- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 2918 OF 2019 BETWEEN: 1. SMT. BABY @ SUMATHI W/O R. KRISHNA MURTHY AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, NO.16/25, PARK ROAD RAMANNA ROAD, 2ND CROSS, COX TOWN, JEEVANAHALLI FRAZER TOWN, BANGALORE - 560 005. 2. SMT. J. HEMAVATHI W/O MANIVANNAN G AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, R/AT 27, PATHAGANGAM STREET NEAR MOSQUE, KEMELA ROAD, GUGGARA HATTY, WARD NO.7, BELLARY - 583 102. 3. SRI. J. RAGHUNATHAN S/O LATE V.K. JOTHILINGAM AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, NO.10, 5TH CROSS, 3RD BLOCK, SHREE RAJESHWARI NILAYA DASAPPA LAYOUT EXTENSION, RAMAMURTHY NAGAR, BANGALORE - 560 016. Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 4. SRI. G. MANIVANNAN S/O GOPALAKRISHNAN.M AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, R/AT 27, PATHAGANGAM STREET NEAR MOSQUE, KAMELA ROAD GUGGARA HATTY, WARD NO.7 BELLARY - 583 102. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. NATARAJ H.C, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE BY HALASURU POLICE HALASURU OLD MADRAS ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 008 REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGHC OURT OF KARNATKA BENGAURU - 560 001. 2. SMT. SARASWATHI Y W/O KARTHIKEYAN AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, R/AT NO.58, 8TH STREET, JOGUPALYA, HALASURU BANGALORE - 560 008 3. SRI. KARTHIKEYAN J S/O LATE V.K. JOTHILINGAM AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, R/AT NO.369, SADASIVA MUDALIAR ROAD, 7TH CROSS, MURPHY TOWN, HALASURU, BANGALORE - 560 008. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 4. SMT. VIJAYA RANI W/O LATE V.K. JOTHILINGAM AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS, R/AT NO.369, SADASIVA MUDALIAR ROAD, 7TH CROSS, MURPHY TOWN, HALASURU, BANGALORE - 560 008. 5. KUM. VANITHA D/O LATE V.K. JOTHILINGAM AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, R/AT NO.369, SADASIVA MUDALIAR ROAD, 7TH CROSS, MURPHY TOWN, HALASURU, BANGALORE - 560 008. (AS PER THE ORDER DATED 19.02.2020 RESPONDENT NO. 3, 4, 5 DELETED) …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. RASHMI PATEL, HCGP FOR R1; R2 - SERVED) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.482 OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE CHARGE SHEET IN C.C.NO.54596/2016 PENDING ON THE FILE OF 10th ADDITIONAL CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE AT BANGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 498A, 504, 34 OF IPC REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT IN HALSURU P.S AS PER THE DOCUMENT NO.1 UPON THE FALSE COMPLAINT LODGED BY THE RESPONDENT. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioners - accused Nos.3, 4, 6 and 7 are before the Court calling in question the proceedings in C.C.No.54596/2016 on the file of X Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 498A, 504 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 2. Respondent No.2 is the complainant and accused No.1 is the husband of respondent No.2 who is not before the Court. The petitioners are accused Nos.3, 4, 6 and 7 are other members of the family. The relationship between the complainant and accused No.1 turning sour, resulted in plethora of proceedings between the two, either by the husband against the wife or the wife against the husband. One such proceeding is, the complaint registered against the members of the family and the husband, which becomes a crime in Crime No.387/2015 for the afore- quoted offences. The police conduct investigation and file - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 the charge sheet. The filing of the charge sheet is what has driven the petitioners to this Court in the subject petition. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that a perusal at the charge sheet would not indicate any of the ingredients of the offences even met to its remotest sense in the case at hand. The learned counsel submits that the husband and wife have parted ways long ago and the members of the family are now in the web of crime, continuing in the web of proceedings and would seek quashment of the same. 4. The complainant, though served a year ago, remains unrepresented even today. 5. Learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for the State would submit that it is a matter of trial for the petitioners to come out clean. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 6. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the respective learned counsel and have perused the material on record. 7. The afore-narrated facts are not in dispute. The relationship between the petitioners and respondent No.2 is a matter of record, that they are the members of the family or distant relatives. A crime comes to be registered. The police conduct investigation and file the charge sheet. The summary of the charge sheet as obtaining in column No.7, which reads as follows: "ಹಲಸೂರು ೕ ಾ ೆಯ ಸರಹೆ ಬರುವ ಸಾ ವ ದಾ 2ೇಾಸನರುವ ಾ!