Anuj Singh Vs State Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Anr. — Delhi HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Anuj Singh Vs State Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Anr. — Delhi HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Quashing of FIR No. 359/2025 dated 28.07.2025 and closure of all proceedings arising therefrom, subject to the petitioner paying costs of Rs.10,000/- to Friendicoes SECA within 04 weeks; petitioner directed to place proof of payment on record; Registry directed to re-list the matter if costs are not paid; pending applications disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No. 359/2025 dated 28.07.2025 (registered under sections 75/79 BNS and section 12 POCSO Act at P.S. Subzi Mandi) and all proceedings emanating therefrom should be quashed on the basis of the amicable settlement between the petitioner and respondent No. 2.

Court's answer

In light of the settlement between the contesting parties, and in line with the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Gian Singh (2012) 10 SCC 303 and Narinder Singh (2014) 6 SCC 466, the subject FIR and all proceedings emanating therefrom should be quashed, since continuing them would be an exercise in futility and not conducive to peace and harmony between the parties.

Ratio / Principle

While allowing the petition, the court imposed a condition of atonement: the petitioner shall pay costs of Rs.10,000/- to Friendicoes SECA, No.271 & 273, Defence Colony Flyover Market, Jungpura, New Delhi within 04 weeks.

Key takeaways

Subject to payment of the directed costs, FIR No. 359/2025 dated 28.07.2025 registered under sections 75/79 of the BNS and section 12 of the POCSO Act at P.S.: Subzi Mandi, North Delhi is quashed, and all proceedings arising therefrom stand closed.ratio¶27

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

HIGH COURT OF DELHI (Anup Jairam Bhambhani, J.) | CRL.M.C. 1454/2026 | Order dated 13.03.2026 | Quashing of FIR on settlement — Petition under Section 528, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, seeking quashing of FIR No. 359/2025 dated 28.07.2025, registered under Sections 75/79 BNS and Section 12 POCSO Act at P.S. Subzi Mandi, North Delhi, ALLOWED. Allegation: petitioner (aged about 21) had 'watched' the victim (aged about 16½) for 3-4 days while she went to fetch milk and told her he liked her; no physical engagement alleged and no such evidence in the charge-sheet dated 16.10.2025, which alleged offences under Section 78 BNS and Section 12 POCSO Act. Petition premised on Memorandum of Understanding dated 06.11.2025 between petitioner and respondent No. 2, supported by affidavits of both; victim (Class 12 student) present in court with her mother, who stated the incident was a one-off occurrence, that the petitioner did not pursue or stalk the victim after being reprimanded once, and that she did not wish to pursue the matter further as it would re-victimize her; learned APP for State confirmed no objection to quashing. Relying on Gian Singh v. State of Punjab, (2012) 10 SCC 303 and Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab, (2014) 6 SCC 466, the court held that continuing the FIR post-settlement would be an exercise in futility and not conducive to peace and harmony. FIR and all proceedings thereunder QUASHED, subject to the petitioner paying Rs. 10,000/- as costs to Friendicoes SECA, Defence Colony Flyover Market, Jungpura, within 04 weeks by way of atonement; proof of payment to be placed on record; Registry to re-list if costs unpaid. Petition and pending applications disposed of.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

- CRL.M.C. 1454/2026, CRL.M.A. 5853/2026 ANUJ SINGH .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Chirag Khurana, Mr. Nitin Arora, Ms. Diksha Gogia and Mr. Mohit Chawala, Advocates alongwith petitioner.

versus

STATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Richa Dhawan, APP for State. SI Shweta, P.S. Subzi Mandi.

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI O R D E R 13.03.2026

By way of the present petition filed under section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, the petitioner seeks quashing of case FIR No. 359/2025 dated 28.07.2025 registered under sections 75/79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (‘BNS’) and section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012 (‘POCSO Act’) at P.S.: Subzi Mandi, North Delhi. Consequent upon completion of investigation, offences under sections 78 of the BNS and 12 of the POCSO Act have been alleged vide charge-sheet dated 16.10.2025.

The allegation against the petitioner is that he had been ‘watching’ the victim for over 3-4 days, while the latter went to go to fetch milk from the local mother dairy. The petitioner is stated to have told the victim that he liked her. However, there are no allegations of any physical

CRL.M.C. 1454/2026

Page 1 of 3

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 01/04/2026 at 14:43:42

engagement by the petitioner with the victim. Accordingly, neither has any evidence pertaining to the same come through in the chargesheet.

The victim was about 16½ years of age at the relevant time; and the petitioner was about 21 years old.

The victim is present in court alongwith her mother. The court has interacted with them. The mother states that the incident was a one of occurrence; that the petitioner did not pursue or stalk the victim, except on one occasion when he was duly berated and reprimanded, whereafter he did not persist in any unseemly act.

The allegations against the petitioner are under section 12 of the POCSO Act read with section 78 of the BNS.

The victim’s mother states that the victim is a student of class 12^th ; and does not wish to pursue the matter any further, since that would, in a sense, re-victimize her.

The petition is premised on Memorandum of Understanding dated 06.11.2025, whereby the petitioner and respondent No. 2 have resolved the matter amicably.

The petition is also supported by affidavits of the petitioners and of respondent No. 2.

Ms. Richa Dhawan, learned APP confirms that the State has no objection to the subject FIR being quashed.

In the circumstances, in line with the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab & Anr. reported as (2012) 10 SCC 303 as also in Narinder Singh & Ors. vs. State of Punjab & Anr. reported as (2014) 6 SCC 466, this court sees no reason why the

CRL.M.C. 1454/2026

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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 01/04/2026 at 14:43:42

subject FIR and all proceedings emanating therefrom should not be quashed. This court is of the view that in light of the settlement between the contesting parties, continuing with the subject FIR and all subsequent proceedings would be an exercise in futility and would not be conducive to peace and harmony between the parties.

While allowing the petition however, this court considers it appropriate, that by way of atonement, the petitioner shall pay costs of Rs.10,000/- to Friendicoes SECA, No.271 & 273, Defence Colony Flyover Market, Jungpura, New Delhi within 04 weeks.

Subject to the aforesaid condition, case FIR No. 359/2025 dated 28.07.2025 registered under sections 75/79 of the BNS and section 12 of the POCSO Act at P.S.: Subzi Mandi, North Delhi is quashed. All proceedings arising therefrom also stand closed.

Petitioner is directed to place on record the proof of payment of costs.

The Registry is directed to re-list the matter if costs are not paid as directed.

The petition stands disposed-of.

Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed-of.

ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI, J

MARCH 13, 2026 V.Rawat

CRL.M.C. 1454/2026

Page 3 of 3

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 01/04/2026 at 14:43:42