Arjun and Anr. Vs State of NCT of Delhi and Anr. — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2025)

Arjun and Anr. Vs State of NCT of Delhi and Anr. — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petition allowed; FIR No. 423/2019 dated 24.12.2019 registered at Police Station Mandawli Fazal Pur and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom quashed.

Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No. 423/2019 (Sections 498A/406/34 IPC, P.S. Mandawli Fazal Pur) and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom should be quashed in view of the amicable settlement between the parties. +1 more

Court's answer

Keeping in view the nature of the dispute (matrimonial/family dispute with predominant civil character) and that the parties had amicably resolved their disputes, the Court found no useful purpose in keeping the dispute alive, held that continuance of the proceedings would amount to abuse of the process of Court, and considered it a fit case to exercise discretionary jurisdiction under Section 528 BNSS.

Ratio / Principle

This Court recorded that the High Court, exercising powers under Section 528 BNSS (erstwhile Section 482 CrPC), can quash even non-compoundable offences on the ground of compromise between the accused and the complainant, guided by the parameters laid down by the Apex Court in Narinder Singh and Parbatbhai Aahir.

Key takeaways

FIR No. 423/2019 and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom were quashed, and the petition was allowed in those terms.ratio¶¶61

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Delhi (Amit Mahajan, J., order dated 17.09.2025) allowed CRL.M.C. 2462/2025 and quashed FIR No. 423/2019 dated 24.12.2019 registered at Police Station Mandawli Fazal Pur for offences under Sections 498A/406/34 IPC, together with all consequential proceedings arising therefrom. The FIR arose from Respondent No. 2's complaint of cruelty after her 06.12.2014 marriage to Petitioner No. 1. The matter had been amicably settled before the Delhi Mediation Centre, Karkardooma Courts by Settlement dated 25.03.2022; the parties had already obtained divorce by mutual consent; of the ₹6,00,000/- settlement amount, ₹4,00,000/- stood paid and the balance ₹2,00,000/- was handed over by demand draft no. 096243 dated 16.09.2025 (State Bank of India); Respondent No. 2, present and identified by the Investigating Officer, stated she did not wish to pursue the proceedings and raised no objection to quashing. Noting that Section 406 IPC is compoundable while Section 498A IPC is non-compoundable, the Court exercised discretionary jurisdiction under Section 528 BNSS (erstwhile Section 482 CrPC), relying on the parameters laid down by the Apex Court in Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab, (2014) 6 SCC 466 and Parbatbhai Aahir v. State of Gujarat, (2017) 9 SCC 641, and held that continuance of proceedings would amount to abuse of the process of Court. Petitioner No. 2 (father of Petitioner No. 1) had expired during the pendency of proceedings.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

- CRL.M.C. 2462/2025 & CRL.M.A. 11035/2025

ARJUN AND ANR .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Bharat Kumar Saini, Adv. (through VC) P1 in person

versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR .....Respondents Through: Mr. Sunil Kumar Gautam, APP for the State SI Satyadev Rana Ms. Pinki, Adv. for R2 R2/Complainant in person

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT MAHAJAN

O R D E R % 17.09.2025

The present petition is filed seeking quashing of FIR No. 423/2019 dated 24.12.2019, registered at Police Station Mandawli Fazal Pur, for offences under Sections 498A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘ IPC ’), including all consequential proceedings arising therefrom.

It is averred that the marriage between Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2 was solemnized on 06.12.2014 as per Hindu rites, customs and ceremonies. No child was born out of the said wedlock. Thereafter, due to matrimonial discord, some misunderstandings took place between the parties, due to which Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2 started living separately. Petitioner No. 2 is the father of Petitioner No. 1.

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CRL.M.C. 2462/2025

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Subsequently, Respondent No.2 made a complaint against Petitioner No. 1 and his family members alleging that she was subjected to cruelty by them, which later culminated into the aforementioned FIR.

The present petition is filed on the ground that the matter is amicably settled between the parties before the Delhi Mediation Centre, Karkardooma Courts, Delhi by way of Settlement dated 25.03.2022, out of their own will, without any force, coercion or pressure. Respondent No.2 and the Petitioner No.1 have already obtained a decree of divorce by mutual consent and they intend to live their future lives peacefully.

In terms of the settlement, out of the entire settlement amount of ₹6,00,000/-, a sum of ₹4,00,000/- already stands paid to Respondent No. 2 and the balance amount of ₹2,00,000/- is handed over to Respondent No. 2 by way of a demand draft bearing no. 096243 dated 16.09.2025 drawn on State Bank of India.

Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2 are present in person and have been duly identified by the Investigating Officer.

It is stated that Petitioner No. 2 has expired during the pendency of the proceedings.

Respondent No. 2, on being asked, states that she does not wish to pursue the proceedings arising out of the present FIR and she has no objection if the same is quashed. 9. Offence under Section 406 of the IPC is compoundable whereas offence under Section 498A of the IPC is noncompoundable.

It is well settled that the High Court while exercising its

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CRL.M.C. 2462/2025

This is a digitally signed order.

