Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 186- 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 189Nominal CitationsShri Sheenappa & Ors. vs. State of Karnataka & Ors, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 186Irfan Pasha v. National Investigation Agency, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 187Mr. Riyaz Ahmed v. Karnataka State By North Traffic P.S., Mangalore, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 188M.B. Nagaraj v. State of Karnataka & Ors, 2026 LiveLaw(Kar)...
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 186- 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 189
Nominal Citations
Shri Sheenappa & Ors. vs. State of Karnataka & Ors, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 186
Irfan Pasha v. National Investigation Agency, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 187
Mr. Riyaz Ahmed v. Karnataka State By North Traffic P.S., Mangalore, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 188
M.B. Nagaraj v. State of Karnataka & Ors, 2026 LiveLaw(Kar) 189
Judgments/ Orders
Case Title: Sri Sheenappa & Ors. vs. State of Karnataka & Ors.
Case No.: Writ Petition No. 13836 of 2026
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 186
The Karnataka High Court has on May 14 directed the State government and the Police department to remove deepfake and AI-manipulated content about the Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr. D Veerendra Heggade and his family members from all social media platforms, press and media outlets and URLs.
The single judge vacation bench of Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar noted that the concerned authorities failed to take necessary action against such fabricated and morphed content despite a direction to the same effect in an earlier W.P. No. 19382/2023, pursuant to which a representation was made to the police authorities.
"Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 are directed to take necessary/effective/immediate steps to ensure that AI-generated, morphed, manipulated or fabricated images, video content depicting Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, his family members, etc., to be taken down, removed, erased, effaced, deleted, etc., from all social media, URLs, press/media, social media platforms, etc., and press and other media including respondent Nos. 3 to 7 within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order”, the court noted in the order.
Case Title: Irfan Pasha v. National Investigation Agency
Case No.: Criminal Appeal No. 812 of 2026
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 187
The Karnataka High Court has recently dismissed an appeal filed by an accused in a UAPA case, who sought interim bail of three days to attend the Chehlam (40th day prayer ceremony) of his deceased sister, after having already been granted bail by the trial court to attend the 10th to 13th day rituals earlier.
The Division Bench of Justice Rajesh Rai K and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum also noted the trial court's finding that there was another living male member in the family to carry out the 40th-day rituals of the deceased sister, and hence no cogent reason was made out to grant interim bail.
“Since the appellant has filed the present application to attend 40th day prayer ceremony of his deceased sister, that too, immediately after his earlier application being considered and granted by the Trial Court vide order dated 16.04.2026 to attend 10th to 13th day prayer ceremony, the present application has rightly been rejected by the Trial Court as there was no cogent reason assigned by the appellant as to why the similar application has to be entertained once again and as the trial of the case being at the fag end and that the offences alleged against the appellant being serious in nature”, the Division Bench noted in the order.
Case Title: Mr. Riyaz Ahmed v. Karnataka State By North Traffic P.S., Mangalore
Case No: Criminal Revision Petition No. 486 of 2018
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 188
Taking into account the accused-driver's act of shifting the injured victim to the hospital in his own car as a mitigating circumstance, the Karnataka High Court has modified the sentence awarded for rash and negligent driving resulting in death from one year to one day.
The single judge bench of Justice V Srishananda, acknowledging the driver's decision not to flee the spot after the accident, reduced his jail term from one year to jail term till the rising of the court while enhancing the compensation to the victim's family to Rs 1,00,000 lakh.
“…In the considered opinion of this Court, if the sentence ordered by the trial Magistrate confirmed by the First Appellate Court for the offence under Section 304A IPC, if modified by directing the petitioner to undergo simple imprisonment for the day till the rising of the Court by enhancing the fine amount in a sum of ₹1,00,000/- which can be paid as compensation in a sum of ₹50,000/- each to the wife of deceased Anand Shetty, Mrs. Sumathi and Sri. Santhosh Kumar being the son, ends of justice would be met”, the court said while upholding the conviction and asking the accused to pay the fine amount in two instalments by the end of May and June respectively.
Case Title: M.B. Nagaraj v. State of Karnataka & Ors.
Case No: Writ Petition No. 15660 of 2026 (S-KSAT)
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 189
The Karnataka High Court quashed the suspension of an executive engineer over the collapse of Bowring Hospital's compound wall in Bengaluru which claimed 7 lives in April, observing that the falling of the wall does not create "prima facie evidence of gross dereliction of duty" in absence of specific evidence against the officer.
The Division Bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj and Dr Justice K. Manmadha Rao set aside M.B Nagaraj's suspension, an executive engineer of the Health & Family Welfare Department noting that the requirement of 'prima facie evidence against him' under clause Rule 10(1)(d) Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules was non-existent in the present case.
“…The usage of the word 'him' would indicate that such evidence is required insofar as the officer who is proposed to be suspended and not the event itself”, the court noted in the order, emphasising the aforesaid requirement before accusing the jurisdictional officer for the fall of the compound wall.
Other Developments
Karnataka High Court Stays FSSAI Advisory Restricting Use Of Ashwagandha Leaves In Health Supplements
Case Title: Sami-Sabinsa Group Ltd.& Ors vs. Union of India & Ors
Case No: WP 14990/2026
The Karnataka High Court has stayed the operation of a Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) advisory arising from a directive issued by Ministry of AYUSH, prohibiting use of Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) leaves & its extract in manufacture of health supplements and Nutraceuticals.
The advisory meanwhile permits the use of Ashwagandha roots and root extracts.
The single-judge bench of Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar asked Ministry of AYUSH and FSSAI to file their statement of objections before the next date of hearing on June 8.
