The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash criminal proceedings against a government school teacher accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting and blackmailing a colleague, observing that the allegations reveal a serious pattern of coercion that must be tested during trial.
The case stems from a complaint lodged by a guest teacher working at a government school in Shivamogga district. In her complaint, she alleged that the accused, a senior teacher at the same institution, subjected her to sustained harassment which later escalated into repeated sexual assault. She claimed that he took intimate photographs of her without consent and subsequently used them to threaten her, warning that he would circulate the images and jeopardise her job if she resisted his demands.
According to the complaint, these threats were used to force her into sexual acts against her will over an extended period. The woman eventually approached the police after enduring what she described as prolonged exploitation.
The accused moved the High Court seeking to have the case dismissed, contending that the relationship between the two was consensual and that the allegations had been falsely framed.
However, Justice M Nagaprasanna declined to accept this argument at the preliminary stage. After examining the complaint and the material gathered during the investigation, the court noted that the allegations cannot be brushed aside as baseless. It observed that the circumstances described by the complainant point to a situation where consent, if any, may have been obtained through intimidation and misuse of authority.
The court highlighted that the alleged acts involved threats of reputational harm and professional consequences, which could undermine the very notion of free consent.
Emphasising the gravity of the accusations, the court stated that it would be inappropriate to interfere at this stage and halt the proceedings. It noted that the veracity of the claims and the defence put forward by the accused can only be properly assessed during a full trial, where evidence is examined in detail.
Concluding that the case raises substantial issues requiring judicial scrutiny, the High Court refused to exercise its powers to quash the proceedings. It directed that the trial continue before the appropriate court in accordance with law.
State asked for report on Dharmasthala case
The Karnataka High Court has asked the state government to submit a detailed report outlining the steps taken by the police in investigating a series of unnatural deaths allegedly linked to the Dharmasthala mass burial controversy. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha was hearing a public interest litigation in which the petitioners claimed that as many as 74 unnatural deaths had not been properly investigated. According to them, mandatory procedures such as inquests and post-mortem examinations, required under criminal law, were not followed in these cases.
During the hearing, the State’s counsel acknowledged that records relating to unnatural deaths in Dharmasthala prior to 2010 had been destroyed in line with an administrative policy. However, it was submitted that records from 2010 onwards are still available. The State also raised concerns about the timing of the petition, noting that the allegations date back nearly two decades. The bench, while considering the submissions, orally remarked that any death occurring under suspicious or violent circumstances must be treated as an unnatural death and requires proper investigation unless clearly attributable to natural causes.
Taking note of the issues raised, the High Court directed the State to file a comprehensive statement placing on record the material facts and the nature of investigations carried out in connection with the deaths and disappearances. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 9.
