Sri. Nagaraj K Vs State of Karnataka — Dowry and Cruelty | Karnataka HC (2026)

Sri. Nagaraj K Vs State of Karnataka — Dowry and Cruelty | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Quashing of the charge sheet and criminal proceedings against the petitioners in C.C.No.33710/2023 arising out of Crime No.348/2023 pending before the XLI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru.

Issue for consideration

Whether the criminal proceedings against the petitioners in C.C.No.33710/2023 (arising out of Crime No.348/2023) should be quashed in view of the settlement recorded in the joint memo filed by the petitioners and Respondent No.2.

Ratio / Principle

In view of the settlement recorded in the joint memo, and relying on the Supreme Court's judgment in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab, (2012) 10 SCC 303, the Court permitted the petitioners to settle the dispute.

Key takeaways

The writ petition is allowed.ratio¶52
The criminal proceedings against the petitioners in C.C.No.33710/2023 pending before the XLI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, arising out of Crime No.348/2023 for the offences under Sections 498A, 323, 504, 506, 34 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 are quashed.ratio¶53

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Proceedings - Quashing on settlement - Joint memo filed by Petitioners 1 to 4 and Respondent No.2 recording settlement of matrimonial dispute: Respondent No.2's Domestic Violence Act case (Criminal Misc. 171/2025, III MMTC, Bangalore) disposed of in Lok-adalath on 14-3-2026; Petitioners paid Rs.20,00,000/- by Bankers cheque No.698107 dated 13-3-2026 (State Bank of India, Vidyaranyapura branch) to Respondent No.2's husband Sri. Vishwanath towards his share in the properties of Petitioners 1 and 2 as full and final settlement; Respondent No.2 raised no objection to quashing and parties agreed to refrain from future litigation against each other. Relying on Gian Singh v. State of Punjab, (2012) 10 SCC 303, the Court permitted the settlement, allowed the writ petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution read with Section 482 CrPC, and quashed the proceedings in C.C.No.33710/2023 arising out of Crime No.348/2023 (Vidyaranyapura Police Station) under Sections 498A, 323, 504, 506, 34 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, insofar as the petitioners were concerned.

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HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 5942 OF 2024 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

SRI. NAGARAJ K S/O KRISHNAPPA, AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS, R/AT NO. 930/1, 4^TH CROSS, 7^TH MAIN, 5^TH BLOCK, BEL LAYOUT, VIDYARANYAPURA, BANGALORE-560097.

SMT. T. VIJAYALAKSHMI W/O SRI. NAGARAJ K AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, R/AT NO.930/1, 4^TH CROSS, 7^TH MAIN, 5^TH BLOCK, BEL LAYOUT, VIDYARANYAPURA, BANGALORE-560097.

Digitally signed by SUMA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

HEMALATHA N. D/O NAGARAJ K AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/AT NO.930/1, 4^TH CROSS, 7^TH MAIN, 5^TH BLOCK, BEL LAYOUT, VIDYARANYAPURA, BANGALORE-560097.

SMT. KAVYA N D/O SRI NAGARAJ K W/O GANESH PRASAD HEGDE AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, R/AT NO.930/1, 4^TH CROSS, 7^TH MAIN, 5^TH BLOCK, BEL LAYOUT, VIDYARANYAPURA, BANGALORE-560097.

PETITIONER NO.4 PRESENTLY R/AT NO.110 SRI BHAVANI SHANKARA NILAYA, ANNAPOORNESHWARI LAYOUT, 4^TH CROSS, AMBHABHAVANI ROAD, ADITHYA NAGARA,

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HC-KAR

OPPOSITE SAMBHRAM P U COLLEGE, VIDYARANAPURA, BANGALORE-560097.

…PETITIONERS

(BY SMT. SUBHA S., ADVOCATE)

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA BY VIDYARANYAPURA POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, YELAHANKA SUB DIVISION, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU-560001.

