Chethan C K v. State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC13 Aug 2025CRL.P/6854/2020

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Keywords: quashing of criminal proceedings; Section 482 Cr.P.C; Sections 504, 323, 506, 498-A IPC; Sections 3 and 4 Dowry Prohibition Act 1961; matrimonial dispute; compromise/settlement Para 'K'; divorce by mutual consent (MC No.25/2019; joint petition MC No.69/2023); wife's no-objection; offences compounded; FIR Cr.No.268/2019 Arakalgud PS; C.C.No.623/2020 JMFC Arakalgud; Karnataka High Court 2025; J.M. Khazi.

What did the court decide?

Quashing of the complaint, charge sheet and criminal proceedings in C.C.No.623/2020 (arising out of Cr.No.268/2019, Arakalgud P.S.); Registry directed to send a copy of the order to the trial Court through e-mail. ¶¶45

Chethan C K Vs 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 complaint and charge sheet in C.C.No.623/2020 against the petitioners (offences under Sections 504, 323, 506, 498-A r/w Section 34 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of DP Act, 1961) should be quashed under Section 482 Cr.P.C in view of the compromise between the parties.

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Court's answer

The criminal petition filed by petitioners/accused Nos.1 to 3 under Section 482 Cr.P.C is allowed.

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Ratio / Principle

The criminal proceedings in C.C.No.623/2020 on the file of Prl.Civil Judge (Jr.Dn.) & JMFC, Arakalgud, arising out of Cr.No.268/2019 of Arakalgud P.S., for offences punishable under Sections 504, 323, 506, 498A r/w Section 34 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, are hereby quashed.

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Key takeaways

In view of the matrimonial settlement and respondent No.2 admitting the compromise with no objection to allowing the petition and compounding the offences, the court held the petition deserved to be allowed.ratio¶¶42

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

By Oral Order dated 13.08.2025 in CRL.P No. 6854 of 2020 (J.M. Khazi, J.), the High Court of Karnataka allowed a petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C by accused Nos.1-3 (husband Chethan C K and his parents) seeking quashing of the complaint and charge sheet in C.C.No.623/2020 (Arakalgud Police, Cr.No.268/2019) pending before the Prl. Civil Judge (Jr.Dn.) & JMFC, Arakalgud, for offences punishable under Sections 504, 323, 506, 498-A r/w Section 34 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, arising from a matrimonial dispute. Pursuant to a compromise in the husband's divorce petition MC No.25/2019, the parties obtained a decree of divorce by joint petition MC No.69/2023; under Para 'K' of the settlement respondent No.2/wife undertook to cooperate in quashing the criminal case, and before this Court she admitted the compromise and raised no objection to the petition being allowed and the offences compounded. Held: petition allowed; criminal proceedings in C.C.No.623/2020 quashed; Registry directed to e-mail the order to the trial Court.

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NC: 2025:KHC:31270 CRL.P No. 6854 of 2020

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13^TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE J.M.KHAZI CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 6854 OF 2020 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS))

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BETWEEN:

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CHETHAN C K

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S/O C T KRISHNEGOWDA

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AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS,

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M/S CHETHAN TRADERS, SALAGERE ROAD, KOTE ARAKALGUDU TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT-573 102.

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C T KRISHNE GOWDA

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AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, M/S CHETHAN TRADERS, SALAGERE ROD, KOTE ARAKALGUDU TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT-573 102. (SENIOR CITIZENS BENEFIT NOT TO BE CLAIMED).

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Digitally signed by REKHA R Location: High Court of Karnataka

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SMT H V NAGARATHNA

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W/O C T KRISHNE GOWDA

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AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS,

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M/S CHETHAN TRADERS, SALAGERE ROAD, KOTE ARAKALGUDU TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT-573 102. SENIOR CITIZEN BENEFIT NOT TO BE CLAIMED

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…PETITIONERS

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(BY SRI. M J ALVA, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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STATE OF KARNATAKA

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REP BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, ARAKALAGUDU POLICE STATION,

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NC: 2025:KHC:31270 CRL.P No. 6854 of 2020

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HC-KAR

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ARAKALGUDU,

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HASSAN DISTRICT-573 102.

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SMT ARPITHA A C W/O CHETHAN C K AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS, MALLIPATTANA, ARAKALGUDU, ARKALAGUDU TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT-573 102.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SMT. N.ANITHA GIRISH, HCGP FOR R1, SRI. K.A.CHANDRASHEKARA.K.V, ADVOCATE FOR R2.)

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THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 CR.P.C PRAYING TO QUASH THE COMPLAINT AND THE CHARGE SHEET IN C.C.NO.623/2020 FILED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 POLICE ON THE FILE OF THE LEARNED PRINCIPAL CIVIL JUDGE (Jr.Dn.) AND JMFC, ARAKALGUD AGAINST THE PETITIONERS FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE P/U/S.504, 323, 506, 498-A R/W SEC.34 OF IPC AND SEC.3 AND 4 OF DP ACT, 1961 WHICH IS PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE A AND G.

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

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CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE J.M.KHAZI

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ORAL ORDER

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Both learned counsel for the petitioners and respondent No.2 as well as learned High Court

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Government Pleader are present.

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It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioners that this petition is arising out of the

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3 - NC: 2025:KHC:31270 CRL.P No. 6854 of 2020

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HC-KAR

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matrimonial dispute between the parties. Petitioner No.1/husband has filed MC No.25/2019 against respondent No.2/wife seeking decree of divorce and in that petition, they have entered into a compromise. As per the terms of the compromise, they filed joint petition in MC No.69/2023 and secured the decree of divorce. As per the settlement entered into between the parties in MC No.25/2019, as per Para No.'K', Respondent No.2/wife has undertaken to cooperate to get the criminal case quashed.

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Respondent No.2 admit the compromise and submits that she has no objection to allow the petition and compound the offences. In the light of the above facts and circumstances, the petition deserves to be allowed and accordingly, following:

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ORDER

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(i) The petition filed by petitioners/accused

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Nos.1 to 3 under Section 482 Cr.P.C is allowed.

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NC: 2025:KHC:31270 CRL.P No. 6854 of 2020

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HC-KAR

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