Biglari Holdings agreed to pay an $850,000 civil penalty to settle alleged reporting violations related to the purchase of shares of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. last year, the Justice Department said.

Biglari CEO Sardar Biglari — who with a nearly 18 percent stake is the country-style restaurant and gift-shop operator’s largest shareholder — has been battling Cracker Barrel for over a year, criticizing its performance and pushing for changes in the company’s leadership.

Certain stock purchases that are passive and “solely for the purpose of investment” are exempt from notification and waiting-period requirements. But the Justice Department said Mr. Biglari intended to become actively involved with the company, and was thus in violation from June 8, 2011, to Sept. 22, 2011.