SMT. REKHA W/O VISHWANATH, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, R/AT NO.930/1, 4^TH CROSS, 7^TH MAIN, 5^TH BLOCK, BEL LAYOUT, VIDYARANYAPURA, BANGALORE-560097.

PRESENTLY R/AT HOUSE NO.79, GROUND FLOOR, THINDLU VILLAGE, VIDYARANYAPURA POST, BANGALORE-560097.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. M.R.PATIL, HIGH COURT GOVERNMENT PLEADER FOR RESPONDENT NO.1;

SRI. SRINATHA B.V., ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT NO.2)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA READ WITH SECTION 482 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 PRAYING TO QUASH THE CHARGE SHEET IN CRIME NO.348/2023 IN C.C.NO.33710/2023 ON THE FILE OF XLI ADDL. CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE, BANGALORE FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE U/S 498A, 323, 504, 34 OF IPC AND SECTIONS 3 AND 4 OF DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT, 1961 REGISTERED BY VIDYARANYAPURA POLICE STATION IN SO FAR AS PETITIONERS ARE CONCERNED AS PER ANNEXURE-C.

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HC-KAR

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ

ORAL ORDER

The petitioners have filed this petition challenging the criminal proceedings initiated against them in C.C.no.33710/2023 pending on the file of the XLI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru arising out of Crime No.348/2023 for the offences punishable under Sections 498A, 323, 504, 506, 34 of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

When this petition was listed for 'Preliminary Hearing - B Group', the parties have filed a joint memo, which reads as follows:

"JOINT MEMO

The Petitioners 1 to 4 and Respondent No.2 most humbly submit as follows:-

That Respondent No.2 had filed a case under Domestic Violence Act against her husband Sri. Vishwanath.K and in-laws the Petitioners herein in Criminal Misc. 171/2025 before III MMTC, Bangalore.

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NC: 2026:KHC:15640 WP No. 5942 of 2024

HC-KAR

That the parties arrived at a settlement and the C.Misc 171/2025 came to be disposed of in terms of Joint Memo vide settlement in Lok-adalath on 14-3-2026.

That as per the settlement arrived at, the Petitioners are paying an amount of Rs.20,00,000/(Twenty lakhs only) to the Respondent No.2 and her husband Sri. Vishwanath vide Bankers cheque bearing No.698107 dated 13-3-2026 drawn on State Bank of India, Vidyaranyapura branch in favor of Sri. Vishwanath.N., the husband of Respondent No.2 towards full and final settlement towards his share in the property belonging to Petitioners 1 and 2 and henceforth, neither the Respondent No.2 nor her husband shall have any manner of right, title or interest whatsoever either in the moveable or immoveable properties whether existing or to be acquired in future.

That in view of the settlement arrived at and the amount being paid, the Respondent No.2 has No-objection for the above Writ Petition being allowed and FIR and Charge sheet filed under section 4984, 323, 504, 506, 34 of IPC and sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 be quashed in Crime

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HC-KAR

NO.348/2023 in C.C.33710/23 pending before the XLI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Magistrate, Bangalore.

Parties shall not indulge in filing any application or any cases either Civil or criminal against each other. Parties shall also not interfere in the lives of each other.

WHEREFORE, the parties humbly pray this Hon'ble Court In view of the settlement arrived at between the parties be pleased to allow the above petition and quash the proceedings in Crime No.342/2023 in C.C.No.33710/2023 pending before the the XLI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bangalore in the circumstances stated herein and in the interest of justice and equity."

The joint memo is taken on record. In token of acceptance of terms of the joint memo, the parties have affixed their signatures on the order sheet of this petition.

In view of the above and in view of the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Gian Singh vs. The State of Punjab [(2012) 10 SCC 303], the petitioners are permitted to settle the dispute.

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HC-KAR

Consequently, this petition is allowed . The

criminal proceedings initiated against the petitioners in C.C.No.33710/2023 pending on the file of the XLI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru arising out of Crime No.348/2023 for the offences punishable under Sections 498A, 323, 504, 506, 34 of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 is quashed.

Sd/(R. NATARAJ)

JUDGE

PMR

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