Karnataka HC stays intimidation case filed against Slice Bank MD, HR head on ex-legal officer’s complaint

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed criminal proceedings against the Managing Director (MD) and Human Resources Head at Slice Small Finance Bank, which were initiated on a complaint filed by the organisation's former Chief Legal and Strategy Officer [Yudan Wang & other Vs State of Karnataka & Ors].

A vacation Bench of Justice R Nataraj granted the interim relief on petitions filed by Slice's MD Rajan Bajaj and its HR head, Yudan Wang to quash the criminal case against them.

The complaint was filed by Slice's former chief of legal strategy Bhawna Sangwan. Sangwan was terminated from service in April, following which the company filed a suit against her and secured an interim order restraining her from disclosing any confidential information. Sangwan also sued the company, and secured an interim order to keep her post in the company vacant.

She also filed a criminal case in Guwahati, accusing the company of criminal intimidation and a criminal breach of trust.

However, Sangwan claims that she was later threatened to withdraw this case while she was at a cafe in Bengaluru. She, therefore, filed a fresh complaint in Bengaluru accusing Slice's management of criminal intimidation and insulting her modesty.

The Court yesterday stayed further criminal proceedings connected to this complaint, after noting that the Guwahati High Court has stayed the earlier criminal case filed by Sangwan.

"Apparently, the latest proceedings initiated by respondent No.2 (the former legal officer) against the petitioners appears to be an abuse of the process of law.  In that view of the matter, all further proceedings in Crime No.160/2026 registered by respondent No.1 for the offences punishable under Sections 351(3), 79 read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 is stayed, in so far as petitioners are concerned," the Karnataka High Court's order stated.

In the complaint filed in Bengaluru, Sangwan alleged that she was threatened on May 9 at around 11.30 PM, while she was at a Starbucks outlet in Koramangala.

She claims that an unidentified man approached her, and displayed photographs of her children and certain uncomfortable photographs on his phone.

She alleged that the man threatened her, telling her to withdraw the FIR she filed in Guwahati, warning that she would otherwise be killed.

The Koramangala police registered a case under Sections 351(3) (criminal intimidation), 79 (insult to the modesty of a woman) read with Section 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Rajan Bajaj, Yudan Wang and others.

Rajan and Wang have now challenged this FIR before the Karnataka High Court. Senior Advocate Arun Kumar appeared on their behalf in yesterday's hearing.