Karnataka High Court refuses to quash FIR against dismissed cop accused of extorting govt officials

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka has dismissed a petition filed by Ningappa Savant, a dismissed police constable from Chitradurga, seeking to set aside the FIR registered against him for using the names of officials in the Lokayukta for extorting government officials. 

The FIR stated that Ningappa would threaten and extort government officials by calling them from newly bought sim cards with display pictures (DP) of Lokayukta, Upalokayukta and other Lokayukta police officers whose names would also appear in the Truecaller app. 

“Merely because the petitioner, who was a non-public servant, is alone sought to be shown as an accused in the FIR at the very inception and initial stage, the said circumstance cannot be made the basis to interfere with the impugned FIR and prevent the investigation from being conducted by the respondent Lokayukta police,” Justice S R Krishna Kumar said. 

Pursuant to a complaint on May 30, 2025, in regard to extortion, a Lokayukta police inspector submitted a report on June 2, 2025, confirming the allegations. 

An FIR was registered against Ningappa under sections 7(a) and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.  The Lokayukta police argued that the police inspector’s report on June 2, 2025, was a mere preliminary inquiry report and not a detailed investigation report as contended by the petitioner. 

After perusing the complaint and report, the court said that both indicate that the information is said to have been from several government officials to the effect that they had received telephone calls informing them that there is a likelihood of a raid or trap or other proceedings and bribe was demanded again and again in order to avoid such raids/cases. 

Several government officers have fallen prey to such telephone calls and paid bribes in thousands/lakhs in cash or through phones, the court noted as stated in the police report. 

“In the instant case, the complaint and report prima facie contain all necessary ingredients constituting the offences alleged against the petitioner and in the light of the aims and objects of the PC Act, in particular, incorporation/insertion of Section 7A of the PC Act relating to even non-public servants such as the petitioner vide the Amendment Act 2018, I am of the considered opinion that the question of quashing the impugned FIR and thereby preventing/scuttling/ interfering with the investigation would not arise in the facts and circumstances of the instant case,” Justice Kumar said. 

The court further said that it is always open for the Lokayukta police to identify and include other accused persons, as provided under CrPC section 173, including public servants in the FIR and also include additional provisions such as sections 7, 8, 12 of the PC Act.