Karnataka High Court Reserves Verdict In Sri Sri Ravishankar's Plea To Quash FIR Over Alleged Land Encroachment

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (March 3) reserved its verdict in spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar's plea challenging an FIR over alleged encroachment of public lands in Bengaluru.

On January 13 the court had stayed the investigation against the petitioner.

After hearing all the parties Justice M Nagaprasanna orally said, "Heard...reserved. Interim order subsisting would continue till the disposal of the petition".

The senior counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that there were no allegations made against the petitioner. It was argued earlier that the petitioner neither owns any property nor has encroached any land.

Meanwhile the counsel appearing for the State submitted that there were allegations against the petitioner and the investigation cannot be scuttled at this stage and it should be allowed.

The spiritual guru has approached the high court seeking to quash the FIR registered against him by the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force Police alleging offences punishable under Section 192A (Offences and Penalties) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964. Among the various offences listed therein, one of them states that if a person unlawfully enters or occupies on any Government land with the intention of holding that Government land he shall be imprisoned for one year and fine of rupees five thousand.

The registration of the crime was based on an order passed by the high court's division bench in a PIL alleging that the respondents therein had encroached upon the public lands to some extent and even constructed property on a Rajakaluve (storm water drain that connects lakes).

The petitioner was added as respondent No.5 in the PIL along with other persons who have also been arrayed as accused in the crime.

The Division Bench had in its order observed that the map indicated that certain constructions have been raised in Survey Nos.164/2, 163/3 and 161/7 and 160 of Kaggalipura Village, Uttarahalli Hobli, Bengaluru South Taluk.

Additionally, a large part of Survey No.150, which is indicated to be a tank, has also been encroached. The division bench had in view of the Government's stance "that in fact there has been encroachment of public lands", disposed of the PIL by directing action to be taken against encroachers as is warranted, albeit, in accordance with law.

Case Title: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar AND State of Karnataka & ANR

Case No: WP 143/2026