during a Kabaddi match.

Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav stayed the order passed by XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Bengaluru K.N.Shivakumar on Tuesday directing probe into allegations against the State minister as well as Tumkur Deputy Commissioner Subha Kalyana. Against this order the Minister had moved the high court.

The court in its order noted that the context in which the offence was made out, "prima facie" lacked "mens rea". 

A detailed copy of the order is awaited. 

The magistrate court in its order had noted that it was a  'prima facie' apt case for investigation. It had noted that it appeared that the police had neither considered the reports of Newspapers nor appears to have summoned any documents / evidences from the complainant before giving such an endorsement as to the complaint is baseless and lack of evidence. 

It has been alleged by the complainant H.R. Nagabushan, that the State Home Minister and the Tumkur Deputy Commissioner were involved in illegal betting in a public function i.e., the Kabaddi competition held in the Tumakuru City on 19-10-2025, by betting Rs.500 as against the winning Team–the Dakshina Kannada District Team.

It was also alleged that after the Kabbadi competition the two had given statement about the same to the Media, whereby they have instigated the public at large to involve in such illegal betting activities. Thus it was alleged that they had committed offences under Sections 112(2) (petty organised crime) & 45 (abetment) of BNS.

The complainant had previously filed a complaint with the Kodigehalli Police Station, which the police closed as baseless and without evidence.

Case title: Dr. G Parameshwara v.s State of Karnataka

WP 13090 of 2026

Counsel for petitioner: Senior advocate KN Phanindra, advocates Samrudh Hegde, Shathabish Shivanna, Abhishek J and Karthik N