- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7479 CRL.P No. 967 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 967 OF 2026 BETWEEN: MR.GYAN PRAKASH, S/O PANKAJ KUMAR SINGH, AGED ABIOUT 33 YEARS, R/AT NO.002, AISHWARYA ARCADE, GULMOHAR ENCLAVE, MARATHA HALLI, BENGALURU – 560 037. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. DAMODAR N.N., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY MARATHAHALLI POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU – 560 001. 2. SMT. RUCHI SINGH, D/O SRI BIRENDRA KUMAR SINGH AND EX-W/O MR.GYAN PRAKASH, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.D-205, VAISHNO SIGNATURE, 1ST MAIN, ANUP LAYOUT, HOODI, Digitally signed by SANJEEVINI J KARISHETTY Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7479 CRL.P No. 967 of 2026 BENGALURU – 560 105. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B.N.JAGADEESHA, ADDL.SPP FOR R-1; SRI. B.K.ROHITH GOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR R-2) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN C.C.NO.54879/2022 PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HON’BLE 29TH ACMM, MAYO HALL, BENGALURU, INITIATED AGAINST THE PETITIONER, HIS FATHER AND HIS SISTER, ARRAIGNED AS ACCUSED NO.1 TO 3 RESPECTIVELY, FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S. 498(A), 323, 354, 504, 506 AND 34 OF IPC AND R/W SEC.3 AND 4 OF D.P. ACT, PURSUANT TO THE LAWFUL SETTLEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE PETITIONER AND RESPONDENT NO.2. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER The petitioner is before this Court calling in question proceedings in C.C.No.54879/2022 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 498A, 323, 354, 504, 506 and 34 of - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7479 CRL.P No. 967 of 2026 the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. 2. Heard Sri. Damodar N.N., learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Sri. B.N. Jagadeesha, learned Addl. SPP appearing for respondent No.1, Sri. B.K. Rohith Gowda, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2 and have perused the material on record. 3. During the pendency of the proceedings, the parties to the lis have settled the dispute among themselves and have filed a compounding application along with the joint affidavit. The joint affidavit reads as follows: “JOINT AFFIDAVIT I, GYAN PRAKASH, S/o Pankaj Kumar, Aged about 33 years, R/at No.002, Aishwarya Arcade, Gulmohar Enclave, Maratha Halli, Bengaluru-560037, the Petitioner herein, do hereby state on oath as follows: I, Smt. RUCHI SINGH, D/o Sri. Birendra Kumar Singh, Aged about 32 years, Residing at No.D-205, Vaishno Signature, 1st Main, Anup Layout, Hoodi, Bengaluru-560 105, the Respondent No.2 herein, do hereby state on oath as follows: 1. We state that the above Criminal Petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking quashing of the proceedings in C.C. No. 54879/2022, pending on the file of the Hon'ble XXIX Additional Chief Metropolitan - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7479 CRL.P No. 967 of 2026 Magistrate, Bengaluru, arising out of a private complaint lodged by Respondent No.2 against the Petitioner and his family members for the offences punishable under Sections 498A, 323, 354, 504, 506 read with Section 34 of IPC and Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. 2. We state that our marriage was solemnised on 15.12.2018 in accordance with Hindu rites and customs. Due to irreconcilable differences and incompatibility of temperaments, we have been living separately since 14.09.2021, and despite best efforts, there was no possibility of reunion. 3. We state that during the pendency of the aforesaid criminal proceedings and other connected litigations between us, we were referred to mediation under Section 89 CPC, wherein we have voluntarily and amicably resolved all our disputes by entering into a Memorandum of Settlement dated 27.10.2025 in M.C. No. 3333/2022 on the file of the Hon'ble V Addl. Principal Judge, Family Court, Bengaluru. 4. We state that under the terms of the said settlement, the Petitioner has agreed to pay, and Respondent No.2 has agreed to receive, a total sum of ₹30,00,000/- (Rupees Thirty Lakhs Only) towards full and final settlement of all claims, past, present, and future. Out of the said amount, a sum of ₹15,00,000/- has already been paid and received, and the balance amount of ₹15,00,000/- is agreed to be paid at the time of quashing of the present criminal proceedings. 5. We further state that in pursuance of the settlement, we have mutually exchanged all articles, valuables, and belongings, and we have agreed not to make any further claims against each other in any manner whatsoever. We have also agreed to withdraw and/or close all litigations initiated against each other. 6. We state that pursuant to the settlement, our marriage has been dissolved by a Judgment and - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7479 CRL.P No. 967 of 2026 Decree of Divorce dated 06.11.2025 passed in M.C. No. 3333/2022 by the Hon'ble Family Court, Bengaluru. 7. We state that in furtherance of the settlement, the proceedings in Crl. Misc. No. 123/2022 and Crl. Misc. No. 99/2024, both pending before the Hon'ble I MMTC, Bengaluru, have already been closed by withdrawal. 8. We jointly state that the continuation of proceedings in C.C. No. 54879/2022 would serve no useful purpose and would only result in unnecessary hardship and abuse of the process of law, especially when the disputes are purely matrimonial and personal in nature and do not affect society at large. 9. We state that the settlement has been arrived at voluntarily, without any force, fraud, coercion, or undue influence, and with a clear understanding of its consequences. 10. I, the Respondent No.2 herein categorically states that I have no objection whatsoever for quashing the entire proceedings in C.C. No. 54879/2022 against the Petitioner and other accused persons in terms of the settlement. WHEREFORE, the Petitioner and the Respondent No.2, most humbly pray that this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to allow this application and permit the parties to compound the alleged offences, and consequently, quash the entire proceedings initiated against the Petitioner in C.C. No. 54879/2022 (ANNEXURE-A) for the offences punishable under Section 498(A), 323,354,504, 506 and 34 of IPC and R/w section 3 & 4 of D.P. Act, pending on the file of the Hon'ble 29th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru in the interest of justice.” - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7479 CRL.P No. 967 of 2026 In terms of Settlement, the counsel for the petitioner-accused No.1 hands over a demand draft of Rs.15,00,000/- to respondent No.2. 4. In the light of the application for compounding being filed along with the joint affidavit and offences not being against the State, I deem it appropriate to accept the compounding application and terminate the proceedings against the petitioner in the subject petition. 5. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER (i) Criminal Petition is disposed. (ii) Proceedings in C.C.No.54879/2022 pending before the 29th ACMM, Mayo Hall, Bengaluru, stand quashed qua the petitioner. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE CBC List No.: 1 Sl No.: 81