The Karnataka High Court has expressed deep displeasure over the police's decision to issue a Look Out Circular (LOC) against advocate-cricketer and AVR Group founder Aravind Reddy in a case involving bailable offences, including the alleged stalking of a Kannada actress, while disposing of the writ petition after the State agreed not to enforce the LOC further. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 336]

The single judge bench of Justice T.P Vivekananda noted in the order that the petitioner had not eloped abroad in anticipation of the arrest over bailable offences, but he was returning from Sri Lanka after participating in a cricket tournament. The court hence found no justifying circumstances for the issuance of LOC.

“…From 17.10.2025[date of registration of FIR] till 06.11.2025, what steps the respondent police have taken to trace the petitioner is not forthcoming from the writ petition papers or the documents produced along with the memo. It is on record that the petitioner has traveled to Sri Lanka only on 06.11.2025 and it cannot be said that in anticipation of his arrest in respect of the crime registered on 17.10.2025, the petitioner has travelled to abroad….This Court expresses deep displeasure against respondent Nos.3 to 5[DCP, ACP & Commissioner] for taking extreme step of issuance of Look Out Notice/Circular against the petitioner, pursuant a crime registered against the petitioner for the bailable offences.”, it was noted in the order.

The petitioner, a previous captain of the Indian Advocates Cricket Team, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport on November 15, 2025, upon his return from Sri Lanka over a crime registered at Rajarajeshwari Nagar Police Station transferred to Govindarajanagar Police Station later) for offences punishable under Sections 78(2), 79, 352, 351(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The petitioner stated that he was in a live-in relationship with an actress, whom he met during an international tournament, for over a period of 6 months, after which their relationship allegedly became strained. Thereafter, the actress lodged a complaint with the police for the aforesaid offences.

Before the High Court, the petitioner contended that his arrest at the airport acquired 'huge publicity in the News media, so also, in the Social media, which has tarnished the reputation and image of the petitioner'. The petitioner also argued that he had no knowledge about the registration of FIR.

The Additional Government Advocate, on the other hand, argued that the authorities were bound to issue LOC due to the petitioner constantly travelling abroad, as a result of which he was unable to be informed about the crime registration. It was further submitted by the state that the LOC was issued solely for securing the presence of the petitioner for investigation. The state added that LOC won't be enforced anymore since the petitioner had been enlarged on bail after his arrest from the airport.

On December 4, 2025, while granting interim relief, the Court had opined that the complaint itself was probably with regards to a relationship that had turned sour. Noting that there was no flight risk, the court had then put an interim stay on the Look Out Circular.

In the current plea, the petitioner had also impleaded the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission as a respondent seeking investigation into infringement of his human rights. On this aspect, the Commission submitted that the petitioner had not approached it complaining of human rights violation so far. The court also noted that the proceedings before KHRC would be a separate proceeding, which the petitioner can initiate if needed.

“…Recording the submissions of learned AGA that the Look Out Notice/Circular issued as against the petitioner would not be implemented/enforced, the Writ Petition is disposed off….”, the court accordingly disposed of the plea.

Case Title: Aravind Reddy v. State of Karnataka & ors.

Case No: WP No.36586/2025 (GM-RES)

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 336

Click Here To Read/Download Order