$~60 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 30th September, 2026 # CNR No. DLHC010471412026 + CRL.M.C. 7350/2026 & CRL.M.A. 30736/2026 PUNEET & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Ms. Priyanka, Advocate Mob: 9899927711 Email: priyankalegaldraft@gmail.com versus THE STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Kiran Bairwa, APP for State SI Devendre Singh, PS Nand Nagri Mob: 8700601309 Mohd. Azeem, Advocate for R-2 Mob: 9911732943 Email: adv.azeemkhan01@gmail.com CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MINI PUSHKARNA MINI PUSHKARNA, J. (Oral): 1. The present petition has been filed under Section 528 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (“BNSS”), corresponding to Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (“CrPC”), seeking quashing of the First Information Report (“FIR”) being FIR No. 0295/2025 dated 20th May, 2025, registered at Police Station (“PS”) Nand Nagri, North East, Delhi, under Sections 498A/406/506/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (“IPC”), Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (“DP Act”) and all Digitally Signed By:HARIOM SHARMA Signing Date:03.10.2026 14:14:04 Signature Not Verified consequential proceedings emanating therefrom, on the ground of settlement between the parties. 2. Issue notice. 3. Notice is accepted by learned Additional Public Prosecutor (“APP”) for the State as well as learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent no. 2. 4. The present petition is taken up for disposal with the consent of the parties. 5. The marriage between the petitioner no. 1 and respondent no. 2 was solemnized on 29th May, 2023, according to Hindu rites and customs. However, due to matrimonial discord, the parties started living separately from July, 2023, onwards. No child was born out of the wedlock. 6. Respondent no. 2 had filed a case, being CT Case 264/2024, against the petitioners under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (“DV Act”). 7. The FIR in question came to be registered on 20th May, 2025, pursuant to the complaint made on behalf of respondent no. 2, who alleged, inter-alia, physical and mental harassment along with demands for dowry by the petitioners. 8. During the pendency of the aforesaid proceedings, the parties were referred to Mediation, pursuant to which, the parties entered into an amicable settlement of all their disputes and reduced the same to writing vide Mediation Settlement dated 13th March, 2026, before the Delhi Mediation Centre, Karkardooma Courts, Delhi. 9. By way of the aforesaid Mediation Settlement, the parties agreed to obtaining a decree of divorce by mutual consent. Further, petitioner no. 1 Digitally Signed By:HARIOM SHARMA Signing Date:03.10.2026 14:14:04 Signature Not Verified undertook to pay Rs. 7,25,000/- to respondent no. 2 as full and final settlement. The parties also agreed to cooperate in quashing of the FIR in question. 10. The parties are present in person before this Court and are identified by their respective counsels and the Investigating Officer (“IO”), who is present in Court. 11. Respondent no 2, who is present in Court, submits that both the parties have amicably settled all their disputes and arrived at the Mediation Settlement dated 13th March, 2026, out of their own free will and consent, without any fear, coercion, or under influence and thus, she does not wish to pursue the present matter any further. 12. This Court is informed that the marriage between petitioner no. 1 and respondent no. 2 stands dissolved vide decree of divorce by mutual consent dated 01st July, 2025, passed by the Family Court – 01, District Shahdara, Karkardooma Courts, Delhi, in HMA 1118/2026. 13. This Court is further informed that as per the Mediation Settlement dated 13th March, 2026, petitioner no. 1 was to pay a sum of Rs. 7,25,000/- to respondent no. 2, as full and final settlement of all her claims arising out of the marriage between her and petitioner no. 1. Out of the said sum, a sum of Rs. 5,00,000/- already stands paid to respondent no. 2. 14. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners has handed over a Demand Draft of Rs. 2,25,000/- to respondent no. 2, and is duly accepted by respondent no. 2. 15. Learned APP for the State submits that on account of the matrimonial dispute having been settled, she has no objection if the present petition is allowed. Digitally Signed By:HARIOM SHARMA Signing Date:03.10.2026 14:14:04 Signature Not Verified 16. The Supreme Court has held that under Section 528 of the BNSS, High Courts may quash criminal proceedings, even with respect to non- compoundable offences, if the concerned parties have arrived at a compromise or settlement, and particularly when no overarching public interest is adversely affected by quashing the same. 17. In Jitendra Raghuvanshi and Others Versus Babita Raghuvanshi and Another, (2013) 4 SCC 58, the Supreme Court has held that the High Courts are empowered to quash an FIR in case of matrimonial disputes in order to foster genuine settlements, even when the offences involved are non-compoundable in nature. The relevant portion of the said judgment reads as under: “xxx xxx xxx 14. The inherent powers of the High Court under Section 482 of the Code are wide and unfettered. In B.S. Joshi [(2003) 4 SCC 675 : 2003 SCC (Cri) 848] , this Court has upheld the powers of the High Court under Section 482 to quash criminal proceedings where dispute is of a private nature and a compromise is entered into between the parties who are willing to settle their differences amicably. We are satisfied that the said decision is directly applicable to the case on hand and the High Court ought to have quashed the criminal proceedings by accepting the settlement arrived at. 15. In our view, it is the duty of the courts to encourage genuine settlements of matrimonial disputes, particularly, when the same are on considerable increase. Even if the offences are non-compoundable, if they relate to matrimonial disputes and the Court is satisfied that the parties have settled the same amicably and without any pressure, we hold that for the purpose of securing ends of justice, Section 320 of the Code would not be a bar to the exercise of power of quashing of FIR, complaint or the subsequent criminal proceedings. xxx xxx xxx” (Emphasis Supplied) Digitally Signed By:HARIOM SHARMA Signing Date:03.10.2026 14:14:04 Signature Not Verified 18. Considering the submissions made before this Court, FIR No. 0295/2025, dated 20th May, 2025, registered at PS Nand Nagri, North East, Delhi, under Sections 498A/406/506/34 of the IPC, Section 4 of the DP Act, along with all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom, is hereby quashed. 19. The parties shall remain bound by the terms of the Mediation Settlement dated 13th March, 2026. 20. The present petition, along with the pending application, is disposed of. MINI PUSHKARNA, J SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 ak By:HARIOM SHARMA Signing Date:03.10.2026 14:14:04