Shakti Singh and Others Vs the State NCT of Delhi and Anr. — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2026)

Shakti Singh and Others Vs the State NCT of Delhi and Anr. — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Full relief sought granted: FIR No. 0583/2022 dated 07.09.2022 (Police Station Punjabi Bagh; Sections 498A/406/34 IPC) and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom quashed; parties' original affidavits to be submitted before the learned Trial Court within two weeks to become part of Trial Court Record; petition and pending application stand disposed of in these terms.

Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No. 0583/2022 dated 07.09.2022 registered at Police Station Punjabi Bagh for offences under Sections 498A/406/34 IPC, along with all consequential proceedings, should be quashed on the basis of the settlement reached between the parties. +1 more

Court's answer

In view of the settlement, continuing with the criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose, as the 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.

Ratio / Principle

The Court satisfied itself that the settlement was genuine and consensual: respondent No.2 appeared in person, was duly identified, reiterated the settlement terms, affirmed she entered into it out of her own free will without any coercion or influence, and stated she has no objection to the FIR being quashed.

Key takeaways

Exercising the inherent powers vested in the Court under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Court deemed it appropriate to quash the FIR.ratio¶23
To secure the ends of justice, FIR No. 0583/2022 dated 07.09.2022 registered at Police Station Punjabi Bagh for offences under Sections 498A/406/34 IPC, along with all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, is hereby quashed.ratio¶27

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

QUASHING OF FIR UPON SETTLEMENT - High Court of Delhi (Manoj Jain, J., oral) allows CRL.M.C. 4460/2026 and quashes FIR No. 0583/2022 dated 07.09.2022, P.S. Punjabi Bagh (Sections 498A/406/34 IPC) with all consequential proceedings, invoking the inherent power under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Parties (married 01.02.2013, two children; charge-sheet already filed) resolved all matrimonial disputes through a comprehensive MoU dated 01.04.2025. Complainant/respondent No.2 appeared in person, was identified, confirmed cohabitation with petitioner No.1 for over a year, withdrawal of other cases, and affirmed the settlement was of her own free will without coercion, raising no objection to quashing. The dispute was held private, involving no public interest; original affidavits directed to be deposited with the Trial Court within two weeks.

$~23

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

% Date of Decision: 01^st July, 2026

- CRL.M.C. 4460/2026 SHAKTI SINGH AND OTHERS

.....Petitioner Through: Ms. Tanishka Patel, Mr. Pulkit D. and Mr. Ankit Gupta, Advocates alongwith petitioners in person.

versus

THE STATE NCT OF DELHI AND ANR

.....Respondent Through: Mr. Raj Kumar, APP for the State with SI Mukesh Yadav. Respondent No.2 in person.

CORAM:

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

Petitioners herein seek quashing of FIR No. 0583/2022 dated 07.09.2022, registered at Police Station Punjabi Bagh, 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 01.02.2013, as per Hindu rites and customs. Two children were born from the abovesaid 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.

CRL.M.C. 4460/2026 1

Signature Not Verified

Signed By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Da te:0 2.07.2026 15:34:25

Charge-sheet has been filed.

With the intervention of common friends and relatives, parties have entered into a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated 01.04.2025 and have been able to resolve all their disputes.

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 reiterates the terms of abovesaid settlement. She also submits she is residing happily with petitioner No.1 at their matrimonial home for more than a year. She also submits that, as per the terms of settlement, other cases have already been withdrawn. She submits that she and petitioner No. 1 are having two children from the abovesaid wedlock and, now, she does not want to pursue the case any further, especially when they are residing together, with complete matrimonial bliss. 9. Respondent no. 2 also states that she has entered into the abovesaid settlement out of her own free will, without any coercion and influence from any corner whatsoever and therefore, she would have ‘ no objection ’ if FIR in question 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.

CRL.M.C. 4460/2026 2

Signature Not Verified

Signed By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Da te:0 2.07.2026 15:34:25

Consequently, to secure the ends of justice, FIR No. 0583/2022 dated 07.09.2022, registered at Police Station Punjabi Bagh, 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 two weeks, so that these become part of Trial Court Record.

The petition stands disposed of in aforesaid terms.

Pending application also stands disposed of.

(MANOJ JAIN) JUDGE

JULY 1, 2026/ss/pb

Signature Not Verified

CRL.M.C. 4460/2026 3

Signed By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Da te:0 2.07.2026 15:34:25