The Karnataka High Court on June 30 stayed trial court proceedings in a criminal case filed last year against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dr. K Sudhakar after election officials seized ₹4.8 crores cash from a voter's house in Chikkaballapura constituency ahead of the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 [Dr. K Sudhakar v. State of Karnataka].
Justice SR Krishna Kumar stayed the trial proceedings insofar as they relate to Sudhakar.
"All further proceedings in C.C.No.19099/2025 arising out of Crime No.355/2024 on the file of the XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru, insofar as the petitioner is concerned, are hereby stayed till the next date of hearing. Liberty is reserved in favour of respondents to seek vacation / modification of this order. Re-list on 28.07.2025," the order stated.
The case was filed after election officials recovered ₹4.8 crores of cash from a house in the Chikkaballapura constituency, where Sudhakar was contesting the Lok Sabha polls.
Munish Moudgil (IAS), a special officer tasked with enforcing the Model Code of Conduct during the elections, alleged that shortly after the cash was recovered, he got a WhatsApp call and messages from a person who identified himself as Sudhakar, requesting help.
The election authorities claimed that the cash recovered from the house of one Govindappa was meant to be used to bribe voters. They linked the same to Sudhakar and booked both him and Govindappa in a criminal case citing the offences under Sections 171B, 171C, 171E and 171F (election-related offences) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 123 of the Representation of Peoples Act (corrupt practices).
Sudhakar's petition, filed through advocate Sanjeevini Prabhuling Navadgi, sought the quashing of this case.
Earlier, the case was placed for trial before a court in Nelamangala. However, the High Court quashed these trial court proceedings after noting that it was not the appropriate court to try this case since the accused was a legislator.
The High Court had observed in an order passed in November 2024 that the case must be tried by a special court constituted to hear cases involving MPs/ MLAs
Subsequently, the matter was placed before an additional chief judicial magistrate in Bengaluru.
The case was slated to be heard by the trial judge on July 10.
However, these trial court proceedings have now been stayed with respect to Sudhakar.
The High Court will hear his petition to quash the case next on July 28.
[Read Order]