FIR Against Farmers Protesting Bidadi Land Acquisition 'Shrouded With Suspicion': Karnataka High Court Stays Probe

The Karnataka High Court on Monday (August 24) stayed all further investigation in a case registered against six farmers who allegedly protested against land acquisition survey operations in Bidadi, Ramanagara district, observing that the registration of the crime was “shrouded with suspicion.”

Justice M. Nagaprasanna was hearing a petition filed by six farmers from Mandalahalli, Hosuru, Kodihalli and surrounding villages, seeking quashing of the FIR registered in connection with the alleged protest against a joint measurement committee carrying out land survey operations.

The case arises in the backdrop of the State's proposed Bidadi Township Project, which involves the acquisition of nearly 10,000 acres of land and has faced protests from farmers.

“…The learned senior counsel for the petitioners submits that they are farmers who are said to have indulged in a protest for coming and disturbing their possession in the lands. Counsel submits that the government had issued a statement that the lands of farmers who aren't willing to part with their land for acquisition will not be disturbed. Notwithstanding same, the joint measurement committee of the State is said to have disturbed the possession against which farmers along with others indulged in protest – 'a broom chalivoli'. The broom chalivoli is said to have been the reason for crimes that too under Section 109 of the BNS and Section 74 of BNS….”, the court noted at the outset.

Before the High Court, the petitioners argued that the complaint was filed by Mohammed Sameer, who claimed to be the driver of a rented Innova car used by the joint measurement committee conducting land surveys. Taking note of the said submissions by petitioners, the court noted that the registration of crime was 'shrouded with suspicion'.

“…. Who is the complainant is required to be noticed. He is not the person who has been assaulted, allegedly assaulted or otherwise. He is the driver of a rented car who drove the officers of Joint Measurement Committee…. not any other person. Therefore, very registration of crime is shrouded with suspicion. In that light, there will be an interim order of stay of all investigation qua the petitioners till the next date of hearing”, the court noted in the order.

According to the complaint that led to the FIR, on July 13, 2026, a joint survey team comprising officials from various departments arrived in Mandalahalli Village to carry out land measurement.

The complainant has alleged that a group of farmers armed with brooms and stones formed an unlawful assembly, halted the survey work, hurled abuses, issued life threats, and physically assaulted the officials.

The complaint further alleged that when police personnel arrived, one of the accused allegedly struck an Inspector on the head with a stone, leading to the invocation of Section 109(1) BNS [attempt to murder].

Sr Counsel Ravishankar emphasized: “…We are progressive farmers. They can't treat us like this. We are bordering the city limits, but that does not mean we should lose our agricultural lands. We have been doing this for generations. We have been protesting for 2.5 years."

“…The officials appeared to have hired a private car, this is where it starts….they go to the place, where the farmers are in, which is personally their properties and government has said that 'no, we are not going to touch your properties'. The joint measurement committee goes there, and we are standing there with brooms. There is national party with this symbol. Now they enter into our properties, we protest saying that the government has made a stance, we prevent them from coming into our properties because of statement made by the gov itself. Now the complaint is given by a person who claims to be the driver of privately owned car, rented for committee. The person allegedly injured is not a complainant”, the counsel added.

Case Title: Nagaraju H R & Ors.v. State of Karnataka

Case No: Crl.P. No. 10952/2026