Delhi High Court · 2025

CRL.M.C. 6967/2025 Page 1 of 4 $~44 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CRL.M.C. 6967/2025 PUNIT & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr.Surender Chauhan, Ms.Kashika Kapoor and Ms.Sudiksha Chauhan, Advocates alongwith petitioners versus STATE GOVT OF NCT DELHI & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr.Digam Singh Dagar, APP for the State alongwith SI Ravinder, P.S.-Rani Bagh, Delhi Ms.Monica Chauhan, Ms.Sudha Arya, Mr.Shubham Joshi, Advocates for R-3 alongwith R-3 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN MONGA O R D E R % 26.09.2025 1. Petitioners herein seek quashing of FIR No. 759/2022 dated 18.05.2022 for the offences punishable under Sections 498A/376/506/509/34 IPC, registered at Police Station Rani Bagh, on the basis of compromise arrived between the parties. 2. The petitioner no. 1 (husband) and respondent no.3/complainant (wife) were married on 01.04.2021. Petitioner No. 2 (mother), petitioner no. 3 (uncle), petitioner No.4 (aunt) and petitioner No.5 (cousin) are the family members of the petitioner No. 1. 3. The complainant alleged that Petitioner No. 1 before getting married to her, drugged her and coerced her into a temple marriage on 01.04.2021. 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 06/10/2025 at 12:57:14 CRL.M.C. 6967/2025 Page 2 of 4 4. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submit that the parties have now amicably settled the dispute vide settlement deed dated 04.07.2025 which is placed on record (Annexure- C). Learned counsel further submits that the affidavit to the effect of no objection to quashing duly deposed by respondent No.2/ complainant is also placed on record. 4.1 He further submits that petitioner no.1 and respondent no.3 have legitimately solemnized their marriage publicly organized a wedding reception. Since then Respondent No.3 is happily residing with her husband (Petitioner no.1 ) at her matrimonial home. 4.2 Learned counsel also submits families on both sides have resolved to give peace a chance, which led to the execution of the compromise. Therefore, continuation of the FIR and proceedings would serve no fruitful purpose 5. Both the counsel for respondent and the learned APP for the State concur with the factum of the compromise between the parties. Learned counsel for Respondent no.2 conveys his no objection to the quashing of the FIR. 6. In the aforesaid backdrop, I have heard learned counsels for the parties, as well as perused the material available on record. 7. The parties are present in Court, and I have interacted with them. On a Court query put to the complainant, she states that she has settled the dispute without any duress and coercion and out of her own free will and living happily at her matrimonial home after marrying petitioner no. 1. 8. Since the complainant/ wife does not wish to press charges against the petitioners and there is no incriminating material against them coupled with the fact of compromise, further proceedings before the Court would be an 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 06/10/2025 at 12:57:14 CRL.M.C. 6967/2025 Page 3 of 4 abuse of the process of law. Particularly, when the parties are now enjoying matrimonial bliss after burying the hatchet. The dispute does not involve any public interest or concern of society at large. Rather, continuation of proceedings may result in hostility between the parties and defeat the very purpose of settlement. 9. Even on a plain reading, and in light of the candid statements of parties, it appears doubtful whether the essential ingredients of the offences invoked under the penal provisions are satisfied. 10. Be that as it may, considering that the parties are residing together harmoniously and leading a happy, peaceful, and tranquil family life, it would be travesty of justice to put the parties to undergo the harassment and humiliation of the trial, which in any case in all likelihood would result in the acquittal of the petitioners since respondent no.3 does not wish to press any charges. Quashing the proceedings would, on the contrary, safeguard the sanctity of their marital life, prevent unwarranted hardship, and uphold their right to live together in peace and dignity, free from stigma. 11. The parties have built a family unit, and thus continuing the proceedings would destabilize their lives and would serve no societal or public interest. It would rather inflict unnecessary trauma on a consensual relationship that has now evolved into a legal marriage. 12. Continuing with criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose. It would be a drain on judicial resources and abuse of the process of law, Continuation of the proceedings, on the other hand, may result in hostility between the parties and defeat the very purpose of the settlement. 13. In the premise, the ends of justice thus warrant quashing of the proceedings under Section 528 BNSS, thereby enabling the couple to lead a 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 06/10/2025 at 12:57:14 CRL.M.C. 6967/2025 Page 4 of 4 peaceful and dignified life. Reference in this context may also be made to judgment rendered in the case of Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab & Anr. [(2012) 10 SCC 303]. 14. In the premise, looking at larger interest of justice, invoking inherent powers under Section 528 BNSS, it is deemed expedient to quash the FIR in question arising out of matrimonial dispute between the private parties. 15. Consequently, the instant petition is allowed. The criminal proceedings arising out of FIR No. 759/2022 dated 18.05.2022 for the offences punishable under Sections 498A/376/506/509/34 IPC read with Section 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, registered at Police Station Rani Bagh, and further proceedings arising therefrom are hereby quashed. 16. All pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of. ARUN MONGA, J SEPTEMBER 26, 2025/dy