Judgment · High Court

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI+ W.P.(CRL) 2283/2022 & CRL.M.A. 19880/2022 RIJUL MANAKTALA & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Ms. Shobhana Takiar, Mr. Kuljeet Singh, Ms. Meeat Bali and Mr. Rajesh Sehrawat, Advocates. versus STATE (NCT OF DELHI) & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Amol Sinha, ASC for the State with Mr. Kshitiz Garg, Mr. Ashvini Kumar, Mr. Nitish Dhawan and Ms. Sanskriti Nimbekar, Advocates. SI Akanksha, PS North Avenue. CORAM:HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT MAHAJANO R D E R% 07.08.20251.The present petition is filed seeking quashing of FIR No. 73/2022 dated 08.08.2022, registered at Police Station North Avenue for the offences under Sections 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘IPC’) and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

The FIR was registered on a complaint given by Respondent No. 2 alleging that she was subjected to cruelty in relation to demand of dowry at the hands of the petitioners. It is averred that the marriage between Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2 was solemnised on 18.02.2022. Petitioner Nos. 2 to 4 are the family members of Petitioner no.1.

It is alleged that on 07.08.2022, Respondent No. 2 was deterred from entering the kitchen. It is alleged that thereafter, This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 11/08/2025 at 12:57:00 Respondent No. 2 was given some food made by the Petitioner No. 4. It is alleged that upon eating the food that allegedly contained some stupefying substance, the health of Respondent No. 2 deteriorated.

The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that frivolous and vague allegations have been made against the petitioners. She submits that the complainant had alleged that she was given some stupefying substance in her food which has led to her health being deteriorated. She submits that the said allegations are found to be false and has been clearly reflected in the chargesheet filed by the police before the learned Trial Court.

She further submits that the petitioners have been physically manhandled during their appearance before the learned Trial Court.

In regard the apprehension of the petitioners being manhandled is considered, an order dated 24.05.2025 passed by the learned Trial Court has been handed over in Court. The learned Presiding Judge in order dated 24.05.2025 noted that the petitioners came inside the Court room stating that the counsels who had appeared with the complainant had beaten them outside the Court. Certain video recording was also shown to the learned Presiding Judge. It is informed that an FIR in that regard has been registered pursuant to the alleged incident that occurred on 24.05.2025.

The petitioners had thereafter filed a W.P.(CRL) 1961/2025 seeking protection. The Co-ordinate Bench of this Court, considering that two of the petitioners herein are Senior citizens had directed the concerned SHO to provide adequate protection to the petitioners to ensure their wellbeing. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 11/08/2025 at 12:57:00 8. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that in view of the final report the petitioners are hopeful that they will be discharged for the offences as alleged in the present case.

Undisputedly, the investigation in the present case is complete and the chargesheet has already been filed. The petitioners have an alternative efficacious remedy to address all the arguments before the learned Trial Court.

This Court does not consider it apposite to express any opinion on the allegation made by the petitioners regarding they being mishandled since the FIR in that regard is stated to have already been registered. However, considering the apprehension as noted above, the petitioners are exempted from personal appearance before the learned Trial Court and are permitted to appear through Video Conferencing, till such time their appearance is necessary for procedural purposes and is felt unavoidable by the learned Trial Court.

The learned Trial Court is also requested not to grant any unwarranted adjournments to any of the parties and pass further order on its own merits.

No further orders are required to be passed by this Court at this stage.

Needless to say, the petitioners are at liberty to approach this Court in case any grievance remains in future.