Karnataka High Court Weekly Round-Up: March 09 - March 15, 2026

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 100 - 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 106Nominal CitationMohammed Mujashsim v. State of Karnataka, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 100Emeka James Iwoba @ Austin Noso Iwoba & Anr v. State of Karnataka, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 101X v. State & Anr, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 102M/S. ND Developers Private Ltd & Ors. v. Ritesh Raushan, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 103Binoj P J v. State of Karnataka, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 104K. Ganesh & Anr. v. Govind Reddy & Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 105Nishchay Babu Arkalgud & Anr. v. State of Karnataka & Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 106Judgments/OrdersKarnataka High Court Declines PIL Seeking Circulars To Ensure Compliance With Lalita Kumari Ruling On Mandatory FIRCase title: Mohammed Mujashsim vs State of KarnatakaCase No: WP 6093/2026Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 100The Karnataka High Court has refused to entertain a public interest litigation seeking a direction upon the State to issue circulars to enforce the judgment of Lalita Kumari v. State of UP, 2014(2) SCC 1.When the plea came up for hearing before the principal bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha, the court observed that it cannot give omnibus directions to State authorities in pursuance of the PIL.The Court added that if an FIR is not registered, there is a recourse to other remedies in BNSS; there is no requirement to issue blanket orders in this regard. The Court also refused to comment on the cases mentioned in the writ petition since they are live cases not yet disposed of.Foreign Nationals Also Entitled To Article 22 Safeguards; Grounds Of Arrest Must Be Communicated In Language Understood: Karnataka High CourtCase title: Emeka James Iwoba @ Austin Noso Iwoba & Anr v State of KarnatakaCase No: Criminal Petition No.11347 of 2025Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 101In an NDPS case concerning two Nigerian nationals, the Karnataka High Court has said that Article 22 of the Constitution applies to Indian nationals and Foreign nationals alike, since the expression 'no person' has been used in the Article.“….The constitutional guarantee does not evaporate at the border nor does it diminish by reason of nationality, except an enemy alien as defined under Article 22(3)(a) which expressly makes the provision inapplicable to an enemy alien, otherwise, a foreigner within the territory of India though, subject to the regulatory regime governing entry and stay is nevertheless, entitled to the procedural safeguards mandated by Article 22…”, the High Court observed.The Nigerian nationals were accused of possessing narcotics worth Rs 50 lakhs meant to be sold to students and software professionals in Bengaluru. During the investigation, they were found to have multiple passports and expired visas.Courts Will Become Forums For Personal Vendetta If Every Broken Relationship Is Criminalised: Karnataka High Court Quashes FIRCase title: X v/s State & AnrCase No: WP No.35036 of 2024Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 102Observing that the criminal justice system cannot be made a remedy for the emotional turmoil of failed relationships, the Karnataka High Court has quashed an FIR U/s 69 and 115(2) of BNS arising from a live-in relationship in Ireland.“…. If every broken relationship were to be clothed in the garb of criminality, the Courts would transform into forums of personal vendetta, rather than forums of justice…”, the court opined while absolving the petitioner male from the continuing criminal prosecution.The single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna also observed that if the sexual intercourse did not stem from 'deceit from inception', it would be unjust to 'criminalise heartbreak'.Section 138 NI Act Not Attracted When Cheque Bounces Due To Subsequent Freezing Of Drawer's Account: Karnataka High CourtCase Title: M/S. ND Developers Private Ltd & Ors. v. Ritesh RaushanCase No: Criminal Petition No.11207 OF 2025Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 103When the drawer of the cheque could not have exercised real control or authority upon the relevant bank account on which a cheque is drawn, its dishonour would not warrant proceedings under the Negotiable Instruments Act, held the Karnataka High Court.The court clarified that, in order to attract S.138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the accused should have control over the account when the cheque becomes due for presentation. The drawer of the cheque can't be said to possess authority or control over an account if there is a live debit freeze on it.Storing Child Sexual Abuse Material On Mobile Can Attract POCSO & IT Act Offences, Even Without Transmission: Karnataka High CourtCase Title: Binoj P J v. State of KarnatakaCase No: Criminal Petition No. 17142 Of 2025Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 104Iterating the precedents laid down by the apex court, the Karnataka High Court has dismissed a plea to quash the criminal proceedings against a 38-year-old man who allegedly stored sexually exploitative content of children in his mobile phone.“…it is not transmission alone, but even storage of child...

Karnataka High Court Weekly Round-Up: March 09 - March 15, 2026

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