- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37172 CRL.P No. 8355 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 8355 OF 2025 BETWEEN: 1. MR. VINOD VENUGOPAL AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, SON OF MR. B.S. VENUGOPAL, PRESENTLY RESIDING AT B-2 FLAT NO. 401, GANGA PANAMA, KRANTI NAGAR, OPPOSITE NANDGUDE HOUSE, PIMPLE NILAKH, PUNE - 411 027. 2. MRS. JAYASHREE VENUGOPAL AGED ABOUT 69 YEARS, WIFE OF MR. B S VENUGOPAL, PRESENTLY RESIDING AT SREE NILAYAM, THUKALASSERY THIRUVALLA, PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA - 689 101. 3. MR. B S VENUGOPAL AGED ABOUT 77 YEARS, SON OF LATE MR G B NAIR, PRESENTLY RESIDING AT SREE NILAYAM, THUKALASSERY, THIRUVALLA, PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA - 689 101. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. AZHAR MEER, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37172 CRL.P No. 8355 of 2025 AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY CHENNAMANAKERE ACHUKATTU POLICE STATION, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. MRS. GEETHANJALI K B W/O VINOD VENUGOPAL, PRESENTLY RESIDING AT NO. 137, 2ND CROSS, BALAJI LAYOUT, MALLATHALLI MAIN ROAD, OPP NARAYANA E TECHNO SCHOOL, BANGALORE - 560 056. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. M.R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. GANESH G.G, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.P.C (U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR BEARING CR.NO.45/2020 AND CHARGE SHEET BEARING CC.NO.3064/2021, ON THE FILE OF THE HONBLE XXXVII ACMM, BANGALORE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37172 CRL.P No. 8355 of 2025 ORAL ORDER This petition is filed by the husband and his in-laws seeking quashing of the proceedings in C.C. No.3064/2021 for the offences punishable under Sections 506 and 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, read with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. 2. Today, petitioner No.1/husband and respondent No.2/complainant are present before this Court. Upon being queried, respondent No.2 acknowledges the memorandum of settlement entered into between the parties in M.C. No.78/2023 before the Mediation Centre. She further confirms that the marriage between herself and petitioner No.1 has been dissolved in terms of the settlement and that petitioner No.1 has paid a sum of 20,00,000/- towards permanent alimony, in full and final settlement of all claims. Respondent No.2 has categorically stated that, in view of the dissolution of marriage and the terms of settlement, she has no objection to the quashing of the criminal proceedings pending in C.C. No.3064/2021. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37172 CRL.P No. 8355 of 2025 3. It is also recorded that the pen drive containing the video recording of the marriage has been handed over to respondent No.2/wife today in open court. In light of the amicable settlement, and notwithstanding that the offence under Section 498-A IPC is non-compoundable, this Court, having regard to the dissolution of marriage, the payment of permanent alimony, and the presence of the complainant giving her consent, is of the opinion that the matter deserves to be given a quietus in order to prevent abuse of the process of law and to secure the ends of justice. The inherent jurisdiction of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is therefore attracted. ORDER (i) The criminal petition is hereby allowed. (ii) The proceedings in C.C. No.3064/2021 for the offences punishable under Sections 506 and 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, read with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, pending on the file of the XXXVII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, insofar as - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:37172 CRL.P No. 8355 of 2025 they relate to petitioners/accused Nos.1 to 3, are hereby quashed. (iii) All pending interlocutory applications, if any, stand disposed of in terms of this order. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE HDK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 17 CT: BHK