- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29098 CRL.P No. 9550 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 9550 OF 2025 BETWEEN: SRI. VIKRAM VENKATARAMANA HEGDE AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, S/O VENKATARAMAN HEGDE, R/AT "INCHARA" 2ND MAIN, 5TH CROSS, VIVEKANANDA NAGAR, POST CHIPGI, SIRSI, UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT, KARNATAKA - 581 402. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KRISHNAMOORTI L BHAT, ADVOCATE SRI. CHIRANJEEVI K.R., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, BASAWANAGUDI WOMENS POLICE STATION, BANGALORE CITY. 2. SMT. DEEPA V AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, W/O VIKRAM VENKATARAMAN HEGDE, R/AT NO. 3933, 1ST CROSS, VHBCS 4TH PHASE, GIRINAGARA, BSK 3RD STAGE, BANGALORE - 560 085. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ANOOP KUMAR, HCGP FOR R1 SRI. RENY SEBASTIAN, ADVOCATE FOR R2) Digitally signed by SWAPNA V Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29098 CRL.P No. 9550 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN CC.NO.17629/2023, PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HONOURABLE XXXVII ADDL. CJM COURT, BANGALORE REGISTERED AGAINST THE PETITIONER ARISING OUT OF CR.NO.372/2022 REGISTERED AT THE FIRST RESPONDENT POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S. 498-A OF IPC AND SEC.4 OF DP ACT. THIS CRL.P, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER This captioned petition is filed by the husband assailing the charge sheet filed in C.C.No.17629/2023 for the offence punishable under Section 498A of IPC and Section 4 of DP Act. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent No.1 and learned counsel for respondent No.2. Respondent No.2/wife of the petitioner appeared virtually and is identified by her counsel. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29098 CRL.P No. 9550 of 2025 3. Today, a joint memo has been filed by the petitioner/husband and the learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2/wife. Along with the joint memo, the parties have also produced a Memorandum of Settlement recorded under Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, before the Karnataka Mediation Centre. In furtherance of the said settlement, the petitioner/husband has also annexed a copy of the Deed of Release dated 27.07.2025, executed in favour of respondent No.2/wife, in compliance with the undertaking given under the terms of settlement. 4. As per the terms of the said settlement, respondent No.2/wife, who is also the complainant, has undertaken to withdraw the complaint which culminated in the registration of a criminal case and filing of a charge sheet. 5. A perusal of paragraph No.10 of the settlement clearly indicates that respondent No.2/wife, who is also - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29098 CRL.P No. 9550 of 2025 the petitioner in the matrimonial proceedings, has agreed to cooperate in seeking closure or quashing of the criminal proceedings pending in C.C.No.17629/2023 on the file of the learned XXXVII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, arising out of offences punishable under Section 498A of the IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. 6. In light of the amicable settlement arrived at between the parties, and taking into consideration that the dispute arises from a matrimonial relationship and pertains to alleged cruelty an offence which is not heinous in nature, the Court finds that no fruitful purpose would be served by continuing the criminal proceedings. Having regard to the terms of settlement and the voluntary statements made by both parties in collateral proceedings, namely M.C.No.4323/2021, this Court is of the considered opinion that the continuation of proceedings in C.C.No.17629/2023 would be an abuse of the process of - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29098 CRL.P No. 9550 of 2025 law and that quashing the same would serve the ends of substantial justice. 7. Accordingly, the joint memo along with all annexures is taken on record. ORDER i. The Criminal Petition is hereby allowed; ii. The entire proceedings in C.C.No.17629/2023, pending on the file of the learned XXXVII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, are hereby quashed. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE SPV CT:VS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 94