After Husband Pays Wife Full ₹13.3 Lakh Settlement, Delhi HC Quashes 498A FIR Against Him And Co-Petitioners

The petitioners sought quashing under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), of FIR No. 225/2022, registered at P.S. Ambedkar Nagar under Sections 498A/34 IPC, and the proceedings arising from it

The FIR followed the breakdown of the marriage between petitioner no. 1 and respondent no. 2, and allegations of dowry-related harassment; a charge-sheet had been filed under Sections 498A/406/34 IPC

The parties subsequently settled their disputes in writing on 26 September 2025. They obtained a mutual-consent divorce, petitioner no. 1 paid the agreed settlement amount of ₹13,30,000, and the minor child’s custody remained with respondent no. 2

Respondent no. 2 confirmed the voluntary settlement and consented to quashing the FIR

Section 528 BNSS preserves the High Court’s inherent power to make orders necessary to secure the ends of justice

The Court applied the principle that criminal proceedings arising from a dispute that is primarily private in nature may be quashed on settlement where continuation would serve no useful purpose and the complainant does not wish to pursue the matter, provided quashing is appropriate to secure the ends of justice

The Court found that the parties had amicably resolved their disputes, completed the mutual-consent divorce, and fulfilled the monetary settlement.

Respondent no. 2 confirmed that the settlement was voluntary and expressly had no objection to quashing

Given the private nature of the dispute, the complainant’s position, and the absence of any identified public interest in continuing the prosecution, the Court concluded that further proceedings would serve no useful purpose and that quashing was appropriate under Section 528 BNSS

It directed that the original party affidavits be submitted to the Trial Court and the concerned SHO/IO within four weeks

Pending applications were also disposed of