New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a man and his family members accused of subjecting a woman to cruelty and dowry harassment after the parties amicably settled their matrimonial dispute and obtained a divorce under Muslim personal law.
A single-judge Bench of Justice Ravinder Dudeja allowed a petition filed by Mohd Kasim and others, seeking quashing of an FIR registered at Jamia Nagar police station under Sections 498A, 406 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The court observed that continuing the criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose as the dispute was primarily private in nature and the parties had settled the matter.
Matrimonial Dispute Led to Dowry Harassment Case
The case arose from the marriage between the complainant and petitioner No. 1, which was solemnised on March 11, 2023, according to Muslim rites and customs.
No child was born from the marriage, and the couple began living separately from September 28, 2023, following allegations of physical and mental harassment over dowry demands.
The FIR was registered on October 1, 2024. A chargesheet was subsequently filed under Sections 498A, 506, 406, 509, 354C and 34 IPC, along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Couple Settles Dispute Through Mediation
During the proceedings, the parties were referred to mediation and amicably resolved their dispute at the Mediation Centre, Saket Courts, Delhi.
The settlement was recorded in writing on February 7, 2026. As part of the settlement, petitioner No. 1 and the complainant obtained a divorce under Muslim personal law through Khula, under an agreement entered into on March 7, 2026.
The petitioner also paid the entire agreed settlement amount of Rs 1.50 lakh to the complainant.
The parties appeared before the High Court, where the complainant confirmed that the settlement had been reached voluntarily and without force, fear or coercion. She also confirmed receiving the entire settlement amount and articles and stated that she had no objection to quashing of the FIR against the petitioners.
High Court Quashes FIR
Justice Dudeja observed that in view of the settlement, continuing the criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose, particularly as the dispute did not involve any public interest and was primarily private in nature.
Exercising its inherent powers under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the High Court held that quashing the proceedings was appropriate to secure the ends of justice.
The court accordingly quashed FIR No. 362/2024 registered at Jamia Nagar police station under Sections 498A, 406 and 34 IPC, along with all consequential proceedings arising from it, and allowed the petition.