Karnataka High Court Refuses To Interfere In Plea Alleging ₹1.45 Lakh Fraud By Religious Figure, Cites Alternative Remedies

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (February 17) refused to interfere in a woman's plea seeking police action on her complaint alleging financial fraud of Rs. 1.45 Lakh by a religious person, granting her liberty to avail alternative remedy of approaching senior police officers and the magistrate court.

The petitioner contended that she was duped of certain money by a "religious person". She sought that the police be directed to take suitable action on her complaint dated 17-11-2025. The plea further seeks a direction to the police to give her proper protection from one Prasanna Guruji and Shailaja of Shakti Nageshwara Temple, Bengaluru and to take suitable action against them for duping her of Rs. 1,45,000. 

The court noted that if the respondents fail to act despite having information of certain culpability, the petitioner will have the remedy of approaching the senior police officers and the jurisdictional magistrate. 

Justice BM Shyam Prasad said,"The petitioner having benefit of this alternative remedy, this court does not find a cause for interference and hence the petition is disposed off with liberty to the petitioner...". 

The court thus disposed of the plea granting her liberty to avail the alternative remedies. 

Case title: SMT LAKSHMIDEVI S R v/s THE STATE OF KARNATAKA AND OTHERS

WP 3071/2026