Disposed¶20

Kanta Rani v. State (Nct of Delhi)

Delhi HC19 May 2025CRL.M.C./1771/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Quashing of FIR No. 197/2024 P.S. Okhla Industrial Area Delhi; Sections 498A/34 IPC matrimonial cruelty case; amicable settlement via Settlement Agreement dated 30.11.2024; respondent no. 2 confirmed voluntary compromise without pressure coercion or threat before Court and Joint Registrar (Judicial) on 08.04.2025; no useful purpose in continuing proceedings; FIR and consequential proceedings quashed; petition disposed of on 19.05.2025 by Dr. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma; CRL.M.C. 1771/2025; CRL.M.A. 7981/2025 exemption allowed.

What did the court decide?

FIR bearing No. 197/2024, registered at Police Station Okhla Industrial Area, Delhi, for offences punishable under Sections 498A/34 of the IPC, and all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom, quashed; petition disposed of; CRL.M.A. 7981/2025 (exemption) allowed subject to all just exceptions.

Kanta Rani Vs State (Nct of Delhi) — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No. 197/2024, registered at Police Station Okhla Industrial Area, Delhi, for offences punishable under Sections 498A/34 IPC, ought to be quashed in view of the amicable settlement reached between the parties.

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Court's answer

On a query by this Court, respondent no. 2, identified by the IO concerned, categorically stated that she entered into the compromise out of her own free will, without any pressure, coercion or threat, and therefore has no objection to quashing of the FIR; statements to that effect had earlier been recorded by the learned Joint Registrar (Judicial) on 08.04.2025.

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Ratio / Principle

Since the parties resolved their differences of their own free will and without coercion, continuing proceedings would serve no useful purpose and would only create further acrimony; it is accordingly in the interest of justice to quash the FIR and the proceedings pursuant thereto, and there is no legal impediment in quashing the FIR in question.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi High Court (Dr. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma), Order dated 19.05.2025 in CRL.M.C. 1771/2025: Petitioners, led by Kanta Rani, sought quashing of FIR No. 197/2024, P.S. Okhla Industrial Area, Delhi, registered on the complaint of respondent no. 2 for offences punishable under Sections 498A/34 IPC. Respondent no. 2 had married petitioner no. 1's son on 24.04.2022; the parties lived separately from 27.09.2022; the husband died of illness on 12.12.2023. With family intervention the parties executed a Settlement Agreement dated 30.11.2024. All petitioners appeared and were identified by counsel and the IO; respondent no. 2, identified by the IO, told the Court (statements earlier recorded by the learned Joint Registrar (Judicial) on 08.04.2025) that the compromise was of her own free will, without pressure, coercion or threat, with no objection to quashing. Finding the resolution voluntary, continuation purposeless and productive only of further acrimony, and no legal impediment existing, the Court quashed FIR No. 197/2024 and all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom and disposed of the petition; CRL.M.A. 7981/2025 (exemption) was allowed subject to all just exceptions.

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$~59

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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CRL.M.C. 1771/2025 KANTA RANI .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Vikas Kumar, Advocate alongwith petitioners in person versus STATE (NCT OF DELHI) .....Respondent Through: Mr. Manoj Pant, APP for the State with Ms. Lata Bhandari, Mr. Gajinder Singh, Mr. Brijpal, Advocates and SI Sonika Mr. S.K. Sharma, Advocate for R-2 alongwith R-2 in person

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CORAM: HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA

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O R D E R % 19.05.2025

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CRL.M.A. 7981/2025 (exemption)

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Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

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Application stands disposed of.

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CRL.M.C. 1771/2025

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By way of the present petition, the petitioners seek quashing of the FIR bearing No. 197/2024, registered at Police Station Okhla Industrial Area, Delhi, for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 498A/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereafter ‘ IPC ').

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Issue notice. Mr. Manoj Pant, the learned APP accepts notice on behalf of the State.

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/05/2025 at 12:14:25

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All the petitioners are present before this Court and have been identified by their counsel and Investigating Officer (IO) concerned, Police Station Okhla Industrial Area, Delhi.

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Brief facts of the case are that the marriage between son of petitioner no. 1 and respondent no. 2 had been solemnized in Delhi on 24.04.2022, in accordance with Hindu rites and ceremonies. It is stated that no child has been born out of the said wedlock. It is further stated that due to various differences and disputes that had arisen between the parties, they have been residing separately since 27.09.2022. Upon the complaint being filed by respondent no. 2, the present FIR came to be registered against the petitioners. It is stated that due to illness, husband of respondent no. 2 had died on 12.12.2023. It is stated that with the intervention of the family and friends, the parties have now amicably settled their dispute vide Settlement Agreement dated 30.11.2024.

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On a query made by this Court, respondent no. 2 who has been identified by the IO concerned, has categorically stated that she has entered into compromise out of her own free will and without any pressure, coercion or threat. Therefore, she has no objection if the FIR is quashed. The statement of the parties to the said effect had been recorded by the learned Joint Registrar (Judicial) on 08.04.2025.

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In view of the above, that the parties have amicably resolved their differences of their own free will, and without any coercion, and no useful purpose will be served by continuing the proceedings, rather the same would create further acrimony between them. It would thus be in interest of justice to quash the abovementioned FIR and the proceedings pursuant thereto. There is no legal impediment in quashing the FIR in question.

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/05/2025 at 12:14:25

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Accordingly, FIR bearing No. 197/2024, registered at Police Station Okhla Industrial Area, Delhi, for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 498A/34 of the IPC and all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom are quashed.

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