Allowed¶7

Betz Paul Karathra and Ors. v. the State of Maharashtra and Anr.

Bombay HC19 Jan 2026WP/5771/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Quashing of FIR C.R. No. 337/2022 dated 06.07.2022 (Rabale Police Station, Navi Mumbai; IPC Sections 498, 323, 504, 506) and charge-sheet RCC No. 1366/2022 (JMFC Belapur) upon amicable settlement of matrimonial discord; consent affidavit of Respondent No. 2 dated 10.01.2026 marked 'X'; writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution and Section 482 Cr. P. C.; Bombay High Court, Ashwin D. Bhobe, J., 19.01.2026; criminal proceedings closed; no order as to costs.

What did the court decide?

Petition allowed in terms of prayer clause (b): FIR C.R. No. 337 of 2022 dated 06.07.2022 registered with Rabale Police Station, Navi Mumbai, and the charge-sheet/charges in R.C.C. No. 1366 of 2022 pending before JMFC, Belapur, quashed; criminal proceedings commenced on the basis of the impugned FIR closed; no order as to costs. ¶7

Betz Paul Karathra and Ors. vs the State of… — Writ and Judicial Review | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

¶7

Issue for consideration

Whether C.R. No. 337/2022 dated 06.07.2022 registered with Rabale Police Station, Navi Mumbai, and the consequential criminal proceedings (charge-sheet and charges in R.C.C. No. 1366/2022 pending before the Learned JMFC, Belapur) should be quashed in view of the amicable settlement between Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2.

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Court's answer

In view of the settlement between the parties and the statement made by Respondent No. 2 in her affidavit ('X'), the Petition is allowed in terms of prayer clause (b).

¶7

Ratio / Principle

C.R. No. 337 of 2022 dated 06.07.2022 registered with the Rabale Police Station, Navi Mumbai, and the charge-sheet bearing RCC No. 1366 of 2022 pending on the file of the JMFC, Belapur, are quashed; criminal proceedings commenced on the basis of the impugned FIR are closed.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction), Ashwin D. Bhobe, J. | Writ Petition No. 5771 of 2024 | Decided 19 January 2026. Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and Section 482 of the Cr. P. C. by Betz Paul Karathra & Ors. seeking quashing of C.R. No. 337/2022 dated 06.07.2022 (offences punishable u/s. 498, 323, 504 & 506 of Indian Penal Code) registered with Rabale Police Station, Navi Mumbai, and the consequential charge-sheet and charges in R.C.C. No. 1366/2022 pending before the Learned JMFC, Belapur. Matrimonial discord between Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2 (Jennifer Betz Karathra) had been settled; Respondent No. 2 executed a consent affidavit dated 10th January, 2026 (affirmed before Notary Sujata M. Shetty, marked 'X' for identification), stating it was filed out of her own free will and without any pressure or coercion, and the parties decided to separate and part ways. The learned APP for the State submitted that no purpose would be served in continuing the criminal proceedings. Held: in view of the settlement and Respondent No. 2's affidavit statement, the Petition is allowed in terms of prayer clause (b); the FIR and the charge-sheet (RCC No. 1366 of 2022) are quashed and criminal proceedings commenced on the basis of the impugned FIR are closed; no order as to costs.

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46-WP-5771-2024.doc

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Digitally signed GAYATRI by GAYATRI RAJENDRA RAJENDRA SHIMPI SHIMPI Date: 2026.01.23 19:10:32 +0530

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

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WRIT PETITION NO. 5771 OF 2024

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Betz Paul Karathra & Ors. … Petitioners

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V/s.

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The State of Maharashtra & Ors. … Respondents

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Mr. Sidheshwar Biradar, Advocate for the Petitioners.

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Mr. Aditya Singh i/b Mr. Suman Singh, Advocate for Respondent No. 2.

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Mr. Prasanna Malshe, APP for Respondent – State.

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CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J. DATE : 19^th JANUARY, 2026.

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P.C. :

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By the present Petition filed under Article 226 of the

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Constitution of India and Section 482 of the Cr. P. C., the

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Petitioners have sought the following substantive reliefs :-

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“b) quash & set aside C. R. No. 337/2022 dated 6.7.2022 registered with the Rabale Police Station, Navi Mumbai for the offences punishable u/s.498, 323, 504 & 506 of Indian Penal Code and also quash the consequential charge sheet and charges framed therein in R. C. C. No. 1366/2022 pending on the file of Ld. Judicial Magistrate First Class, Belapur against the Petitioners in the interest of justice;”

Gayatri shimpi

46-WP-5771-2024.doc

Petitioners are present in Court along with their Advocate Mr. Sidheshwar Biradar. Respondent No. 2 is present in Court along with her Advocate Mr. Aditya Singh.

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Mr. Sidheshwar Biradar and Mr. Aditya Singh jointly submit that the matrimonial discord between the Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2 is settled. They submit that pursuant to the said settlement the Respondent No. 2 has executed a consent affidavit dated 10^th January, 2026, which they have placed on record along with the Petition at page Nos. 156 to 158, which affidavit is affirmed by Respondent No. 2 before the Notary Sujata M. Shetty, same is marked ‘X’ for identification.

¶23

Respondent No. 2 (Jennifer Betz Karathra) states that the said affidavit (‘X’) is filed out of her own free will and without any pressure or coercion from any person. She states that the contents of the affidavit (‘X’) are as per her say. She refers to paragraph Nos. 2 to 6 of the affidavit dated 10^th January, 2026 .

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Mr. Sidheshwar Biradar and Mr. Aditya Singh submit that the matter being amicably settled, the criminal proceedings be quashed. They submit that the Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent

Gayatri shimpi

46-WP-5771-2024.doc

No. 2 have decided to separate and part ways.

¶29

Mr. Prasanna Malshe, learned APP for the State, submits that no purpose would be served in continuing with criminal proceedings in view of the affidavit (‘X’) filed by the Respondent No. 2. He submits that the impugned FIR and criminal proceedings can be quashed.

¶30

In view of the settlement between the parties and the statement made by the Respondent No. 2 in her affidavit (‘X’), Petition is allowed in terms of prayer clause (b). Consequently, C. R. No. 337 of 2022 dated 06.07.2022 registered with the Rabale Police Station, Navi Mumbai and the charge-sheet bearing RCC No. 1366 of 2022 pending on the file of the JMFC, Belapur, are quashed. Criminal proceedings commenced on the basis of the impugned FIR are closed.

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There shall be no order as to costs.

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(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)

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Gayatri shimpi

Betz Paul Karathra and Ors. v. the State of Maharashtra and Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Betz Paul Karathra and Ors. v. the State of Maharashtra and Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

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Procedural history

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Coram

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