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 04/10/2025 at 15:21:57

powers under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (‘ BNSS ’) [ erstwhile Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] can quash offences which are noncompoundable on the ground that there is a compromise between the accused and the complainant. The Hon’ble Apex Court has laid down parameters and guidelines for High Court while accepting settlement and quashing the proceedings. In the case of Narinder Singh & Ors. v. State of Punjab & Anr. : (2014) 6 SCC 466 , the Hon’ble Supreme Court had observed as under :-

“29. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we sum up and lay down the following principles by which the High Court would be guided in giving adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties and exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code while accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings or refusing to accept the settlement with direction to continue with the criminal proceedings:

29.1. Power conferred under Section 482 of the Code is to be distinguished from the power which lies in the Court to compound the offences under Section 320 of the Code. No doubt, under Section 482 of the Code, the High Court has inherent power to quash the criminal proceedings even in those cases which are not compoundable, where the parties have settled the matter between themselves. However, this power is to be exercised sparingly and with caution.

29.2. When the parties have reached the settlement and on that basis petition for quashing the criminal proceedings is filed, the guiding factor in such cases would be to secure: (i) ends of justice, or (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court.

While exercising the power the High Court is to form an opinion on either of the aforesaid two objectives.

29.3. Such a power is not to be exercised in those prosecutions which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society. Similarly, for the offences alleged to have been committed under special statute like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity are not to be

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CRL.M.C. 2462/2025

This is a digitally signed order.

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 04/10/2025 at 15:21:57

quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender.

29.4. On the other hand, those criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominantly civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes should be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among themselves.

29.5. While exercising its powers, the High Court is to examine as to whether the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal cases would put the accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal cases.”

(emphasis supplied)

Similarly, in the case of Parbatbhai Aahir & Ors. v. State of Gujarat & Anr. : (2017) 9 SCC 641 , the Hon’ble Supreme Court had observed as under :-

“16. The broad principles which emerge from the precedents on the subject, may be summarised in the following propositions:

16.1. Section 482 preserves the inherent powers of the High Court to prevent an abuse of the process of any court or to secure the ends of justice. The provision does not confer new powers. It only recognises and preserves powers which inhere in the High Court.

16.2. The invocation of the jurisdiction of the High Court to quash a first information report or a criminal proceeding on the ground that a settlement has been arrived at between the offender and the victim is not the same as the invocation of jurisdiction for the purpose of compounding an offence. While compounding an offence, the power of the court is governed by the provisions of Section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The power to quash under Section 482 is attracted even if the offence is noncompoundable.

16.3. In forming an opinion whether a criminal proceeding or complaint should be quashed in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482, the High Court must evaluate whether the ends of justice would justify the exercise of the inherent power.

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CRL.M.C. 2462/2025

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16.4. While the inherent power of the High Court has a wide ambit and plenitude it has to be exercised (i) to secure the ends of justice, or (ii) to prevent an abuse of the process of any court.

16.5. The decision as to whether a complaint or first information report should be quashed on the ground that the offender and victim have settled the dispute, revolves ultimately on the facts and circumstances of each case and no exhaustive elaboration of principles can be formulated.

16.6. In the exercise of the power under Section 482 and while dealing with a plea that the dispute has been settled, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the offence. Heinous and serious offences involving mental depravity or offences such as murder, rape and dacoity cannot appropriately be quashed though the victim or the family of the victim have settled the dispute. Such offences are, truly speaking, not private in nature but have a serious impact upon society. The decision to continue with the trial in such cases is founded on the overriding element of public interest in punishing persons for serious offences.

16.7. As distinguished from serious offences, there may be criminal cases which have an overwhelming or predominant element of a civil dispute. They stand on a distinct footing insofar as the exercise of the inherent power to quash is concerned.

16.8. Criminal cases involving offences which arise from commercial, financial, mercantile, partnership or similar transactions with an essentially civil flavour may in appropriate situations fall for quashing where parties have settled the dispute.

16.9. In such a case, the High Court may quash the criminal proceeding if in view of the compromise between the disputants, the possibility of a conviction is remote and the continuation of a criminal proceeding would cause oppression and prejudice; and

16.10. There is yet an exception to the principle set out in propositions 16.8. and 16.9. above. Economic offences involving the financial and economic well-being of the State have implications which lie beyond the domain of a mere dispute between private disputants. The High Court would be justified in declining to quash where the offender is involved in an activity akin to a financial or economic fraud or misdemeanour. The consequences of the act complained of

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CRL.M.C. 2462/2025

This is a digitally signed order.

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 04/10/2025 at 15:21:57

upon the financial or economic system will weigh in the balance.”

(emphasis supplied)

Keeping in view the nature of the dispute and that the parties have amicably resolved their disputes, this Court feels that no useful purpose would be served by keeping the dispute alive and continuance of the proceedings would amount to abuse of the process of Court. I am of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise discretionary jurisdiction under Section 528 of the BNSS.

In view of the above, FIR No. 423/2019 and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom are quashed.

The present petition is allowed in the aforesaid terms.

AMIT MAHAJAN, J

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 “SS”

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CRL.M.C. 2462/2025 Page 6 of 6 This is a digitally signed order. 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 04/10/2025 at 15:21:57