Bengaluru, June 2 -- The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash criminal proceedings against a man accused of facilitating Aadhaar and PAN cards for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, observing that such acts strike at the very foundation of national security and governance. However, the court granted him the liberty to seek bail before the trial court.

The order was passed by Justice M Nagaprasanna while hearing a petition filed by Arnab Mondal, a photocopy shop owner who had sought the quashing of criminal proceedings initiated against him. The court ultimately permitted the petitioner to withdraw his plea and approach the trial court for bail.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel argued that there was no valid basis for the a...