Rajat Nakra and Ors. Vs the State (Gnct), Delhi and Anr. — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2026)

Rajat Nakra and Ors. Vs the State (Gnct), Delhi and Anr. — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Quashing of FIR No. 292/2022 registered at Police Station Sarita Vihar, Delhi for offences punishable under Sections 498A/406/509/34 IPC and all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom; petition disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No. 292/2022 registered at Police Station Sarita Vihar, Delhi under Sections 498A/406/509/34 IPC, arising from the matrimonial dispute between petitioner no. 1 and respondent no. 2, should be quashed in view of the amicable settlement (Compromise Deed dated 10.08.2025) reached between the parties.

Court's answer

Since the parties have amicably resolved their differences out of their own free will and without any coercion, and no useful purpose would be served by continuing the proceedings — which would only create further acrimony between them — it is in the interest of justice to quash the FIR and the proceedings pursuant thereto; there is no legal impediment in quashing the FIR in question.

Ratio / Principle

Respondent no. 2, identified by the concerned IO, categorically stated before the Court that she entered into the compromise out of her own free will and without any pressure, coercion or threat, that the entire dispute stands amicably settled, and that she has no objection to the quashing of the FIR.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi High Court (Dr. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, sole judge), W.P.(CRL) 584/2026, order dated 18.02.2026: Petitioners (Rajat Nakra and Ors.) sought quashing of FIR No. 292/2022, Police Station Sarita Vihar, Delhi, registered on the complaint of respondent no. 2 for offences under Sections 498A/406/509/34 IPC arising out of a matrimonial dispute (marriage solemnized 17.11.2020; couple living separately since 10.02.2022). The parties had settled the matter vide Compromise Deed dated 10.08.2025, under which respondent no. 2 had already received Rs. 7.5 lakhs at the first motion petition stage, with a further sum printed as 'Rs. 7.5' (unit unstated) agreed to be received at the second motion petition stage. Present through video conferencing and identified by the Investigating Officer, respondent no. 2 categorically affirmed that she had entered into the compromise out of her own free will, without pressure, coercion or threat, that the entire dispute stood amicably settled, and that she had no objection to quashing. Holding that the parties had voluntarily resolved their differences, that continuance of proceedings would serve no useful purpose and would only create further acrimony, and that there was no legal impediment, the Court quashed FIR No. 292/2022 and all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom and disposed of the petition. No precedent was invoked; the decision rests entirely on the complainant's recorded consent and the settlement.

$~73

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

- W.P.(CRL) 584/2026

RAJAT NAKRA AND ORS. .....Petitioners

Through: Petitioners with their counsel Mr. Vineet Mehta, Adv.

versus

THE STATE (GNCT), DELHI AND ANR .....Respondents Through: Mr. Sanjay Lao, Standing Counsel for the State R-2 with her counsel Mr. Prakhar Sharma, Adv.

CORAM: HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA

O R D E R

% 18.02.2026

By way of the present writ petition, the petitioners are seeking quashing of FIR bearing no. 292/2022, registered at Police Station Sarita Vihar, Delhi for the commission of offence punishable under Sections 498A/406/509/34 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereafter ‘ IPC ’).

The petitioners and respondent no. 2 are present through video conferencing before this Court and have been identified by their counsels and concerned Investigating Officer (IO) from Police Station Sarita Vihar, Delhi.

Briefly stated, facts of the present case are that the marriage between petitioner no. 1 and respondent no. 2 was solemnized on 17.11.2020 as per the Hindu rites and customs and were living with each other. No child was

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 23/02/2026 at 12:14:45

born from their wedlock. After some time, due to different lifestyles and temperamental differences, both the parties could not reside with each other and since 10.02.2022, petitioner no. 1 and respondent no. 2 have started living separately. Thereafter, on the complaint of respondent no.2, the present FIR was registered against the petitioners under the relevant sections. It is stated that both the parties have amicably settled the present matter vide Compromise Deed dated 10.08.2025, entered between them. It is stated that it was mutually agreed between the parties that the amount of ₹7.5 lakhs has already been received by respondent no. 2 at the time of first motion petition and the remaining sum of ₹7.5 has to be received at the time of second motion petition.

On a query made by this Court, respondent no.2 who has been identified by the concerned IO, has categorically stated that she has entered into compromise out of her own free will and without any pressure, coercion or threat. It is also stated by respondent no. 2 that the entire dispute has been amicably settled between the parties. Respondent no. 2 further states that she has no objection if the present FIR is quashed.

In view of the above fact that the parties have amicably resolved their differences out of their own free will, without any coercion and no useful purpose will be served by continuing the proceedings, rather the same would create further acrimony between them. It would thus be in interest of justice to quash the abovementioned FIR and the proceedings pursuant thereto. There is no legal impediment in quashing the FIR in question.

Accordingly, FIR bearing No. 292/2022, registered at Police Station Sarita Vihar, Delhi for the commission of offence punishable under Sections 498A/406/509/34 of IPC and all consequential proceedings emanating

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 23/02/2026 at 12:14:45

therefrom are quashed.

In view of the above, the present petition stands disposed of.

The order be uploaded on the website forthwith.

DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J

FEBRUARY 18, 2026/A/GJ

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 23/02/2026 at 12:14:45