- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27704 WP No. 12326 of 2026 C/W WP No. 5936 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 9TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 12326 OF 2026 (GM-RES) C/W WRIT PETITION NO. 5936 OF 2026 (GM-RES) IN WP No. 12326/2026 BETWEEN: MR. GOUTHAM MADEGOWDA, S/O MADEGOWDA N, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, R/AT NO.792, 3RD CROSS, BEHIND ULLAL RTO OFFICE, UPKAR LAYOUT, VISWNEEDAM, BANGALORE NORTH, KARNATAKA-560091. …PETITIONER (BY SRI AKASH B SHETTY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY SOUTH WOMEN POLICE STATION, REP. BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DR. B.R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE-560001. 2. MRS. SANDHYA, W/O GOUTHAM, Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27704 WP No. 12326 of 2026 C/W WP No. 5936 of 2026 D/O RAMCHANDRAIAH V., AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, R/AT NO.629, 10TH 'A' CROSS, 3RD MAIN ROAD, SRINAGAR, BANGALORE-560050. EMAIL:SANDHYA95R@GMAIL.COM …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI K NAGESHWARAPPA, HCGP FOR R-1) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA R/W SECTION 528 OF THE BNSS, 2023 PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI BY QUASHING THE COMPLAINT FILED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.2 AND FIR REGISTERED BY THE SOUTH WOMEN POLICE IN CRIME NO.0145/2025 DATED 26/11/2025 AGAINST THE PETITIONER FOR OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 85, 115(2), 352 R/W SECTION 3(5) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA (BNS), 2023 AND SECTION 3 AND 4 OF THE DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT, 1961, BEFORE THE 37TH ADDL. CMM COURT, BANGALORE CITY, VIDE ANNEXURE-A. IN WP NO. 5936/2026 BETWEEN: 1. SMT. PRAMILA, W/O MADEGOWDA N, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS. 2. SRI MADHEGOWDA @ N. MADEGOWDA, S/O NARASAIAH, AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS. PETITIONER NO. 1 & 2 ARE R/AT: NO.792, 3RD CROSS, BEHIND ULLAL RTO OFFICE, UPKAR LAYOUT, VISWNEEDAM, BANGALORE NORTH, KARNATAKA-560091 - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27704 WP No. 12326 of 2026 C/W WP No. 5936 of 2026 3. SMT. SOWMYA, D/O MADEGOWDA N., AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, R/A: #19/A, 5TH MAIN, BCC LAYOUT, BANGALORE NORTH, VIJAYANAGAR, BANGALORE, KATNATAKA-560040. ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI AKASH B SHETTY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, BY SOUTH WOMEN POLICE STATION, REP. BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DR. B.R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE-560001. 2. MRS. SANDHYA, W/O GOUTHAM, D/O RAMCHANDRAIAH V., AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, R/AT NO.629, 10TH ‘A’ CROSS, 3RD MAIN ROAD, SRINAGAR, BANGALORE-560050. E-MAIL: SANDHYA95R@GMAIL.COM ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI K NAGESHWARAPPA, HCGP FOR R-1) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA R/W SECTION 528 OF THE BNSS, 2023 PRAYING TO-QUASH THE COMPLAINT FILED BY THE R-2 AND FIR REGISTERED BY THE SOUTH WOMEN POLICE IN CRIME NO. 0145/2025 DATED 26.11.2025 AGAINST THE PETITIONERS FOR OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SEC 85, - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27704 WP No. 12326 of 2026 C/W WP No. 5936 of 2026 115(2), 352 R/W SEC 3(5) OF THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA (BNS), 2023 AND SEC 3 AND 4 OF THE DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT, 1961, BEFORE THE 37TH ADDL. CMM COURT, BANGALORE CITY, VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND B. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER Petitioners – husband and his family members, who are accused Nos.1 to 4 are before this Court calling in question registration of a crime in Crime No.145/2025, pending before the 37th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 85, 115(2), 352 r/w. 3(5) of the BNS and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, in both the petitions. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioners – accused and respondent No.2 – complainant in both the petitions, in unison, submit that the parties were before the concerned family Court in M.C.No.7627/2025 and during the pendency of the proceedings before this Court, the parties to the lis have settled their matrimonial dispute amicably by drawing up certain terms and conditions and have parted their ways before the mediation - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27704 WP No. 12326 of 2026 C/W WP No. 5936 of 2026 center. A memo along with copies of memorandum of settlement and other documents are filed before this Court seeking permission to compound the offences. 