Bengaluru, June 29 -- The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash criminal proceedings against a travel agent accused of facilitating fraudulent passport renewals, including for a person allegedly wanted by the Andhra Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).

In a judgment delivered on June 18, Justice M. Nagaprasanna dismissed Criminal Petition No. 12734/2023, filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), in which the petitioner had sought quashing of the criminal case, claiming he was a bona fide travel agent and citing his physical disability.

The High Court held that the petitioner could not avoid trial merely by asserting that he was a legitimate travel agent or on the ground of disability. It observed that the alle...