-1 ರವರು 09 ವಷ#ಗಳ &ಂೆ ೋ(ಾ)ೋಪಣ ಪ,- ಾಲಂ-4ರ ಕಂಡ ಎ1 ಆ)ೋ2ಯ 3ೊ4ೆಯ &ಂದು ಸಂಪಾಯದ ಪಾರ ಮದು6ೆಾ7ದು ಸದ8 ದಂಪ9ಗ:ೆ ಒಂದು ಗಂಡು ಮಗು ಇರುತ>ೆ. ಅದರಂ4ೆ ಇತ)ೆ ಆ)ೋ2ಗ@ಾದ ಎ2 8ಂದ ಎ7 ರವರು ಪ9 AತB ಾ!-1 ರವರ 3ೊ4ೆಯ ಸಣC ಪDಟ- Fಷಯದ ಜಗಳವನುH IಾJ ಸIಾನ ಉೇಶಂದ ಾ!-1 ರವ8ೆ ಅ6ಾBಚ ಶಬಗ:ಂದ Nೈಯು9>ದರು. ಇದ8ಂದ Nೇಸತು> Pೋ7 ಾ!-1 ರವರು ಎ1 ಆ)ೋ2ೆ FಷಯವನುH 9:Qಾಗ ಎ1 ರವರು ಎSಾ ಆ)ೋಪಗಳನುH ಾ!-1 ರವರ TೕSೆUೕ Pಾಕು9>ದರು. ತನH TೕSೆ ನVೆಯುವ ಎSಾ &ಂ ೆಯನುH ಾ!-1 ರವರು ಸ&Qೊಂಡು Wಾಸ7 ಕಂಪAಯ ೆಲಸವನುH Iಾಡು9>ದು, ಬಂದ ಸಂಬಳದ ಾ!-1 ರವರು - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 IಾQಕ6ಾ7 5000 ಾFರ ರೂಗಳನುH ಎ1 ಆ)ೋ2ೆ AೕJ XಕY ಹಣದ ತನH ಮತು> ತನH ಮಗುFನ ಖಚು#ನುH ಾ!-1 ರವರು ೋJೊಳ[9>ದರು. ನಂತರ ಪ9 AತB ಾ!-1 ರವ8ೆ ಎSಾ ಆ)ೋ2ಗಳ\ ಉೇQ AನH ತಂೆಯ ಮೆ]ಂದ 1 ಾ Nೆಂಗಳ^8ನರಲು ಒಂದು ೈ_ ನುH 4ೆೆದುೊಂಡು ಬರುವಂ4ೆ IಾನQಕ6ಾ7 ಮತು> ೈ&ಕ6ಾ7 ಾ!-1 ರವ8ೆ &ಂ ೆಯನುH AೕJರು4ಾ>)ೆ. ಆದುದ8ಂದ TೕಲYಂಡ ಕಲಂ ಅನ`ಯ ಆ)ೋ2ಗಳ Fರುದa ೋ(ಾ)ೋಪಣ ಪ,-." 8. A perusal at the summary of the charge sheet would not indicate even an iota of the ingredients of the offence under Section 498A of the IPC against these petitioners and other members of the family. If further proceedings at this juncture is permitted to continue against these petitioners, it would be on the face of it, become an abuse of the process of the law and run foul of the judgment of the Apex Court in the case of KAHKASHAN KAUSAR v. STATE OF BIHAR1, wherein it is held as follows: 1 (2022) 6 SCC 599 or 2022 SCC Online SC 162 - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 “Issue involved 10. Having perused the relevant facts and contentions made by the appellants and respondents, in our considered opinion, the foremost issue which requires determination in the instant case is whether allegations made against the appellant in-laws are in the nature of general omnibus allegations and therefore liable to be quashed? 11. Before we delve into greater detail on the nature and content of allegations made, it becomes pertinent to mention that incorporation of Section 498-AIPC was aimed at preventing cruelty committed upon a woman by her husband and her in-laws, by facilitating rapid State intervention. However, it is equally true, that in recent times, matrimonial litigation in the country has also increased significantly and there is a greater disaffection and friction surrounding the institution of marriage, now, more than ever. This has resulted in an increased tendency to employ provisions such as Section 498-AIPC as instruments to settle personal scores against the husband and his relatives. 12. This Court in its judgment in Rajesh Sharma v. State of U.P. [Rajesh Sharma v. State of U.P., (2018) 10 SCC 472: (2019) 1 SCC (Cri) 301] , has observed : (SCC pp. 478-79, para 14) “14. Section 498-A was inserted in the statute with the laudable object of punishing cruelty at the hands of husband or his relatives against a wife particularly when such cruelty had potential to result in suicide or murder of a woman as mentioned in the Statement of Objects and Reasons of Act 46 of 1983. The expression “cruelty” in Section 498-A covers conduct which may drive the woman to commit suicide or cause grave injury (mental or physical) or danger to life or harassment with a view to coerce her to meet unlawful demand. [Explanation to Section 498-A.] It is a matter of serious concern that large number of cases continue to be filed under Section 498-A alleging harassment of married women. We have already referred to - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 some of the statistics from the Crime Records Bureau. This Court had earlier noticed the fact that most of such complaints are filed in the heat of the moment over trivial issues. Many of such complaints are not bona fide. At the time of filing of the complaint, implications and consequences are not visualised. At times such complaints lead to uncalled for harassment not only to the accused but also to the complainant. Uncalled for arrest may ruin the chances of settlement.” 13. Previously, in the landmark judgment of this Court in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar [Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar, (2014) 8 SCC 273: (2014) 3 SCC (Cri) 449] , it was also observed : (SCC p. 276, para 4) “4. There is a phenomenal increase in matrimonial disputes in recent years. The institution of marriage is greatly revered in this country. Section 498-AIPC was introduced with avowed object to combat the menace of harassment to a woman at the hands of her husband and his relatives. The fact that Section 498-AIPC is a cognizable and non-bailable offence has lent it a dubious place of pride amongst the provisions that are used as weapons rather than shield by disgruntled wives. The simplest way to harass is to get the husband and his relatives arrested under this provision. In quite a number of cases, bedridden grandfathers and grandmothers of the husbands, their sisters living abroad for decades are arrested.” 