3. The memorandum of settlement reads as follows: “MEMORANDUM OF SETTLEMENT UNDER SECTION 89 OF CPC READ WITH RULES 24 AND 25 OF THE KARNATAKA CIVIL PROCEDURE (MEDIATION) RULES, 2005. I. The Petitioner has filed this petition against the Respondent under 13 (1) (-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 for dissolution of the marriage with the respondent. II. The aforesaid petition was referred to mediation for resolving the dispute between the parties. During the course of mediation both the parties along with their respective advocates were present, identified each other and they have resolved their dispute and have agreed to the following terms and conditions: 1. The petitioner and the respondent are Hindus by religion. Their marriage was solemnized on 16.11.2023 at Padmavati Kalyana Mantapa, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bengaluru as per the Hindu rites and customs. The parties state and admit that due to irreconcilable differences and incompatibility of temperaments, they are living separately from 12.10.2024. The efforts made by the elders, friends and well wishers to resolve the differences between the parties did not yield any fruits. There is absolutely no chance of a reunion between them. The petitioner and the respondent know that their marriage is irretrievably broken down and there are no chances of reunion to lead a happy married life. Hence, the petitioner and the respondent have decided to get the marriage dissolved by a decree of divorce. 2. The Petitioner and the Respondent state that they have no children born to them from their marriage. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27704 WP No. 12326 of 2026 C/W WP No. 5936 of 2026 3. The Respondent has agreed to pay a sum of Rs.2,00,000/-(Rupees Two Lakhs Only) to the Petitioner towards certain settlement by way of demand draft and the same will be handed over to the Petitioner before the Hon'ble Court at the time of reporting settlement for which the Petitioner has agreed. 4. The Petitioner shall retain the gold jewellery given to her at the time of marriage by the respondent. Further the Respondent has agreed to return silver articles which were given at the time their marriage to the Petitioner at the time of reporting this settlement before the Hon'ble Court. 5. Both the parties state that they have no claims of maintenance/permanent alimony against each other either past, present or in future as both of them are capable of maintaining themselves independently. 6. The parties herein state that they have no claims over the movables/immovable properties belonging to each other at present or to be acquired in future in view of this agreement. 7. The Petitioner and the Respondent state that apart from the above they have no other claims, of any nature whatsoever, against each other, whether past, present or in future. 8. In view of this settlement the petitioner has agreed to co-operate in closing / quashing the proceedings in C.C. No. 12477/2026 pending before 37th ACMM, Bengaluru filed against the respondent and others, for the offence punishable under Section 85, 115(2), 352 R/W Section 3(5) of BNS and Section 3 & 4 of D.P.Act. 9. Both the Parties admit and agree that there is no collusion or force, fraud and undue influence in agreeing/ settling the aforesaid terms and conditions and entering into this Agreement in the aforesaid manner. 10. Both the parties state that without pressing on the allegations levelled against each other either orally or expressly arrived at this agreement. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27704 WP No. 12326 of 2026 C/W WP No. 5936 of 2026 11. Both the parties undertake to not to interfere in each other's lives in future such as social media, facebook and other media in any manner. III. In view of the aforesaid agreement entered into between the parties, the parties pray that this Hon'ble Court be pleased to dissolve the marriage solemnized on 16.11.2023 at Padmavati Kalyana Mantapa, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bengaluru by granting a decree of divorce in terms of this agreement. IV. Parties will appear on 23.04.2026 before the Hon’ble Court for passing of orders in terms of the agreement.” Though the offence alleged against the petitioners in the case at hand inter alia is one punishable under Section 85 of the BNS, since it is a matrimonial dispute and the parties have arrived at settlement, and the allegations are not against the State, I deem it appropriate to accept the memorandum of settlement and terminate the proceedings against the petitioners. 4. For the aforesaid reasons, I pass the following: ORDER (i) The criminal petitions are disposed. (ii) The impugned crime in No.145/2025, pending before the 37th Additional Chief Metropolitan - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27704 WP No. 12326 of 2026 C/W WP No. 5936 of 2026 Magistrate, Bengaluru, in both the petitions, stands quashed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE NVJ List No.: 2 Sl No.: 70