In a significant order, the Karnataka High Court quashed criminal proceedings against former employees of FIME India (Silicomp) who were accused of data theft and breach of trust after forming a rival company.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna held that the allegations, which were already the subject of a civil suit, amounted to a business dispute dressed up as a criminal case. The Court also noted the complaint was filed without a mandatory affidavit under Priyanka Srivastava, rendering the reference to police under Section 156(3) CrPC invalid.
Counsel for the petitioners argued that data cannot qualify as “property” under Section 378 IPC and that criminal law was being misused to target professionals who had lawfully resigned and started their own venture.
The Court agreed, calling the proceedings a clear abuse of the criminal justice system.
Apperances: Advocate Angad Kamath for Petitioner
By Harshith Gowda,
Email: harsh.cric16@gmail.com
