CRL.M.C. 7240/2026 Page 1 of 7 $~56 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010464072026 + CRL.M.C. 7240/2026 CRL.M.A. 30282/2026 PRASHANT GUPTA & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Rajan Kr. Prasad, Adv. versus THE STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Sanjeev Sabharwal, APP for the State with Mr. Varun Garg, Adv. Mr. Radheysham, Adv. for R-2 with R-2 (in person) CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA O R D E R % 28.09.2026 CRL.M.A. 30282/2026 (for exemption) 1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. 2. The application stands disposed of. CRL.M.C. 7240/2026 3. The present petition has been filed under Section 528 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 [‘BNSS’]1 for quashing of FIR No. 0352/2025 dated 12.07.2025 under Sections 85/316(2)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (‘BNS’), Police Station Govind Puri, Delhi and 1 corresponding to section 482 Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 [‘CrPC’] This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 07/10/2026 at 14:35:51 CRL.M.C. 7240/2026 Page 2 of 7 proceedings, emanating therefrom, on the ground of compromise. 4. Issue Notice. Mr. Sanjeev Sabharwal, learned APP, accepts notice on behalf of the Respondent No.1. Mr. Radheysham, learned counsel for the Respondent No.2 appears on advance service, accepts notice 5. Petitioner Nos. 1 and 3 are physically present in Court and are identified by their counsel and the Investigating Officer (‘IO’). Petitioner Nos. 2, 4 and 5, who are relatives and in-laws of Respondent No. 2, have appeared through video conferencing and have been identified by the IO. 6. Respondent No. 2 is present in person, is duly represented by her counsel and is also identified by the IO. 7. Petitioner No.1 is the husband of Respondent No. 2; they were married on 02.12.2021. Due to matrimonial discord and temperamental differences between the parties, they have been living separately since November 2023. No child was born out of the wedlock. 8. During separation, the Respondent No. 2 got a case registered vide FIR No. 352/2025 under Sections 85/316(2)/3(5) of BNS. 9. It is stated that the parties amicably resolved all their disputes by way of a Settlement dated 20.11.2025, to put a quietus to the dispute. The Settlement contemplates payment of Rs. 6,00,000/- to Respondent No. 2 towards full and final settlement of disputes. The said amount was agreed to be paid in 3 instalments, namely, Rs.2,00,000/- at the time of recording the statements in the first motion petition under Section 13(B)(1) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 [‘HMA’]; Rs. 2,00,000/- at the time of recording of This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 07/10/2026 at 14:35:51 CRL.M.C. 7240/2026 Page 3 of 7 statements in the second motion petition under Section 13(B)(2) of the HMA; and the remaining Rs. 2,00,000/- at the time of quashing of the present FIR. 10. Pursuant to the aforesaid settlement, the marriage between the Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2 stands dissolved by a decree of divorce by mutual consent, vide judgment dated 04.06.2026 passed by the Family Court in HMA No. 973/2026. 11. In light of the aforesaid, the parties seek quashing of the impugned FIR and all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom. 12. Learned APP submits that no chargesheet has been filed in this matter. He submits that State has no objection to the relief of quashing in view of the mutual settlement. 13. This Court has interacted with Respondent No. 2, who is present in Court. She confirms that she has executed the affidavit dated 15.09.2026 filed with this petition at page 24, recording her NOC for quashing of this FIR. She confirms receipt of Rs. 4 lakhs during the divorce proceedings and receipt of demand draft for the balance amount of Rs. 2 lakhs during the course of hearing today. 14. This Court has heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. 15. The Supreme Court has clearly held that, in certain circumstances, the High Courts, in exercise of their powers under Section 482 of the CrPC [corresponding to Section 528 of the BNSS], can quash criminal proceedings, even with respect to non-compoundable offences, on the ground that there is a compromise between the accused and the complainant, especially when no overarching public interest is adversely affected. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 07/10/2026 at 14:35:51 CRL.M.C. 7240/2026 Page 4 of 7 Reference in this connection can be made to the judgment in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and Anr.2, which held as follows: “58. Where the High Court quashes a criminal proceeding having regard to the fact that the dispute between the offender and the victim has been settled although the offences are not compoundable, it does so as in its opinion, continuation of criminal proceedings will be an exercise in futility and justice in the case demands that the dispute between the parties is put to an end and peace is restored; securing the ends of justice being the ultimate guiding factor. No doubt, crimes are acts which have harmful effect on the public and consist in wrongdoing that seriously endangers and threatens the well-being of the society and it is not safe to leave the crime-doer only because he and the victim have settled the dispute amicably or that the victim has been paid compensation, yet certain crimes have been made compoundable in law, with or without the permission of the court. In respect of serious offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc., or other offences of mental depravity under IPC or offences of moral turpitude under special statutes, like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity, the