Amit Madhwal & Ors. v. State of NCT of Delhi & Anr.

Delhi HC21 Apr 2026W.P.(CRL)/120/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Quashing of FIR on matrimonial settlement/compromise; W.P.(CRL) 120/2026; FIR No. 614/2025, PS Burari; offences under Section 85/316(2)/351(2)/3(5) BNS; stridhan returned; full and final settlement towards maintenance/alimony; divorce by mutual consent; no child born of wedlock; statements recorded by Joint Registrar (order dated 14.01.2026); respondent no.2 appeared via videoconferencing; State no objection; interest of justice; full dress trial dispensed with; Girish Kathpalia, J.; decision dated 21.04.2026.

What did the court decide?

Quashing of FIR No. 614/2025 of PS Burari for offence under Section 85/316(2)/351(2)/3(5) of BNS and of all proceedings arising out of the same. ¶¶24

Amit Madhwal & Ors. Vs State of NCT of Delhi & Anr. — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Quashing of FIR No. 614/2025 of PS Burari for offence under Section 85/316(2)/351(2)/3(5) of BNS and of all proceedings arising out of the same.

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Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No. 614/2025 of PS Burari for offences under Section 85/316(2)/351(2)/3(5) of BNS and the proceedings arising out of it should be quashed, on the ground that the complainant de facto (respondent no.2) has compromised/settled her disputes with the petitioners and does not wish to pursue the prosecution.

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Ratio / Principle

Having examined the statements of the parties recorded before the Joint Registrar and having spoken with respondent no.2 (who confirmed the settlement, return of stridhan, receipt of full and final settlement towards maintenance/alimony, dissolution of marriage by mutual-consent divorce, and her wish not to pursue the prosecution, with the State offering no objection), the Court was satisfied that it would be in the interest of justice not to push the parties through a full dress trial.

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Key takeaways

The petition is allowed and FIR No. 614/2025 of PS Burari for offence under Section 85/316(2)/351(2)/3(5) of BNS, as well as all proceedings arising out of the same, are quashed.ratio¶¶24

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi High Court (Girish Kathpalia, J.) allowed W.P.(CRL) 120/2026 and quashed FIR No. 614/2025 of PS Burari for offence under Section 85/316(2)/351(2)/3(5) of BNS along with all proceedings arising out of it. The complainant de facto (respondent no.2) had settled all her matrimonial disputes with the petitioners, received her entire stridhan and a full and final settlement amount towards maintenance/alimony; no child was born of the wedlock; the marriage stood dissolved by a decree of divorce with mutual consent; and respondent no.2 did not wish to pursue the prosecution. The State raised no objection. Statements of the parties had been recorded by the Joint Registrar pursuant to an order dated 14.01.2026, and respondent no.2 appeared through videoconferencing and was identified by the IO/ASI of PS Burari. Holding that it would be in the interest of justice not to push the parties through a full dress trial, the Court quashed the FIR and consequential proceedings.

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$~76

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* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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% Date of Decision: 21.04.2026

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W.P.(CRL) 120/2026

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AMIT MADHWAL & ORS. .....Petitioners

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Through: Mr. Sumeet Verma, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Nitesh Mehra, Mr. Aakash Gupta and Mr. Anant Kr. Jain, Advocates.

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versus

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STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR. .....Respondents

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Through: Mr. Anand V. Khatri, ASC for State with ASI Jay Prakash Singh, PS Burari.

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Mr. Sandeep Kumar Dedha and Mr. Prateek Sharma, Advocates for R-2 with R-2 in person ( through videoconferencing ).

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CORAM: JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA

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J U D G M E N T (ORAL)

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Petitioners seek quashing of case FIR No. 614/2025 of PS Burari for offence under Section 85/316(2)/351(2)/3(5) of BNS on the ground that the complainant de facto ( respondent no.2 ) has compromised the disputes with the petitioners.

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In furtherance of order dated 14.01.2026, statements of parties were recorded by the Joint Registrar concerned. Today, I have again spoken with respondent no.2, who has appeared through videoconferencing and is

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W.P.(CRL) 120/2026 Page 1 of 2 pages

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GIRISH KATHPALIA Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.04.21 05:53:03 -07'00'

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Signature Not Verified

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Digitally Signed By:RAHUL YADAV Signing Da te:2 1.04.2026 18:25:37

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identified by IO/ASI Jay Prakash of PS Burari.

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Respondent no.2 submits that she has settled all her matrimonial disputes with the petitioners and has received her entire stridhan as well as full and final settlement amount towards her maintenance/alimony. There is no child born from wedlock of petitioner no.1 and respondent no.2. Marriage between petitioner no.1 and respondent no.2 stands dissolved by way of decree of divorce with mutual consent. Respondent no.2 submits that now she does not wish to pursue the subject prosecution of the petitioners.

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Learned senior counsel for petitioners has taken me through the statements of parties recorded before the Joint Registrar.

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Learned ASC assisted by IO/ASI Jay Prakash submits that State has no objection to this petition.

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Having examined the statements of parties and having spoken with respondent no.2, I am satisfied that it would be in the interest of justice not to push the parties through full dress trial.

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Therefore, the petition is allowed and accordingly, FIR No. 614/2025 of PS Burari for offence under Section 85/316(2)/351(2)/3(5) of BNS as well as proceedings arising out of the same are quashed.

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Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec GIRISH 45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15 KATHPALIA 570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801 e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.04.21 05:52:50 -07'00'

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GIRISH KATHPALIA (JUDGE)

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APRIL 21, 2026/ dr

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W.P.(CRL) 120/2026

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Page 2 of 2 pages

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Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:RAHUL YADAV Signing Da te:2 1.04.2026 18:25:37

Amit Madhwal & Ors. v. State of NCT of Delhi & Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Amit Madhwal & Ors. v. State of NCT of Delhi & 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

Coram

Case details

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