14. Further in Preeti Gupta v. State of Jharkhand [Preeti Gupta v. State of Jharkhand, (2010) 7 SCC 667 : (2010) 3 SCC (Cri) 473] , it has also been observed : (SCC pp. 676-77, paras 32-36) “32. It is a matter of common experience that most of these complaints under Section 498- AIPC are filed in the heat of the moment over trivial issues without proper deliberations. We come across a large number of such complaints which are not even bona fide and are filed with oblique motive. At the same time, rapid increase in the number of genuine cases of dowry harassment is also a matter of serious concern. 33. The learned members of the Bar have enormous social responsibility and obligation to ensure that the social fibre of family life is not ruined - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 or demolished. They must ensure that exaggerated versions of small incidents should not be reflected in the criminal complaints. Majority of the complaints are filed either on their advice or with their concurrence. The learned members of the Bar who belong to a noble profession must maintain its noble traditions and should treat every complaint under Section 498-A as a basic human problem and must make serious endeavour to help the parties in arriving at an amicable resolution of that human problem. They must discharge their duties to the best of their abilities to ensure that social fibre, peace and tranquillity of the society remains intact. The members of the Bar should also ensure that one complaint should not lead to multiple cases. 34. Unfortunately, at the time of filing of the complaint the implications and consequences are not properly visualised by the complainant that such complaint can lead to insurmountable harassment, agony and pain to the complainant, accused and his close relations. 35. The ultimate object of justice is to find out the truth and punish the guilty and protect the innocent. To find out the truth is a Herculean task in majority of these complaints. The tendency of implicating the husband and all his immediate relations is also not uncommon. At times, even after the conclusion of the criminal trial, it is difficult to ascertain the real truth. The courts have to be extremely careful and cautious in dealing with these complaints and must take pragmatic realities into consideration while dealing with matrimonial cases. The allegations of harassment of husband's close relations who had been living in different cities and never visited or rarely visited the place where the complainant resided would have an entirely different complexion. The allegations of the complaint are required to be scrutinised with great care and circumspection. 36. Experience reveals that long and protracted criminal trials lead to rancour, acrimony and bitterness in the relationship amongst the parties. It is also a matter of common knowledge that in cases filed by the complainant if the husband or the husband's relations had to remain in jail even for a few days, it would ruin the chances of an - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 amicable settlement altogether. The process of suffering is extremely long and painful.” 15. In Geeta Mehrotra v. State of U.P. [Geeta Mehrotra v. State of U.P., (2012) 10 SCC 741: (2013) 1 SCC (Civ) 212 : (2013) 1 SCC (Cri) 120] it was observed : (SCC p. 749, para 21) “21. It would be relevant at this stage to take note of an apt observation of this Court recorded in G.V. Rao v. L.H.V. Prasad [G.V. Rao v. L.H.V. Prasad, (2000) 3 SCC 693 : 2000 SCC (Cri) 733] wherein also in a matrimonial dispute, this Court had held that the High Court should have quashed the complaint arising out of a matrimonial dispute wherein all family members had been roped into the matrimonial litigation which was quashed and set aside. Their Lordships observed therein with which we entirely agree that : (SCC p. 698, para 12) ‘12. … There has been an outburst of matrimonial dispute in recent times. Marriage is a sacred ceremony, the main purpose of which is to enable the young couple to settle down in life and live peacefully. But little matrimonial skirmishes suddenly erupt which often assume serious proportions resulting in commission of heinous crimes in which elders of the family are also involved with the result that those who could have counselled and brought about rapprochement are rendered helpless on their being arrayed as accused in the criminal case. There are many other reasons which need not be mentioned here for not encouraging matrimonial litigation so that the parties may ponder over their defaults and terminate their disputes amicably by mutual agreement instead of fighting it out in a court of law where it takes years and years to conclude and in that process the parties lose their “young” days in chasing their cases in different courts.’ The view taken by the Judges in this matter was that the courts would not encourage such disputes.” 