- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:30656 CRL.P No. 11236 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 5TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 11236 OF 2025 BETWEEN: 1. SURJEET KUMAR S/O. LAKSHMAN RAM AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS R/AT FLAT NO. 1004-E SHRUTI APARTMENT VIMAL SHYAM VIHAR ENCLAVE KATHAL MORE ROAD, PUNDAG PO: PUNDAG, RANCHI JHARKHAND - 834004. 2. SANGEETHA KUMARI W/O. ASHOK KUMAR AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS R/AT 0, VILLAGE RASULPUR POST BANJARI, RASULPUR ROHTAS, BIHAR-821303. 3. ASHOK KUMAR S/O SEETA RAM PRASAD AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS R/AT 113, RASULAPUR RASULAPUR TOWN/VILL - RASULAPUR TELAKAP ANCHAL ROHTAS, DIST- ROHTAS BIHAR-821303. 4. BUCHAN DEVI W/O. LAXMAN RAM AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS R/AT Q.NO. 1494, STREET NO.06 Digitally signed by NAGARAJA B M Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:30656 CRL.P No. 11236 of 2025 SECTOR 8/A P.O. 9, BOKARO STEEL CITY SECTOR IX, BOKARO JHARKHAND-827009. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SHIVAKUMAR SANGANAGOUDA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA STATE BY NORTH WOMEN POLICE STATION SANJAYNAGARA, BENGALURU-560094. REPRESENTED BY ITS S.P.P KARNATAKA HIGH COURT BUILDINGS HIGH COURT, BENGALURU-560001. 2. SMT. SWASTIKA ARYA D/O. VINOD KUMAR VERMA AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS R/AT NO.2135, ASSETZ HERE NOW 84/2 OFF, THANISANDRA MAIN ROAD BEHIND EMBASSY MANYATA BUSSINESS PARK, RACHENAHALLI KOTHANUR, BENGALURU-560077. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. M.R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. M.N. NINGARAJU, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PETITIONERS NO.1 TO 4/ACCUSED NO.1 TO 4 IN CRIME NO.0092/2024 REGISTERED ON 21.10.2024 BY NORTH WOMEN POLICE, BENGALURU AND SAME IS NOW CONVERTED AS CC NO.9228/2025 PENDING ON THE FILE OF LEARNED 32ND ADDL.CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE, NRUPATUNGA ROAD, (NOW 32ND ACJM) BENGALURU FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/S 498A, 323, 504, 506, 34 OF IPC R/W SECTION 3 AND 4 OF D.P ACT, 1961 AGAINST THE PETITIONERS. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:30656 CRL.P No. 11236 of 2025 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER This petition is filed by the husband and his family members seeking quashing of the proceedings in C.C.No.9228/2025 for the offence punishable under Section 498(A), 323, 504, 506, 34 of IPC read with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. 2. Today, a joint application for compounding has been filed under Section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, read with Section 359 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The said application is supported by the parties and is placed on record. 3. Respondent No.2/wife is present before this Court and has been duly identified by her learned counsel. Upon a specific query from the Court, she has categorically acknowledged that the matrimonial dispute between her - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:30656 CRL.P No. 11236 of 2025 and petitioner No.1, as well as the issues involving petitioner Nos.2 and 3 (her in-laws), has been amicably resolved in terms of a settlement recorded in M.C.No.4398/2025 before the competent Family Court. 4. Respondent No.2 further states that, in view of the settlement, she does not wish to prosecute the criminal proceedings any further and has voluntarily tendered her no objection for quashing the case. The statement made by respondent No.2 is found to be voluntary, bona fide, and free from coercion or undue influence. 5. Considering that the dispute emanates from a matrimonial relationship and has been resolved amicably, and keeping in mind that the complainant herself does not wish to pursue the matter, this Court finds it appropriate to permit the parties to compound the offences. Continuation of the criminal proceedings, in such circumstances, would only result in unnecessary hardship - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:30656 CRL.P No. 11236 of 2025 to the parties and would not serve the ends of justice. Accordingly, the application filed in I.A.No.1/2025 under Section 320 Cr.P.C. read with Section 359 BNSS, 2023, is allowed. 6. Consequently, the petition is allowed and the proceedings in Crime No.0092/2024 registered by the North Women Police Station, Bengaluru, now pending as C.C.No.9228/2025 before the learned 32nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 498-A, 323, 504, 506, 34 of IPC read with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, insofar as they relate to the petitioners, are hereby quashed. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE CA List No.: 3 Sl No.: 8