Himanshu Sonkar and Others Vs the State NCT of Delhi and… — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2026)

Himanshu Sonkar and Others Vs the State NCT of Delhi and… — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Full quashing of FIR No. 0321/2023 dated 20.04.2023 (PS Adarsh Nagar, Delhi; Sections 498A/406/34 IPC) and of all consequential proceedings arising therefrom; parties directed to submit original affidavits before the learned Trial Court within four weeks; petition and pending CRL.M.A. 12425-12426/2026 applications disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No. 0321/2023 dated 20.04.2023 (Police Station Adarsh Nagar, Delhi) for offences under Sections 498A/406/34 IPC, and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, ought to be quashed on the basis of the compromise reached between the parties. +1 more

Court's answer

The complainant (respondent No. 2), present in person and duly identified by her counsel and the Investigating Officer, reaffirmed the settlement, stating it was entered into out of her own free will without coercion or influence from any quarter; she has been living with her husband for the last four years and has no objection to the FIR being quashed.

Ratio / Principle

In view of the settlement, the dispute involving no public interest and being primarily private in nature — and since even the complainant does not wish to press charges — continuing the criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose.

Key takeaways

Exercising the inherent powers vested in the Court under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, it was deemed appropriate to quash the FIR.ratio¶10
To secure the ends of justice, FIR No. 0321/2023 dated 20.04.2023 registered at Police Station Adarsh Nagar, Delhi for offences under Sections 498A/406/34 IPC, along with all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, is quashed; the parties' original affidavits are to be submitted to the learned Trial Court within four weeks so as to become part of the Trial Court Record.ratio¶11

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Quashing of FIR — matrimonial dispute (Ss. 498A/406/34 IPC) settled by compromise: FIR No. 0321/2023 dt. 20.04.2023, PS Adarsh Nagar (charge-sheeted; charges not ascertained), quashed in entirety. Parties, reunited through intervention of common friends/relatives, were cohabiting for about four years; complainant (R-2), present in person and identified by counsel and the IO, attested that the settlement was of her own free will, without coercion, and raised no objection. Holding the dispute private, devoid of public-interest element, and further prosecution futile — the complainant herself unwilling to press charges — the Court invoked inherent powers under S. 528 BNSS 2023 and quashed the FIR with consequential proceedings, directing deposit of the parties' original affidavits before the Trial Court within four weeks. (Delhi HC, 08.07.2026 — Manoj Jain, J., oral judgment.)

$~21 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

% Date of Decision: 8^th July, 2026

- CRL.M.C. 3051/2026 & CRL.M.A. 12425-12426/2026

HIMANSHU SONKAR AND OTHERS .....Petitioner

Through: Mr. Rohit Sadana, Advocate along with petitioners in person

versus

THE STATE NCT OF DELHI AND OTHERS .....Respondent Through: Mr. Raj Kumar, APP for State/R-1 SI Jayosh, PS Adarsh Nagar

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN J U D G M E N T (oral)

Petitioners herein seek quashing of FIR No. 0321/2023 dated 20.04.2023, registered at Police Station Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, for commission of offences under Sections 498A/406/34 IPC, along with all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of compromise arrived at between the parties.

The marriage between complainant (respondent No.2 herein) and petitioner No.1 was solemnized on 16.02.2021, as per Hindu rites and customs. There is no child from the wedlock.

However, on account of temperamental differences, the parties started residing separately and when a complaint was lodged by respondent No. 2, it resulted into registration of the abovesaid FIR.

Charge-sheet has already been filed but charges are yet not ascertained.

With the intervention of common friends and relatives, parties have

CRL.M.C. 3051/2026 1

Signature Not Verified

Signed By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Da te:1 0.07.2026 12:03:01

been able to resolve all their disputes and are now enjoying blissful life together.

It is in the abovesaid backdrop that quashing is being sought.

Respondent no. 2 is present in-person and she has been duly identified by her counsel as well as by Investigating Officer.

When asked, respondent No. 2 reiterated the terms of abovesaid settlement and states that she has entered into the abovesaid settlement out of her own free will, without any coercion and influence from any corner whatsoever. She submits that she has resumed matrimonial ties with her husband after burying the hatchet and is, presently, living with her husband for last four years and would have no objection if the present FIR is quashed.

In view of the settlement arrived at between the parties, continuing with criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose, especially, when dispute does not involve any public interest and is, primarily, private in nature. In any case, even the complainant does not wish to press any charges against the petitioners.

Accordingly, exercising inherent powers vested in this Court under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 , it is deemed appropriate to quash the instant FIR.

Consequently, to secure the ends of justice, FIR No. 0321/2023 dated 20.04.2023, registered at Police Station Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, for commission of offences under Sections 498A/406/34 IPC , along with all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, is, hereby, quashed. Original affidavits of the parties, copies of which have been placed on record in the present proceedings, shall be submitted before the learned Trial Court within four weeks from today, so that these become part of Trial Court Record.

CRL.M.C. 3051/2026 2

Signature Not Verified

Signed By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Da te:1 0.07.2026 12:03:01

The petition stands disposed of in aforesaid terms.

Pending applications also stand disposed of.

(MANOJ JAIN) JUDGE

JULY 08, 2026/ dr/sa

Signature Not Verified

CRL.M.C. 3051/2026 3

Signed By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Da te:1 0.07.2026 12:03:01