Pawan S/O Hareshbhai Gurnani vs the State of Maharashtra Thr. Pso Ps Jaripatka Nagpur and Another — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Pawan S/O Hareshbhai Gurnani vs the State of Maharashtra Thr. Pso Ps Jaripatka Nagpur and Another — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

The Writ Petition was allowed and the FIR bearing Crime No. 120/2024 registered with Police Station, Jaripatka, Nagpur (Sections 294 and 506 IPC and Section 66(C) of the Information Technology Act) was quashed and set aside to the extent of the present Petitioner; pending application/s, if any, shall stand disposed of accordingly.

Issue for consideration

Whether the First Information Report in connection with Crime No.120/2024 registered with Police Station, Jaripatka, Nagpur, for offences under Sections 294 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66(C) of the Information Technology Act, should be quashed in view of the settlement arrived at between the Petitioner (husband) and Respondent No.2 (wife) during the pendency of the Petition.

Court's answer

The concerned terms of the settlement were verified by the Court from the Petitioner as well as the Respondent No.2, and they agreed and accepted the same.

Ratio / Principle

In view of the observations of the Hon'ble Apex Court in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab regarding quashing of criminal proceedings on amicable settlement between offender and victim (including matrimonial/family disputes), the Petition deserves to be allowed.

Key takeaways

The First Information Report bearing Crime No. 120/2024 registered with Police Station, Jaripatka, Nagpur, for the offence punishable under Sections 294 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66(C) of the Information Technology Act, is quashed and set aside to the extent of the present Petitioner.ratio¶20

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench — Criminal Writ Petition No. 221 of 2024 (decided 22 January 2026; neutral citation 2026:BHC-NAG:1275-DB) — Urmila Joshi-Phalke, J. The petitioner, husband of respondent no.2, sought quashing of the FIR in Crime No.120/2024 of Jaripatka Police Station, Nagpur, registered for offences under Sections 294 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66(C) of the Information Technology Act. During the pendency of the petition the parties arrived at a settlement and decided to withdraw the allegations made against each other; the Court verified the terms from the petitioner and respondent no.2 (the petitioner appearing through video conferencing), who agreed and accepted them. Acting in view of the Hon'ble Apex Court's observations in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab, (2012) 10 SCC 303, that where the offender and victim — particularly in matrimonial/family disputes — have settled all disputes amicably, the High Court may within its inherent power quash the proceeding or FIR notwithstanding non-compoundability, where continuation would be an exercise in futility and the ends of justice demand restoration of peace, the Court held that the Petition deserved to be allowed, and accordingly quashed and set aside the FIR to the extent of the present petitioner. Pending applications, if any, stood disposed of accordingly.

2026:BHC-NAG:1275-DB

1 122A.CRI.WP.221-2024.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH AT NAGPUR

CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 221 OF 2024

( Pavan S/o Hareshbhai Gurnani Vs.

State of Maharashtra, Thr. Police Station Officer, Jaripatka Police Station, Nagpur & Anr. )

Office Notes, Office Memoranda Court's or Judge's orders of Coram, Appearances, Court's orders or directions and Registrar's orders

Mr. D.S. Jagyasi, Advocate for the Petitioners. Mr. A.M. Joshi, APP for the Respondent No.1/State. Mr. G.D. Dani, Advocate for the Respondent No.2.

CORAM: URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.

DATED : 22^nd JANUARY, 2026

1 . By this Petition, the Petitioner who is the husband of the Respondent No.2 is seeking quashing of the First Information Report in connection with Crime No.120/2024 registered with Police Station, Jaripatka, Nagpur for the offence punishable under Sections 294 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66 (C) of the Information Technology Act.

2 . During the pendency of this Petition, both parties arrived at a settlement. In view of the settlement, they have decided to withdraw the allegations made against each other. The concerned terms are verified by me from the Petitioner as well as the Respondent No.2 and they have agreed and

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accepted the same. The Petitioner appeared through Video Conferencing.

3 . In view of the observations of the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab, reported in (2012) 10 SCC 303 , wherein the Court observed that 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. In this regard, a specific reference was made to offences arising out of matrimony, particularly relating to dowry, etc. or a family dispute, where the wrong is basically to the victim but 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.

4 . In view of the above observations, the Petition deserves to be allowed. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following order.

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O R D E R

i. The Writ Petition is allowed .

ii. The First Information Report bearing Crime No. 120/2024 registered with Police Station, Jaripatka, Nagpur for the offence punishable under Sections 294 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66 (C) of the Information Technology Act, is hereby quashed and set aside to the extent of the present Petitioner.

5 . Pending application/s, if any, shall stand disposed of accordingly.

(URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.)

SD. Bhimte

Signed by: Mr.S.D.Bhimte Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 27/01/2026 20:04:29