Allowed¶43

Lakshmi Ranagaiah P v. the State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC14 Aug 2025CRL.P/3300/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Quashing of FIR; matrimonial dispute settled in M.C.No.6/2022; wife/complainant rejoined marital home; dowry-related offences under S.85 BNS 2023 and S.4 Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 along with Ss.352, 115(2), 351(2), 3(5) BNS 2023; inherent powers under S.482 CrPC / S.528 BNSS; petition by accused Nos.2 to 7 (in-laws); Crime No.2/2025 Shivamogga Women Police Station; JMFC II Court Shivamogga; amicable settlement as ground for quashing; abuse of process; Karnataka High Court; Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum; 14 August 2025; NC: 2025:KHC:31647.

What did the court decide?

Quashing of the proceedings in Crime No.2/2025 registered by Shivamogga Women Police Station (offences under Sections 85, 352, 115(2), 351(2), 3(5) BNS 2023 and Section 4 Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961) insofar as the petitioners (accused Nos.2 to 7) are concerned. ¶43

Lakshmi Ranagaiah P Vs the State of Karnataka — Dowry and Cruelty | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the proceedings arising from FIR in Crime No.2/2025 of Shivamogga Women Police Station against the petitioners (accused Nos.2 to 7) for offences punishable under Sections 85, 352, 115(2), 351(2), 3(5) of BNS 2023 and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, pending before JMFC 2nd Court, Shimogga District, ought to be quashed under Section 482 CrPC (Section 528 BNSS) in view of the amicable settlement between the parties.

¶37

Court's answer

In view of the amicable settlement between the parties and since the in-laws had approached the Court seeking quashing, no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping the petition pending; refusal to exercise discretion in the present circumstances may amount to an abuse of the process of law.

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Ratio / Principle

Recording the settlement, the petition stands allowed and the proceedings in Crime No.2/2025 registered by Shivamogga Women Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 85, 352, 115(2), 351(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, pending on the file of the JMFC, II Court, Shivamogga District, are quashed.

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Key takeaways

The quashing operates only insofar as the petitioners (accused Nos.2 to 7) are concerned.ratio¶43

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Petition (CRL.P No. 3300 of 2025) under S.482 CrPC read with S.528 BNSS filed by accused Nos.2 to 7 — the parents-in-law and relatives of the complainant — seeking quashing of the FIR in Crime No.2/2025 of Shivamogga Women Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 85, 352, 115(2), 351(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, pending before JMFC 2nd Court, Shimogga District. HELD: An application disclosed that the dispute between the parties stood amicably settled in M.C.No.6/2022; respondent No.2/complainant, present in Court, acknowledged the settlement and stated she had rejoined the marital home and was leading a cordial married life with her husband. In view of the settlement, the Court held that no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping the petition pending and that refusal to exercise discretion might amount to an abuse of the process of law. Recording the settlement, the petition was allowed and the proceedings in Crime No.2/2025 were quashed insofar as the petitioners were concerned. (Sachin Shankar Magadum, J.; decision dated 14 August 2025.)

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NC: 2025:KHC:31647 CRL.P No. 3300 of 2025

¶2

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

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DATED THIS THE 14^TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3300 OF 2025

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BETWEEN:

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LAKSHMI RANAGAIAH P

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S/O LATE PUTTARANGAIAH, AGED ABOUT 73 YEARS, R/AT LAKKENA HALLI, NAGAVALLI POST, NAGAVALLI TUMKUR, TUMKURU - 572 118.

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KEMPA NARASAMMA W/O LAKSHMI RANGAIAH, AGED ABOUT 71 YEARS, R/AT LAKKENA HALLI, NAGAVALLI POST, HEBBUR, TUMKURU - 572 118.

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Digitally signed by AL BHAGYA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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ASHWINI N D/O NARASIMHAMURTHY K., AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS, R/AT ADAGURU AT POST GUBBI, GUBBI, TUMKUR, UMAKURU - 572 216

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CHANDANA N

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W/O SHASHIKUMAR N., AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, R/AT NO.779,^ST B MAIN ROAD, BEHIND VYALIKAVAL POLICE STATION, VYALIKAVAL, BENGALURU - 560 003.

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C H GANGADHAR 5/O HANUMANTHAIAH, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS,

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NC: 2025:KHC:31647 CRL.P No. 3300 of 2025

¶18

¶19

HC-KAR

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R/AT CHIKKABELAVANGALA, DODDABLAPURA TALUK, DODDABELAVANGALA, BENGALURU RURAL, BENGALURU - 561 204.

¶21

ULLAS G S/O C H GANGADHAR, AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS, R/AT 5^TH CROSS, NEAR RAJU PROVISION STORE, SHANTHINAGAR, TUMKUR, TUMKUR - 572 102.

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…PETITIONERS

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(BY SRI. K. B. K. SWAMY, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SHIVAMOGGA WOMEN POLICE STATION, SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT. THROUGH THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001.

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SHRUTHI P A W/O RANGARAJU, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, R/AT 6^TH CROSS, FATHIMA GORI, HOSAMANE, NEAR MALE MAHADESHWARA TEMPLE, SHIVAMOGGA - 577 201.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. M. R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. NARAYAN MAYYAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2)

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THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.P.C (U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR IN CR.NO.2/2025 REGISTERED BY SHIVAMOGGA WOMEN P.S., AGAINST THE PETITIONER, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 85, 352, 115(2), 351(2), 3(5) OF BNS, 2023, U/S 4 OF D.P ACT, 1961, PENDING ON THE FILE OF HON'BLE JMFC 2^nd COURT, SHIMOGGA DISTRICT.

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NC: 2025:KHC:31647 CRL.P No. 3300 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM

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ORAL ORDER

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This petition is filed by accused Nos.2 to 7 seeking

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quashing of the proceedings pending in Crime No.2/2025 by the Shivamogga Women Police Station against the petitioners for the offences punishable under Sections 85, 352, 115(2), 351(2), 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 pending on the file of JMFC 2^nd Court, Shimogga District.

¶38

Today, an application has been filed stating that the dispute between the parties has been amicably settled in M.C.No.6/2022. Respondent No.2/complainant, who is present before this Court, acknowledges the settlement recorded therein. She further submits that she has rejoined the marital home and is presently residing with her husband, leading a cordial married life.

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4 - NC: 2025:KHC:31647 CRL.P No. 3300 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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In view of the amicable settlement and the fact

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that the in-laws have approached this Court seeking quashing of the proceedings, this Court is of the considered opinion that no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping the petition pending. On the contrary, refusal to exercise discretion in the present circumstances may amount to an abuse of the process of law.

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Accordingly, recording the settlement, the petition stands allowed. The proceedings in Crime No.2/2025 registered by Shivamogga Women Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 85, 352, 115(2), 351(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, pending on the file of the JMFC, II Court, Shivamogga District, are hereby quashed insofar as the petitioners are concerned.

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SD/(SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE

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ALB, List No.: 2 Sl No.: 102

Lakshmi Ranagaiah P v. the State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Lakshmi Ranagaiah P v. the State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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