The Supreme Court on Monday brought an end to a long-running criminal case linked to alleged irregular land allotments in Karnataka, quashing an FIR registered against former minister and BJP leader R. Ashok. Sitting through the hearing, it was evident the Bench was troubled not just by procedural lapses, but by the way the case kept resurfacing despite earlier clean chits.
Background
The case stemmed from FIR No. 5/2018 registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) over alleged illegal grants of government land during Ashok’s tenure as Chairman of the Committee for Regularisation of Unauthorised Occupation between 1998 and 2007.
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What stood out was that similar complaints had already been examined twice by the Karnataka Lokayukta - once in 2012 and again after a revised inquiry in 2014. Both times, senior police officials concluded there was no material to proceed against Ashok. Despite this, a fresh complaint in January 2018 led to a preliminary inquiry and the FIR, prompting Ashok to move the High Court and later the Supreme Court.
Court’s Observations
A Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi took a close look at the record and was unsparing in its assessment. The judges noted that sanction - mandatory before even starting an investigation against a public servant under the applicable government order - was completely missing.
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“The record is conspicuously silent on any sanction having been obtained,” the Bench observed, adding that without such approval, the very initiation of investigation was barred in law.
The Court also flagged the timing and pattern of complaints. It pointed out that all three complaints were made years after the alleged acts and by individuals linked to a rival political party. “Taken together,” the Bench said, “these facts point towards malice and a concerted effort to target the appellant.”
Equally important was the Court’s reminder that criminal law should not be used as a tool of harassment, especially when earlier statutory authorities had already found no substance in the allegations.
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Decision
Allowing the appeal, the Supreme Court quashed the FIR and all proceedings arising from it, holding that the case fell squarely within the principles laid down in State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal. The Bench concluded that absence of sanction, repeated inquiries clearing the accused, and evident political motivation made continuation of the case an abuse of process.
The Court also extended the benefit of the ruling to a co-accused beneficiary, noting that his land allotment had already been upheld by the authorities and remained unchallenged. Both appeals were accordingly allowed, bringing the matter to a close.
Case Title: R. Ashok vs State of Karnataka & Others
Case No.: Criminal Appeal arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 9070 of 2018
Case Type: Criminal Appeal (Quashing of FIR under Prevention of Corruption allegations)
Decision Date: 16 December 2025
