Naveen Choudhary Alias Naveen Dedha vs State Govt Of Nct Of Delhi And Anr

Court
Delhi High Court

$~84, 85 & 95
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
%
# CNR No. DLHC010533162026
Date of Decision : 04.11.2026
+ CRL.M.C. 8280/2026
NAVEEN CHOUDHARY AND ORS. .....Petitioners
Through: Mr. Rahul Yadav and Mr. Dev
Kapoor, Advocates along with
petitioners.
versus
STATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent
Through: Mr. Utkarsh, APP for State along
with SI Romawati, PS Maurice
Nagar.
Mr. Inderjeet Dagar, Mr. Harshit
Singh, Ms. Apsara Verma and Mr.
Mehul Parashar, Advocates for R2.
85
#
CNR No. DLHC010533172026
+
CRL.M.C. 8281/2026
NAVEEN CHOUDHARY ALIAS NAVEEN DEDHA.....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Rahul Yadav and Mr. Dev
Kapoor, Advocates along with
petitioners.

versus
STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Utkarsh, APP for State along
with SI Romawati, PS Maurice
Nagar.
Mr. Inderjeet Dagar, Mr. Harshit
Singh, Ms. Apsara Verma and Mr.
Mehul Parashar, Advocates for R2.
95
# CNR No. DLHC010495462026
+ CRL.M.C. 7750/2026
BHARAT CHAUDHARY AND ORS. .....Petitioners

Signature Not Verified
CRL.M.C. 8280/2026 & Connected Matters Page 1 of 11


Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20

Through: Mr. Inderjeet Dagar, Mr. Harshit
Singh, Ms. Apsara Verma and Mr.
Mehul Parashar, Advocates.
versus
STATE OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS. .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Utkarsh, APP for State along
with SI Romawati, PS Maurice
Nagar.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA


ORAL
SACHIN DATTA, J. ( )


1. By way of the present petitions filed under Section 528 of the

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ( pari materia to Section 482 of
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973), the petitioners therein seek quashing
of the following FIRs:
a. In Crl.M.C. No. 8280/2026, FIR No. 35/2025, dated
24.02.2025, registered at P.S. Maurice Nagar, North (Delhi),
under Sections 118(1)/351(3)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter “ BNS ”);
b. In Crl.M.C. No. 8281/2026, FIR No. 33/2025, dated
24.02.2025, registered at P.S. Maurice Nagar, North (Delhi),
under Sections 329(3)/351(3)/3(5) of the BNS; and
c. In Crl.M.C. No. 7750/2026, FIR No. 36/2025, dated
24.02.2025, registered at P.S. Maurice Nagar, North (Delhi),
under Sections 118(1)/351(3)/3(5) of the BNS.
2. It is informed that the aforesaid FIRs arise out of a clash between two

groups of students on 18.02.2025, near North Campus, University of Delhi.
It is noted that:

Signature Not Verified
CRL.M.C. 8280/2026 & Connected Matters Page 2 of 11


Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20

a. FIR No. 35/2025 was registered on the complaint of respondent
no. 2 in CRL.M.C. 8280/2026;
b. FIR No. 33/2025 was registered on the complaint of respondent
no. 2 in CRL.M.C. 8281/2026; and
c. FIR No. 36/2025 was registered on the complaint of respondent
no. 2 in CRL.M.C. 7750/2026.
3. The offences alleged in the aforesaid FIRs deal with the following
offences: (i) Section 118(1) of the BNS deals with voluntarily causing hurt
by dangerous weapons or means, (ii) Section 351(3) of the BNS deals with
criminal intimidation, (iii) Section 329(3) of the BNS deals with criminal
trespass, and (iv) Section 3(5) of the BNS deals with the criminal act done
by several persons in furtherance of the common intention.
4. It is noted that no offence of grievous hurt, attempt to murder, or any

other offence of mental depravity is alleged in the aforesaid FIRs. Further, it
is also noted that no offence under the Arms Act, 1959 is invoked.
5. The parties in the present petitions have entered into a Memorandum
of Understanding/Settlement Deed, dated 30.04.2026, by way of which they
have settled the dispute amongst them and have agreed to withdraw the
aforesaid FIRs. The same reads as under:


Signature Not Verified
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Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20

Signature Not Verified
CRL.M.C. 8280/2026 & Connected Matters Page 4 of 11


Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20

Signature Not Verified
CRL.M.C. 8280/2026 & Connected Matters Page 5 of 11


Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20

Signature Not Verified
CRL.M.C. 8280/2026 & Connected Matters Page 6 of 11


Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20

Signature Not Verified
CRL.M.C. 8280/2026 & Connected Matters Page 7 of 11


Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20

6. All the petitioners are personally present in the Court today, except
petitioner no. 4 (in CRL.M.C. 8281/2026), who is present virtually. All the
petitioners have been identified by the concerned Investigating Officer (IO).
7. It is submitted by the petitioners and their respective counsel that the
incident arose out of a misunderstanding between the parties, which has
since been resolved.
8. It appears evident that the FIRs were occasioned on account of a
spontaneous/isolated incident. As noticed above, there is no offence of
grievous hurt or attempt to murder or under the Arms Act, which is the
subject matter of the aforesaid FIRs.
9. The fact that some of the petitioners are students and have resolved
their dispute to put a quietus to the matter and to pursue their academic
studies unhindered, further weighs with this Court.
10. It is apposite to refer to the decision of the Supreme Court in Gian

