Saurabh Mehrotra & Ors. v. the State of NCT of Delhi and Anr.

Delhi HC2 Dec 2025CRL.M.C./8581/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Settlement-based quashing of matrimonial-dispute FIR: CRL.M.C. 8581/2025, Delhi High Court, Justice Vikas Mahajan, 02.12.2025; FIR No.144/2024, Sections 498A/406/509/34 IPC, PS Vasant Kunj North; petition under Section 528 BNSS 2023; MOU 06.06.2025 (Annexure P-2); mutual-consent divorce decree 12.08.2025; Rs. 30 lacs full-and-final settlement (streedhan/alimony/dowry/maintenance), Rs. 20 lacs paid earlier plus Rs. 10 lacs by DD No. 124357 dt. 27.11.2025; respondent no.2 acknowledged and consented; FIR and consequential proceedings quashed; petition allowed.

What did the court decide?

Quashing of FIR No.144/2024 under Sections 498A/406/509/34 IPC registered at Police Station Vasant Kunj North alongwith all other proceedings emanating therefrom; petition disposed of in the above terms ¶¶29

Saurabh Mehrotra & Ors. Vs the State of NCT of Delhi and Anr. — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No.144/2024 under Sections 498A/406/509/34 IPC registered at Police Station Vasant Kunj North and all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom should be quashed on the ground that the parties have arrived at a settlement

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Court's answer

Since the parties had arrived at a settlement, no useful purpose would be served by continuing the proceedings, which would instead create further acrimony between them

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Ratio / Principle

It was in the interest of justice to quash FIR No.144/2024 (Sections 498A/406/509/34 IPC, PS Vasant Kunj North) and all proceedings emanating therefrom; accordingly the petition was allowed and the FIR and consequent proceedings were quashed

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi HC (Justice Vikas Mahajan), order dated 02.12.2025, CRL.M.C. 8581/2025: petition under Section 528 BNSS, 2023 by SAURABH MEHROTRA & ORS. seeking quashing of FIR No.144/2024 (Sections 498A/406/509/34 IPC, Police Station Vasant Kunj North) and all consequential proceedings on the ground of settlement. Former spouses married 16.01.2013 (no child), estranged and living separately since 10.01.2024; dispute led to the FIR. Settlement memorialised as MOU dated 06.06.2025 (Annexure P-2); parties dissolved the marriage by mutual consent, obtaining a divorce decree dated 12.08.2025. Petitioner no.1 paid a total Rs. 30 lacs towards full and final settlement of respondent no.2's claims (streedhan, permanent alimony, dowry articles, maintenance past/present/future) - Rs. 20 lacs previously, balance Rs. 10 lacs in court by Demand Draft No. 124357 dated 27.11.2025 (SBI, Vasant Square Branch); respondent no.2 acknowledged receipt of the entire amount in court and, on the Court's query, stated she had no objection to the FIR being quashed. Court held that continuing proceedings would serve no useful purpose and would create further acrimony, and that quashing was in the interest of justice; consequently FIR No.144/2024 and all proceedings emanating therefrom were quashed and the petition allowed and disposed of.

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$~136

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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- CRL.M.C. 8581/2025 & CRL.M.A. 35877/2025

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SAURABH MEHROTRA & ORS. .....Petitioners

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Through: Ms. Anamika, Adv.

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versus

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THE STATE OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR .....Respondents

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Through: Ms. Richa Dhawan, APP for State with SI Divya Gehlot (I.O), PS. V.K. North.

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Mr. Hemant Kumar and Mr. Harpreet Puri, Advs. for R-2.

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CORAM:

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKAS MAHAJAN

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O R D E R

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% 02.12.2025

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The present petition has been filed under Section 528 BNSS, 2023 seeking quashing of FIR No.144/2024 under Sections 498A/406/509/34 IPC registered at Police Station Vasant Kunj North and all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom on the ground that the parties have arrived at a settlement.

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Issue notice. Ms. Richa Dhawan, learned APP for the State accepts notice.

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The petitioner no.1 (former husband), as well as, respondent no. 2 (former wife), who is present in Court, have been identified by their respective counsel, as well as, by the Investigating Officer SI Divya Gehlot (I.O), PS. V.K. North.

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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 06/12/2025 at 12:17:38

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The brief facts of the case are that the marriage between the petitioner no.1 and respondent no. 2 was solemnized on 16.01.2013 according to Hindu Rites and Customs. No child was born from the said wedlock.

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On account of temperamental issues certain disputes arose between the parties and they started living separately w.e.f. 10.01.2024. The dispute between the parties also led to the registration of the present FIR. 6. During pendency of the proceedings, the parties have arrived at a settlement, terms whereof were reduced in writing in the form of Memorandum of Understanding dated 06.06.2025, which is annexed as Annexure P-2 to the present petition.

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In terms of the said settlement, the parties decided to dissolve their marriage by filing a petition for divorce by way of mutual consent. Accordingly, the petitioner no.1 and respondent no.2 have obtained a decree of divorce dated 12.08.2025.

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It is a term of the settlement between the parties that the petitioner no.1 shall pay a total sum of Rs. 30 lacs to the respondent no.2 towards full and final settlement of all her claims on account of streedhan , permanent alimony, dowry articles, maintenance (past, present and future) etc. Out of the said amount, a sum of Rs. 20 lacs has already been paid by the petitioner no.1 to the respondent no.2 in the manner as mentioned in the settlement. The remaining amount of Rs. 10 lacs has been paid to the respondent no.2 today in the Court by the petitioner no.1 by way of Demand Draft bearing No. 124357 dated 27.11.2025 issued by State Bank of India, Vasant Square Branch.

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The receipt of entire amount of Rs. 30 lacs is acknowledged by the respondent no.2, who is present in court.

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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 06/12/2025 at 12:17:38

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The respondent no.2, on a query posed by the Court, states that she has no objection in case the FIR is quashed.

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In view of the fact that the parties have arrived at a settlement, no useful purpose will be served in continuing the proceedings, rather the same would create further acrimony between them.

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It is, thus, in the interest of justice that the present FIR and all the other proceedings emanating therefrom be quashed.

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Consequently, the petition is allowed and the FIR No.144/2024 under Sections 498A/406/509/34 IPC registered at Police Station Vasant Kunj North alongwith all other proceedings emanating therefrom, is quashed.

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The petition stands disposed of in the above terms.

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Order be uploaded on the website of this Court.

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VIKAS MAHAJAN, J

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DECEMBER 2, 2025/dss

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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 06/12/2025 at 12:17:38

Saurabh Mehrotra & Ors. v. the State of NCT of Delhi and Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Saurabh Mehrotra & Ors. v. the State of NCT of Delhi and Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

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