Disposed

Vikas Rathore & Ors. v. State NCT of Delhi & Anr.

Delhi HC16 Mar 2026CRL.M.C./1898/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petition under BNSS section 528 sought quashing of a dowry/cruelty FIR following a mediated settlement and divorce decree by mutual consent. The complainant confirmed full settlement performance; the State raised no objection. Relying on Supreme Court precedent, the High Court quashed the FIR and closed all proceedings arising from it.

What did the court decide?

FIR No. 394/2024 dated 30.09.2024 under sections 498-A/406/34 IPC at P.S.: Jaitpur quashed; all proceedings therefrom closed.

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

¶1

$~66

¶2

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

¶3

- CRL.M.C. 1898/2026, CRL.M.A. 7808/2026 (for stay) VIKAS RATHORE & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Ayush Goswami and Mr. Balaji Pathak, Advocates.

¶4

versus STATE NCT OF DELHI & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Kiran Bairwa, APP for the State. Insp. Satbir Singh, P.S.: Jaitpur. Mr. Sanjay Kumar C., Advocate for R-2 alongwith R-2 in person.

¶5

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI O R D E R % 16.03.2026

¶6

CRL.M.A. 7809/2026

¶7

Exemption granted, subject to just exceptions.

¶8

The application stands disposed-of.

¶9

CRL.M.C. 1898/2026

¶10

By way of the present petition filed under section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, the petitioners, who are the former husband and in-laws of the complainant/respondent No. 2, seek quashing of case FIR No. 394/2024 dated 30.09.2024 registered under sections 498-A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘IPC’) at P.S.: Jaitpur, South East Delhi.

¶11

The petition is premised on Mediated Settlement Agreement dated 03.02.2026 arrived at before the Mediation Centre, Saket Courts, New Delhi; and Divorce Decree dated 21.07.2025, which is the

¶12

CRL.M.C. 1898/2026

¶13

Page 1 of 3

¶14

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 25/03/2026 at 12:32:22

¶15

culmination of petitions under sections 13B(1) and 13B(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, whereby the parties had sought dissolution of their marriage by mutual consent.

¶16

The petition is supported by affidavits of the petitioners, as also of respondent No. 2, alongwith proof of their IDs.

¶17

The petitioners as well as respondent No. 2 are present in court. Their credentials have been verified and they have also been identified by their respective counsel.

¶18

No appeal is stated to have been filed from the divorce decree.

¶19

The court has queried respondent No. 2, who confirms that she has taken divorce by mutual consent; and that a settlement agreement has been entered into between the parties; and that in full-and-final settlement of all her claims including towards maintenance (past, present and future), stridhan , dowry articles, jewellery, permanent alimony, etc., she was to receive a sum of Rs. 10 lacs from petitioner No. 1; out of which Rs. 07 lacs was paid earlier and Rs. 03 lacs has been paid in court today, in compliance of the terms of the settlement agreement. Respondent No. 2 confirms that all aspects of the settlement have now been performed.

¶20

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

¶21

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 subject FIR and all proceedings emanating therefrom should not be

¶22

CRL.M.C. 1898/2026

¶23

Page 2 of 3

¶24

This is a digitally signed order.

¶25

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 25/03/2026 at 12:32:22

¶26

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.

¶27

Accordingly, FIR No. 394/2024 dated 30.09.2024 registered under sections 498-A/406/34 IPC at P.S.: Jaitpur, South East Delhi is quashed. All proceedings arising therefrom also stand closed.

¶28