APHC010023722025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] MONDAY, THE NINTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 488/2025 Between: Saguturu Hema Chandan and Others ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED(S) AND The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT(S) Counsel for the Petitioner/accused(S): 1. SUDHESHNA YAKKALA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant(S): 1. BAGGI VENKATA PAVAN KUMAR 2. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR The Court made the following: ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for brevity ‘the Cr.P.C.,’)/Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’) seeking to quash the proceedings against the Petitioners/Accused Nos.1 and 2 in C.C.No.1783 of 2022 on the file of the learned I Additional Junior Civil Judge, Kakinada, East Godavari District registered for the alleged offences 2 punishable under Sections 498-A, 420 and 506 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for brevity ‘the I.P.C’) and Section 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (for brevity DP Act’). 2. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioners, the learned Legal Aid Counsel for Respondent No.2, and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 3. It is not in dispute that the marriage between Petitioner No.1 and Respondent No.2 was dissolved by an order and decree dated 04.10.2024 in F.C.O.P. No.268 of 2024 by the Judge, Family Court-cum-VI Additional District and Sessions Judge, Nellore. 4. The Hon’ble Apex Court, in Navneesh Aggarwal v. State of Haryana1, held that criminal proceedings arising out of matrimonial disputes can be quashed when the parties have settled their differences, as the continuation of such prosecution would not serve any legitimate purpose. As mentioned supra, in the instant case, the competent Court dissolved the marriage between Petitioner No.1 and Respondent No.2 by granting a decree of divorce on the ground of mutual consent. In the affidavits filed by the parties, they arrived at certain terms of settlement, based on which the learned Family Court granted the decree of divorce. Both parties are under an obligation to honour the terms of the said settlement. No useful purpose would be served if the proceedings on the file of the learned Trial Court are continued against the Petitioners. 1 2025 Supreme(SC) 1186 3 5. Petitioner No.2 is the sister of Petitioner No.1 and the sister-in-law of Respondent No.2. Petitioner No.2 is already married and residing separately. Even on a bare perusal of the averments made by Respondent No.2 in her complaint, the allegations are not specific and appear to be sweeping in nature. No particular instances with specific details have been stated, except making bald allegations. 6. Considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case, the Criminal Petition is allowed, and the proceedings in C.C. No.1783 of 2022 on the file of the learned I Additional Junior Civil Judge, Kakinada, East Godavari District, are hereby quashed. As a sequel, Miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, shall stand closed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 09.03.2026 KMS 4 136 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION No.488 of 2025 Date: 09.03.2026 KMS