- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49229 CRL.P No. 15720 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 4678 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 26TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 15720 OF 2025 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)) C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4678 OF 2024 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)) IN CRL.P No. 15720/2025 BETWEEN: S.M.CHRISTOPHER JERALD @ CHRISTOPER JERALD S/O SAGAYUARAJ MATHEWS AGE ABOUT 35 YEARS R/A NO 12 MARIA MANSION SRI KRISHANA LAYOUT BEHIND KERAL LSAMAJAM BYAPPANAHALLI, BIDARAHALLI HOBLI BENGALURU - 560 049. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SOMASHEKARA K.M, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY AVALAHALLI POLICE STATION REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. AROGYA VARY @ AROGYA MARY J W/O CHRISTOPHER JERALD Digitally signed by SUMA Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49229 CRL.P No. 15720 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 4678 of 2024 AGE ABOUT 26 YEARS R/A NO. 12, MARIYA MANSION SRI KRISHNA AND VINAYAKA LAYOUT BAYAPPANAHALLI, BIDARAHALLI POST BENGALURU DISTRICT - 560 049 PRESENTLYL RESIDING AT NO. 26 CHURCH STREET, T.C. PALYA NEAR BRUNDAVAN LAYOUT KR PURAM, BENGALURU - 560 036 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RAHUL RAI K, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. B.L. NANDA KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 OF CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 06.12.2023 PASSED BY THE LEARNED ADDL. CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, BENGALURU, IN CC NO.14146 OF 2023, FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 323, 498A, 504, 506 READ WITH 34 OF IPC AND SECTIONS 3 & 4 OF DP ACT AND CONSEQUENTIALLY, QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN CC NO.14146 OF 2023 ARISING OUT OF CRIME NO.273 OF 2023) ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL. CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, BENGALURU AGAINST THE PETITIONER/ACCUSED NO.1. IN CRL.P NO. 4678/2024 BETWEEN: SAGAYARAJ MATHEWS @ SAGYARAJ MATHEWS S/O PHILIPS S.G. AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS 2. S. NIRMALA @ SAGAYA NIRMALA W/O SAGAYARAJ MATHEWS AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS PETITIONER NOS. 1 AND 2 ARE R/AT NO 12, MARIYA MANSHION SRI KRISHNA AND VINAYAKA LAYOUT - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49229 CRL.P No. 15720 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 4678 of 2024 BAYAPPANAHALLI, BIDARAHALLI POST BENGALURU DISTRICT - 560 049. 3. S.M. CLAUDIA PRANEETA @ CLAUDIA PRANITHA W/O FIZRALD MELWIN D/O P SAGARAJ MATHEWS AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS R/AT NO 10/2, NO. 101 GROUND FLOOR, 2ND A CROSS SRI KRISHNA LAYOUT, BAYAPPANAHALLI, BIDARAHALLI POST, BENGALURU DISTRICT - 560 049. ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SOMASHEKARA K.M, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY AVALAHALLI POLICE STATION REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. AROGYA MARY W/O CHRISTOPHER JERAID AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS, R/AT NO 12, MARIYA MANSHION SRI KRISHNA AND VINAYAKA LAYOUT BAYAPPANAHALLI, BIDARAHALLI POST BENGALURU DISTRICT - 560 049 ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RAHUL RAI K, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. B.L. NANDA KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 06.12.2023 PASSED BY THE ADDL.C.J.M., BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, BENGALURU IN C.C.NO.14146/2023 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 323, 498A, 504, 506 R/W 34 OF IPC AND SEC. 3 AND 4 OF D.P. ACT AND CONSEQUENTIALLY, QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN C.C.NO.14146/2023 - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49229 CRL.P No. 15720 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 4678 of 2024 (ARISING OUT OF CR.NO.273/2023) ON THE FILE OF ADDL.C.J.M., BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, BENGALURU AS FAR AS THE PETITIONERS/ACCUSED NO.2 TO 4 ARE CONCERNED. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ ORAL ORDER Charge sheet is filed against the petitioners for the offence p/u/s 323, 498A, 504, 506 r/w 34 of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. 2. Petitioners are seeking to quash the entire proceedings in C.C.No.14146/2023, pending on the file of the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru. 3. The dispute is on account of a matrimonial discord, consequent to which the second respondent / defacto complainant set the law in motion, resulting in registration of FIR in Crime No.273/2023 at Avalahalli - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49229 CRL.P No. 15720 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 4678 of 2024 Police Station against the petitioners. On completion of investigation, charge sheet was field. 4. Crl.P.No.15720/2025 is filed by accused No.1 and Crl.P.No.4678/2024 is field by accused Nos. 2 to 4. 5. It is submitted by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and respondent No.2 that the matter has been settled, pursuant to the application filed before the Court of Second Additional Senior Civil Judge, Bengaluru Rural at Bengaluru, in M.C. No.423/2024 and the said petition has been closed by granting a decree of divorce. 6. Copy of the application field under Order XXIII Rule 3 r/w Section 151 of CPC and the order passed on the said compromise petition are enclosed. 7. In the compromise petition filed in M.C. No.423/2024, it is stated that the respondent No.2 herein has agreed to withdraw the criminal case registered against the petitioners herein, now pending in C.C. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49229 CRL.P No. 15720 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 4678 of 2024 No.14146/2023 on the file of the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru. 8. Respondent No.2 is present before the Court. She submits that in view of the settlement, she is not interested to pursue the matter any further and she has no objection to quash the proceedings. 9. The matter arises out of a matrimonial dispute, wherein parties have entered into a settlement and filed a joint application in M.C. No.423/2024 and decree has been passed dissolving their marriage. In that view of the matter, no useful purpose will be served in continuing the criminal proceedings now pending against the petitioners. In the interest of justice, it is just and proper to quash the proceedings. Accordingly the following order. ORDER Petitions are allowed. The entire proceedings pending against the petitioners in C.C. No.*14146/2023, on the file of the Court * Corrected vide Chamber Order dated 17.1.2026. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49229 CRL.P No. 15720 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 4678 of 2024 of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru Rural District, Bengaluru are quashed. Pending IA is disposed of. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE BSV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 97