The Karnataka High Court stays proceedings against Minister Laxman Savadi in a 2018 assault case, pausing the trial court’s order that added him as an accused while the challenge to that order is heard.
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Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has stayed further proceedings against Co-operation Minister and Athani MLA Laxman Savadi in a 2018 assault case, after a trial court in Athani allowed an application under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and ordered that he be added as an accused. The stay operates only in favour of Savadi, and the trial against the other accused continues [Laxman Sangappa Savadi v. State of Karnataka].
Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde heard the petition. Senior Advocate Rajesh Mahalaya appeared for Savadi, instructed by Advocate Damodar NN, and Additional State Public Prosecutor Anoop Kumar appeared for the State.
The case
The case arises from a foundation-laying ceremony in 2018. As alleged by the complainant, he questioned Savadi at the event, after which Savadi’s driver, personal assistant and supporters allegedly assaulted him. Savadi was not named in the original charge sheet. These are allegations, they are untested, and no finding has been made on them.
During the trial, the prosecution applied under Section 319 CrPC, which allows a court to proceed against a person who appears from the evidence to have committed an offence. The Athani trial court allowed the application by an order dated September 26 and directed that Savadi be added as an accused. Savadi challenged that order before the High Court.
What the defence argued
Appearing for Savadi, Senior Advocate Rajesh Mahalaya argued that the complainant was declared hostile and was cross-examined by the prosecution. He submitted that the complainant was then given a further examination-in-chief, in which leading questions allegedly brought Savadi’s name onto the record, and that the Section 319 order rested on that testimony.
What the Court said
Justice Hegde observed that the Court was looking at the procedure followed and not at the merits, and that the procedure adopted by the trial court appeared to be wrong. The Court questioned how a chief examination could follow once the witness had been declared hostile, and stayed further proceedings against Savadi.
Why the order matters
The order is an interim one. The Court has expressed no view on the merits of the allegations, which remain untested, and Savadi, like every accused, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The stay confines itself to the procedure by which he was summoned.
The questions it raises are about process: whether a witness who has been declared hostile and cross-examined can be re-examined in chief, and whether testimony obtained in that manner can support the extraordinary power under Section 319 CrPC to summon a person who was not charge-sheeted. The State and the complainant will have the opportunity to answer those points as the petition proceeds.
Case Title: Laxman Sangappa Savadi v. State of Karnataka
Bench: Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde, Karnataka High Court
Date of Order: October 8, 2026
Appearances: Senior Advocate Rajesh Mahalaya and Advocate Damodar NN for the petitioner; Additional State Public Prosecutor Anoop Kumar for the State