settlement between the offender and the victim can have no legal sanction at all. However, certain offences which overwhelmingly and predominantly bear civil flavour having arisen out of civil, mercantile, commercial, financial, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony, particularly relating to dowry, etc. or the family dispute, where the wrong is basically to the victim and the offender and the victim have settled all disputes between them amicably, irrespective of the fact that such offences have not been made compoundable, the High Court may within the framework of its inherent power, quash the criminal proceeding or criminal complaint or FIR if it is satisfied that on the face of such settlement, there is hardly any likelihood of the offender being convicted and by not quashing the criminal proceedings, justice shall be casualty and ends of justice shall be defeated. The above list is illustrative and not exhaustive. Each case will depend on its own facts and no hard- and-fast category can be prescribed.” 2 (2012) 10 SCC 303 This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 07/10/2026 at 14:35:51 CRL.M.C. 7240/2026 Page 5 of 7 (Emphasis supplied) 16. Further, in Narinder Singh & Ors. v. State of Punjab &Anr.3, the Supreme Court has also laid down guidelines for High Courts while accepting settlement deeds between parties and quashing the proceedings. The relevant observations in the said decision read as under: “29. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we sum up and lay down the following principles by which the High Court would be guided in giving adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties and exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code while accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings or refusing to accept the settlement with direction to continue with the criminal proceedings: 29.1. Power conferred under Section 482 of the Code is to be distinguished from the power which lies in the Court to compound the offences under Section 320 of the Code. No doubt, under Section 482 of the Code, the High Court has inherent power to quash the criminal proceedings even in those cases which are not compoundable, where the parties have settled the matter between themselves. However, this power is to be exercised sparingly and with caution. 29.2. When the parties have reached the settlement and on that basis petition for quashing the criminal proceedings is filed, the guiding factor in such cases would be to secure: (i) ends of justice, or (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court. While exercising the power, the High Court is to form an opinion on either of the aforesaid two objectives. 29.3. Such a power is not to be exercised in those prosecutions which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society. Similarly, for the offences alleged to have been committed under special statute like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences 3 (2014) 6 SCC 466 This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 07/10/2026 at 14:35:51 CRL.M.C. 7240/2026 Page 6 of 7 committed by public servants while working in that capacity are not to be quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender. 29.4. On the other hand, those criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominantly civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes should be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among themselves. 29.5. While exercising its powers, the High Court is to examine as to whether the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal cases would put the accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal cases.” (Emphasis supplied) 17. In the present case, the proceedings emanate from a matrimonial dispute between the parties, whose marriage has already been dissolved by a decree of divorce by mutual consent. Applying the tests laid down by the Supreme Court, it may be observed that Respondent No. 2 has also categorically affirmed the voluntary nature of the Settlement before the Court. In these circumstances, the criminal proceedings are unlikely to result in conviction, and their continuation would be an empty formality, adding to the burden of the justice system and consuming public resources unnecessarily. Further, this Court is also of the considered opinion that it is a fit case to exercise discretionary jurisdiction under Section 528 of the BNSS, 2023. 18. The Settlement contemplates payment of a sum of Rs. 6,00,000/- to Respondent No. 2, out of which Rs. 4,00,000/- has already been received by her. The Demand Draft dated 09.09.2026 bearing no. 000991 dated This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 07/10/2026 at 14:35:51 CRL.M.C. 7240/2026 Page 7 of 7 23.09.2026, for the balance amount, i.e., Rs. 2,00,000/-, has been handed over to Respondent No. 2 in Court today. There is, therefore, in the considered opinion in this Court, no impediment in granting the relief sought. 19. In view of the above, FIR No. 0352/2025 under Sections 85/316(2)/3(5) of the BNS, registered at Police Station Govind Puri, Delhi and proceedings emanating therefrom are quashed. 20. Parties shall abide by the terms of settlement. 21. Accordingly, the petition is disposed of. 22. Pending application is disposed of. 23. The digitally signed copy of this order, duly uploaded on the official website of the Delhi High Court, www.delhihighcourt.nic.in, shall be treated as a certified copy of the order for the purpose of ensuring compliance. No physical copy of the order shall be insisted upon by any authority/entity or litigant. MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA, J SEPTEMBER 28, 2026/msh/aj This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 07/10/2026 at 14:35:51