“…In the meanwhile, the impugned Advisory dated 16.04.2026 and the impugned Directive dated 15.04.2026 issued by respondent Nos.1 and 2 respectively, are hereby stayed only insofar as it relates to the petitioners in W.P.No.14990/2026 and W.P.No.15010/2026 are concerned, till the next date of hearing… Liberty is reserved in favour of respondents to seek vacation / modification of this order”, the court said.
Case Title: Amazon Seller Services Private Limited v. State of Karnataka & Ors.
Case No: Crl P 7018/2026
The Karnataka High Court in an interim order on Tuesday (May 19) stayed further proceedings in an FIR lodged against Amazon Seller Services Private Limited over the alleged sale of pirated copies of late journalist Ravi Belagere's novel, 'Heli Hogu Kaarana', by unauthorised sellers using the platform.
The court was considering Amazon Seller Services' plea seeking to quash the FIR, wherein the e-commerce platform has invoked the 'safe harbour' protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, as the primary ground.
Before a vacation bench of Justice K.V Aravind, senior advocate Sandesh J Chouta appearing for Amazon sought a for a stay on the FIR registered at the Subramanyapura police station, at the instance of Belagere's daughter Bhavana Belagere for alleged copyright infringement.
Issuing notices to the state government and the complainant the court adjourned the matter to the third week of June.
“…Issue notice to R1 and R2. Further proceedings stayed…in the FIR… till the next date of hearing. List during the third week of June”, the court said.
Case Title: Deepak Singh v. Enforcement Directorate & connected matters
Case No: WP 15130/2026 (and connected matters WP 15277/2026 & WP 15278/2026)
Questioning his arrest by the ED, Deepak Singh one of the founder's of gaming company Gameskraft told the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (May 19) that the founders' arrest in PMLA case was not based on any new tangible material questioning the agency as to what prevented it from issuing summons instead of outrightly arresting.
The founder further argued that the arrest was a predetermined exercise to bypass an earlier stay order granted in an indentical matter.
Justice K.V Aravind was hearing a plea by Gameskraft founders Deepak Singh, Prithvi Raj Singh, and Vikas Taneja, who had moved the high court challenging their arrest in a money laundering case by the ED on May 7 at Gurgaon. They had also challenged a Bengaluru Court's order granting ED custody. As of today, the founders are in judicial custody.
Appearing for Deepak Singh, senior advocate Dr S. Muralidhar argued:
“…It's not a terrorist crime…. Why the drama – overnight, disturbing the magistrate at Gurgaon as well [for transit remand]? This is a pure misuse of power…There must be a stop to this kind of misuse somewhere. It's also taxpayers' money – these officers flying to Gurgaon. It was not needed to demonstrate the power of law. What prevented them from issuing a summons instead of an outright arrest? It wasn't like I was not cooperating. They have already collected a lot of material….”.
Case Title: C. Vedavathi & Anr. v. State of Karnataka & Ors.
Case No: WP 15683/2026
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (19 May) restrained the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of various road transport trade unions from starting an indefinite strike from tomorrow.
The unions in question constitute of employees of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC). As per the strike notice date April 29, the unions are to go on indefinite strike from tomorrow.
The Division Bench of Justices Suraj Govindaraj and K.Manmadha Rao also directed the State Government to hold a meeting between the representatives of the unions, the transport minister, the Chief Minister, and the respective Secretaries to smoothen out the conflict.
“Respondent No.7 and its constituent Unions are restrained from going on strike or acting on the strike notice dated 29.04.2026.Learned Additional Advocate General seeks for and is granted two days' time to obtain instructions and make his submission as to when a meeting could be held between the representative of respondent No.7-Organization and Minister for Transport, the Chief Minister and the respective Secretaries….”, the court ordered while issuing notice to the respondents.
Case Title: Christophe Stephane Monxion v. The Foreigners Regional Registration Officer
Case No: WA 1369/2026
In a significant development, the Karnataka High Court on Thursday (May 21) took on record a French national's verbal undertaking to leave India for allegedly violating tourist visa conditions while running a restaurant in Gokarna for over 15 years.
The Vacation Bench comprising Justice Suraj Govindaraj and Justice K. Manmadha Rao was hearing an appeal filed by Christophe Stephane Monxion against a single judge's order, which upheld a 'Leave India' notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO).
After hearing both the French national and the FRRO, the Division Bench recorded the appellant's undertaking that he would voluntarily leave India by May 28, 2026, after obtaining the requisite exit permit from the FRRO.
“…The French national undertakes to leave India before the 28th of this month[May] after obtaining the required exit permit, and he would not insist on any interim order. He will continue to prosecute the above writ appeal in terms of the report. Respondent authority to file detailed objections. Relist on 24th June…”, the court noted in its order.
Case Title: R Ganga & Anr. v. The Principal Secretary, Finance Department & Ors.
Case No.: WP No.15855 /2026
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (May 21) issued notices to the State authorities on a plea filed against their alleged failure to disburse two monthly instalments of Griha Lakshmi Yojana to the women beneficiaries in February and March 2025, respectively.
The scheme promises Rs 2000 per month to female heads of households, subject to certain eligibility conditions.
The vacation bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj and Justice K Manmadha Rao was hearing a PIL filed by two social workers alleging a lapse of approximately Rs 5000 crores from the public exchequer, affecting nearly 1.26 crore women beneficiaries.
“…Learned AGA accepts notice for respondent Nos.1 to 3. He seeks for and is granted two weeks to make his submissions. Re-list on 04.06.2026”, the court accordingly ordered.