Setback to Karthik Gowda: High Court refuses to quash FIR in rape case

Bengaluru, Jan 30: In a setback to Karthik Gowda, son of Union law minister D V Sadananda Gowda, the Karnataka HC on Thursday dismissed his criminal petition in a rape and cheating case.

Karthik, 30, had challenged proceedings in a Bengaluru family court in the case filed against him by a 27-year-old Kannada film actress. The judge negated arguments put forward on behalf of Karthik.

In his petition, Karthik Gowda had said that the complaint and allegations in the FIR do not make a prima facie case against him.

The judge further said the judgments cited by Karthik in support of his case do not aid him.

"When serious allegations are made over the alleged offences under sections 376 and 420 of IPC and in view of the principles enunciated in the decisions of the Supreme Court and also high courts, I am of the opinion that it is not a case to invoke 482 of CrPC to quash the proceedings," Justice RB Budihal said in his order.

A case was registered in August 2014 against Karthik for rape and cheating following a complaint by the actor.

The actor had asserted that she is Karthik's wife, claiming they got married on June 5. She has accused Karthik of marrying and dumping her after his family objected to their relationship.

In November, the family court had dismissed the actor's marriage petition, saying she had not provided the required document as per the Hindu Marriage Act to regularize her wedding.