The Karnataka High Court has stayed further investigation into a criminal case filed against three members of a family following a road-rage incident in Kolar district, observing that the case appeared to reflect a “classic example of abuse of office by a judicial officer.”
Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim order on July 29 while hearing a petition filed by Vinay K.M. (24), his mother V. Kavitha (48), and grandfather P. Venkatesh (70), who challenged the FIR registered against them based on a complaint by Gayathri, Principal Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class, Malur.
According to the petitioners, the incident began when Vinay, riding a motorcycle with his mother, overtook the judge’s private car. They alleged that the judge’s husband chased them, stopped the motorcycle, and engaged in a heated argument. CCTV footage of the confrontation later surfaced on social media.
The family claimed the judicial officer subsequently used her position to have a criminal case registered against them. Vinay and his grandfather were arrested and kept in custody overnight before being granted bail.
After reviewing the CCTV footage, Justice Nagaprasanna questioned the arrests and remarked that the judicial officer’s conduct appeared “unbecoming of the office”, stressing that public trust in the judiciary depends not only on conduct inside the courtroom but also outside it.
The court directed the High Court Registry to place the interim order before the Chief Justice for appropriate action regarding the judicial officer’s conduct and stayed further investigation into the FIR.
Meanwhile, the Advocates’ Association Bangalore (AAB) has demanded disciplinary action against the judicial officer, including her suspension. The association also said it plans to approach the Chief Justice of India and seek action against the police officers involved, alleging that the detention of the civilians reflected a misuse of authority.
