Raghu Vs the State of Karnataka — Dowry and Cruelty | Karnataka HC (2026)

Raghu Vs the State of Karnataka — Dowry and Cruelty | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Permission to compound the offences under Section 498A read with Section 34 of IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961; setting aside of the judgment/order of conviction and sentence in CC No.323/2013 (dated 16.11.2017) and the judgment/order in Crl.A.No.81/2017 (dated 04.06.2018); acquittal of the petitioners; cancellation of bail bonds, if any; refund of fine, if any, deposited.

Issue for consideration

Whether the offences punishable under Section 498A read with Section 34 of IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, for which the petitioners have been convicted and sentenced by both the Courts below, can be compounded pursuant to the compromise petition filed under Section 320 read with Section 482 of Cr.P.C. +1 more

Court's answer

Parties are permitted to compound the offences punishable under Section 498A read with Section 34 of IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, for which the petitioners have been convicted and sentenced by both the Courts.

Ratio / Principle

Having regard to the relationship between the parties and their decision to give a quietus to the inter se dispute and live peacefully together, the prayer to permit compounding of the offences for which the petitioners were convicted and sentenced by both the Courts needed to be granted, and the revision petition was required to be disposed of in terms of the settlement arrived at between the parties.

Key takeaways

The Criminal Revision Petition is allowed.ratio¶46
The impugned judgment and order of conviction and sentence passed in CC No.323/2013 by the Court of I Addl. JMFC, Chitradurga dated 16.11.2017, and the judgment and order passed in Crl.A.No.81/2017 by the Court of I Addl. District and Sessions Judge, Chitradurga dated 04.06.2018, are set aside.ratio¶46
Petitioners are acquitted of the offences punishable under Section 498A read with Section 34 of IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and their bail bonds, if any, stand cancelled.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Revision Petition under Sections 397 and 401 Cr.P.C. — Accused Nos.1 to 3 convicted and sentenced for offences punishable under Section 498A read with Section 34 IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 by the I Addl. JMFC, Chitradurga in CC No.323/2013 (order dated 16.11.2017), affirmed in appeal in Crl.A.No.81/2017 by the I Addl. District and Sessions Judge, Chitradurga (judgment dated 04.06.2018) — During pendency of revision, accused No.1 and respondent No.2 (de-facto complainant), who are husband and wife, amicably settled their inter se dispute and resumed marital life, and filed a compromise petition under Section 320 read with Section 482 Cr.P.C., supported by affidavits of accused Nos.1 to 3 and respondent No.2, with her no objection — Considering the marital relationship and the parties' decision to live peacefully together, the Court permitted the parties to compound the offences, allowed the revision petition, set aside both the conviction orders, acquitted the petitioners, cancelled their bail bonds, if any, and directed refund of fine, if any, deposited.