Mr. Kalyan R M Vs the State of Karnataka — Dowry and Cruelty | Karnataka HC (2025)

Mr. Kalyan R M Vs the State of Karnataka — Dowry and Cruelty | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Quashing of the proceedings in C.C. No.15415/2024 (charge sheet in Crime No.108/2023, Basavanagudi Women P.S.) pending before the 37th ACMM, Bengaluru.

Issue for consideration

Whether the charge sheet in Crime No.108/2023 (prosecuted as C.C. No.15415/2024 before the 37th ACMM, Bengaluru, under Sections 498-A, 504, 323, 506 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the DP Act, 1961) should be quashed in view of the amicable settlement between the spouses.

Court's answer

In view of the amicable settlement recorded in M.C. No.2407/2023, the voluntary withdrawal of allegations by the complainant, and the fact that the dispute arose out of matrimonial discord without any criminal intent as alleged in the charge sheet, this Court is of the considered view that continuing the prosecution would serve no useful purpose and would amount to an abuse of the process of law.

Ratio / Principle

Consequently, the petition is allowed and the proceedings in C.C. No.15415/2024, pending on the file of the 37th ACMM, Bengaluru, are quashed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Petition No. 11568 of 2025 (filed u/s 482 CrPC / u/s 528 BNSS) — quashing of charge sheet in Crime No.108/2023 registered at Basavanagudi Women Police Station, Bengaluru, prosecuted as C.C. No.15415/2024 before the 37th ACMM, Bengaluru, under Sections 498-A, 504, 323 and 506 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, against the husband (petitioner/Accused No.1) at the instance of his wife (complainant/respondent No.2). The matrimonial dispute had been referred to mediation in M.C. No.2407/2023 (II Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, Bengaluru), where the parties agreed to dissolve the marriage on the husband paying Rs.2,00,000 as permanent alimony in full and final settlement; Rs.1,50,000 had been paid earlier by demand draft and the balance Rs.50,000 was handed over by demand draft at the hearing, whereupon the wife, present in person, acknowledged the settlement and voluntarily stated she had no objection to quashing and sought complete closure. Holding that, in view of the amicable settlement, the voluntary withdrawal of allegations by the complainant and the absence of any criminal intent, continuing the prosecution would serve no useful purpose and would amount to an abuse of the process of law, the Court allowed the petition and quashed the proceedings in C.C. No.15415/2024. — Sachin Shankar Magadum, J. — 11.08.2025.

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NC: 2025:KHC:31014 CRL.P No. 11568 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 11^TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM

CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11568 OF 2025

BETWEEN:

MR. KALYAN R M S/O MR. MUNEENDRA R N AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS R/OF H NO.145 SHANKAR NAGARA MAIN ROAD SARASWATHI, NEAR T V S SHOWROOM MAHALAKSHMI LAYOUT, BANGALORE CITY KARNATAKA - 560096

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. SUDHINDRA BHAT, ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by SUNITHA K S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY BASAVANAGUDI WOMEN POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU - 560001.

MRS. SNEHARANI R D/O MR. RUDRAPPA G AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS R/AT 892, 1^ST FLOOR, 1^ST A MAIN ROAD, 1^ST PHASE, GIRINAGAR, BSK 3^RD STAGE, BANGALORE – 560085

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SMT. RASHMI JADHAV, ADDL.SPP FOR R1)

THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE CHARGE SHEET IN CR.NO.108/2023 REGISTERED IN BASAVANAGUDI WOMEN P.S. BENGALURU AGAINST THE PETITIONER / ACCUSED NO.1 IN CRIMINAL CASE NO.15415/2024 WHICH IS PENDING BEFORE THE 37^TH A.C.J.M

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BENGALURU UNDER SEC.498-A,504,323, 506 OF IPC 1860 AND SEC.3 AND 4 OF DP ACT 1961 (ANNEXURE A).

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM

ORAL ORDER

Petitioner is seeking quashing of the charge sheet filed in CC No.15415/2024 on the file of 37^th ACMM,

Bengaluru for the offences punishable under Sections 498(A), 504, 323 and 506 of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (‘DP Act’ for short).

Today, respondent No.2 – wife is present before this Court. She has not engaged any Advocate. On being queried, she acknowledges and admits that the dispute between her and her husband, i.e., the petitioner, was referred to mediation in M.C. No.2407/2023 on the file of the II Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, Bengaluru. During mediation, the matter was amicably settled, and both husband and wife agreed to dissolve their marriage on the condition that the husband would pay a sum of

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NC: 2025:KHC:31014 CRL.P No. 11568 of 2025

HC-KAR

Rs.2,00,000/- as permanent alimony in full and final settlement. The records further disclose that respondent No.2 – wife has already received Rs.1,50,000/- through a demand draft, and the balance amount of Rs.50,000/- was agreed to be paid upon withdrawal of C.C. No.15415/2024.

The present petition seeks quashing of the proceedings in C.C. No.15415/2024. Respondent No.2 – wife, who is present before this Court, acknowledges the settlement and confirms that she has today received the balance amount of Rs.50,000/- by demand draft. She has voluntarily stated that she has no objection to quashing the proceedings and is willing to give a complete closure to the matter.

In view of the amicable settlement recorded in M.C. No.2407/2023, and considering that the dispute between the parties arose out of matrimonial discord without any criminal intent as alleged in the charge sheet, this Court is

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satisfied that the parties have resolved their differences

and have given quietus to their dispute. Therefore, in view of the amicable settlement, the voluntary withdrawal of allegations by the complainant, and the nature of the dispute, this Court is of the considered view that continuing the prosecution would serve no useful purpose and would amount to an abuse of the process of law.

Consequently, the petition is allowed. The proceedings in C.C. No.15415/2024, pending on the file of the 37th ACMM, Bengaluru, are hereby quashed.

Sd/(SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE

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