Overview

• The Karnataka High Court quashed an FIR filed under the SC/ST Act against Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan and IISc officials, including its director, Govindan Rangarajan.
• The FIR was based on allegations by former IISc faculty member D Sanna Durgappa, claiming casteist abuse and threats following his dismissal in 2014 for sexual harassment.
• Justice Hemant Chandangoudar ruled that the allegations did not constitute an offence under the SC/ST Act and were an abuse of judicial process.
• The court noted that Durgappa had previously agreed to withdraw all complaints as part of a 2016 settlement but continued filing similar allegations in subsequent years.
• Petitioners have been granted liberty to seek the Advocate General’s permission to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Durgappa for violating his earlier undertaking.