Singh v. State of Punjab , (2012) 10 SCC 303 , wherein it was observed as
under:
“ 58. Where the High Court quashes a criminal proceeding having
regard to the fact that the dispute between the offender and the
victim has been settled although the offences are not
compoundable, it does so as in its opinion, continuation of
criminal proceedings will be an exercise in futility and justice in
the case demands that the dispute between the parties is put to an
end and peace is restored; securing the ends of justice being the
ultimate guiding factor. No doubt, crimes are acts which have
harmful effect on the public and consist in wrongdoing that seriously
endangers and threatens the well-being of the society and it is not
safe to leave the crime-doer only because he and the victim have
settled the dispute amicably or that the victim has been paid
compensation, yet certain crimes have been made compoundable in
law, with or without the permission of the court. In respect of serious
offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc., or other offences of mental
depravity under IPC or offences of moral turpitude under special

Signature Not Verified
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Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20

statutes, like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences
committed by public servants while working in that capacity, the
settlement between the offender and the victim can have no legal
sanction at all. However, certain offences which overwhelmingly
and predominantly bear civil flavour having arisen out of civil,
mercantile, commercial, financial, partnership or such like
transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony, particularly
relating to dowry, etc. or the family dispute, where the wrong is
basically to the victim and the offender and the victim have settled
all disputes between them amicably, irrespective of the fact that
such offences have not been made compoundable, the High Court
may within the framework of its inherent power, quash the
criminal proceeding or criminal complaint or FIR if it is satisfied
that on the face of such settlement, there is hardly any likelihood of
the offender being convicted and by not quashing the criminal
proceedings, justice shall be casualty and ends of justice shall be
defeated.
The above list is illustrative and not exhaustive. Each case
will depend on its own facts and no hard-and-fast category can be
prescribed. ”
(emphasis supplied)
11. The principles laid down in Gian Singh (supra) were further
crystallised in Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab , (2014) 6 SCC 466 .
Paragraph 29 of the same reads as follows:
“ 29. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we sum up and lay down
the following principles by which the High Court would be guided
in giving adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties
and exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code while
accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings or refusing
to accept the settlement with direction to continue with the criminal
proceedings:
*
29.2. When the parties have reached the settlement and on that
basis petition for quashing the criminal proceedings is filed, the
guiding factor in such cases would be to secure:
(i) ends of justice, or
(ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court.
While exercising the power the High Court is to form an opinion on

Signature Not Verified
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Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20

either of the aforesaid two objectives.
*
29.4. On the other hand, those criminal cases having
overwhelmingly and predominantly civil character, particularly
those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of
matrimonial relationship or family disputes should be quashed
when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among
themselves
.
29.5. While exercising its powers, the High Court is to examine as
to whether the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and
continuation of criminal cases would put the accused to great
oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused
to him by not quashing the criminal cases
. ”
(emphasis supplied)
12. A Coordinate Bench of this Court, vide order dated 28.01.2026, in
Husan Bano v. State (Govt. of NCT) Delhi , Crl.M.C. 5021/2025 , quashed
cross-FIRs filed by the students of the University of Delhi, after making the
following observations:
“ 13. The present case arises out of a sudden altercation between
two groups, which has been settled by way of a compromise. Cross
FIRs have been registered. The Settlement Deeds record that the
parties are desirous of putting an end to all disputes between them.
The allegations do not pertain to heinous offences, and the nature
of injuries suffered by the respective parties are stated to have
been simple. This appears to me to be a fit case, in which inherent
power of this Court can be used to quash the cross-FIRs.
Such an
order would permit the parties to live in peace and harmony,
rather than compounding the animosity. There is no overriding
public interest to the contrary.
14. As the parties have settled their disputes, and have affirmed the
voluntary nature of the settlement,
it is also unlikely that further
proceedings would result in convictions of the parties to the
settlement. Continuation of criminal proceedings in the present
FIRs against them would, in my view, be an unnecessary
diversion of judicial resources
. ”
(emphasis supplied)

Signature Not Verified
CRL.M.C. 8280/2026 & Connected Matters Page 10 of 11


Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20

13. Considering the facts and circumstances, there is no impediment in
allowing the present petitions. Accordingly, in view of the joint request of
the parties, and considering the dicta laid down in the aforesaid judgments,
the present petition is allowed and the following FIRs together with all
consequential proceedings arising therefrom, qua all the petitioners, stand
quashed:
a. In Crl.M.C. No. 8280/2026, FIR No. 35/2025, dated
24.02.2025, registered at P.S. Maurice Nagar, North (Delhi),
under Sections 118(1)/351(3)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter “ BNS ”);
b. In Crl.M.C. No. 8281/2026, FIR No. 33/2025, dated
24.02.2025, registered at P.S. Maurice Nagar, North (Delhi),
under Sections 329(3)/351(3)/3(5) of the BNS; and
c. In Crl.M.C. No. 7750/2026, FIR No. 36/2025, dated

24.02.2025, registered at P.S. Maurice Nagar, North (Delhi),
under Sections 118(1)/351(3)/3(5) of the BNS.
14. The present petitions stand disposed of in the above terms.
15. It is made clear that the order of quashing is confined only to the
aforesaid FIRs and does not extend to any other FIR or proceedings, or to
any person other than the parties to the present petitions.

SACHIN DATTA, J
NOVEMBER 4, 2026/ at/vk

Signature Not Verified
CRL.M.C. 8280/2026 & Connected Matters Page 11 of 11


Digitally Signed
By:CHINU LUTHRA
Signing Date:06.11.2026
11:56:20