Criminal proceedings arising from a matrimonial dispute were quashed against the husband after full settlement.

Respondent No. 2 lodged a complaint on 22 January 2024, leading to registration of Crime No. 22/2024 against the petitioner and his family members for offences under Sections 323, 498A, 504 and 506 read with Section 34 of the IPC, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

The petitioner sought to quash the complaint and FIR under Section 482 CrPC/Section 528 BNSS.

The parties subsequently settled their matrimonial disputes through mediation in the wife’s divorce proceedings. Under the settlement, the petitioner agreed to pay ₹10,00,000 as permanent alimony, and the wife agreed to cooperate with and not oppose quashing of the criminal case.

The joint affidavit stated that the settlement amount had been paid, the marriage had been dissolved, and the wife had no objection to quashing the proceedings against the petitioner.

1. Whether the FIR and complaint in Crime No. 22/2024 should be quashed, insofar as the petitioner is concerned, in view of the parties’ settlement of their matrimonial disputes.

2. Whether the petitioner’s settlement with respondent No. 2 warranted quashing the criminal proceedings despite the offences alleged.

The petition invoked the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to seek quashing of the criminal proceedings.

The allegations concerned offences under Sections 323, 498A, 504, 506 read with Section 34 of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

The Court relied on the parties’ mediated settlement and joint affidavit as the basis for disposing of the petition; it cited no precedent or further legal test in its order.

The Court noted that the parties had resolved their matrimonial disputes, that the agreed permanent alimony had been paid, and that respondent No. 2 expressly had no objection to quashing the criminal proceedings against the petitioner.

In view of that settlement, the Court disposed of the petition and quashed the FIR only insofar as it concerned the petitioner.

The order does not separately discuss the nature or seriousness of each alleged offence or set out a broader legal test for quashing.

It quashed the FIR in Crime No. 22/2024, registered for the alleged IPC and Dowry Prohibition Act offences, insofar as the petitioner was concerned; the order does not extend the quashing relief to the other accused.