16. Recently, in K. Subba Rao v. State of Telangana [K. Subba Rao v. State of Telangana, (2018) - 12 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 14 SCC 452 : (2019) 1 SCC (Cri) 605] , it was also observed that : (SCC p. 454, para 6) “6. … The courts should be careful in proceeding against the distant relatives in crimes pertaining to matrimonial disputes and dowry deaths. The relatives of the husband should not be roped in on the basis of omnibus allegations unless specific instances of their involvement in the crime are made out.” 17. The abovementioned decisions clearly demonstrate that this Court has at numerous instances expressed concern over the misuse of Section 498-AIPC and the increased tendency of implicating relatives of the husband in matrimonial disputes, without analysing the long-term ramifications of a trial on the complainant as well as the accused. It is further manifest from the said judgments that false implication by way of general omnibus allegations made in the course of matrimonial dispute, if left unchecked would result in misuse of the process of law. Therefore, this Court by way of its judgments has warned the courts from proceeding against the relatives and in- laws of the husband when no prima facie case is made out against them. 18. Coming to the facts of this case, upon a perusal of the contents of the FIR dated 1-4-2019, it is revealed that general allegations are levelled against the appellants. The complainant alleged that “all accused harassed her mentally and threatened her of terminating her pregnancy”. Furthermore, no specific and distinct allegations have been made against either of the appellants herein i.e. none of the appellants have been attributed any specific role in furtherance of the general allegations made against them. This simply leads to a situation wherein one fails to ascertain the role played by each accused in furtherance of the offence. The allegations are, therefore, general and omnibus and can at best be said to have been made out on account of small skirmishes. Insofar as husband is concerned, since he has not appealed against the order of the High Court, we have not examined the veracity of allegations made against him. However, as far as the appellants are - 13 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 concerned, the allegations made against them being general and omnibus, do not warrant prosecution. 19. Furthermore, regarding similar allegations of harassment and demand for car as dowry made in a previous FIR Respondent 1 i.e. the State of Bihar, contends that the present FIR pertained to offences committed in the year 2019, after assurance was given by the husband Md. Ikram before the learned Principal Judge, Purnea, to not harass the respondent wife herein for dowry, and treat her properly. However, despite the assurances, all accused continued their demands and harassment. It is thereby contended that the acts constitute a fresh cause of action and therefore the FIR in question herein dated 1-4-2019, is distinct and independent, and cannot be termed as a repetition of an earlier FIR dated 11-12-2017. 20. Here it must be borne in mind that although the two FIRs may constitute two independent instances, based on separate transactions, the present complaint fails to establish specific allegations against the in-laws of the respondent wife. Allowing prosecution in the absence of clear allegations against the appellant in-laws would simply result in an abuse of the process of law. 21. Therefore, upon consideration of the relevant circumstances and in the absence of any specific role attributed to the appellant-accused, it would be unjust if the appellants are forced to go through the tribulations of a trial i.e. general and omnibus allegations cannot manifest in a situation where the relatives of the complainant's husband are forced to undergo trial. It has been highlighted by this Court in varied instances, that a criminal trial leading to an eventual acquittal also inflicts severe scars upon the accused, and such an exercise must, therefore, be discouraged.” (Emphasis supplied) - 14 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 10.1. The Apex Court in the case of MARAM NIRMALA v. STATE OF TELANGANA reported in 2025 SCC OnLine SC 2913, has held as follows: “….. ….. ….. 12. The appellant(s) herein are the mother-in-law and father- in-law of respondent No. 2. They had filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quashing of the proceedings instituted against them in C.C. No. 338/2023 pending on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate (Prohibition and Excise offence) at Nalgonda alleging offences punishable under Sections 498- A, 323, 504 read with Section 34 of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the DP Act. 13. By the impugned order, the said criminal petition has been disposed of reserving liberty to the appellant(s) herein to seek discharge in accordance with law. Hence, this appeal. 14. The case at hand pertains to allegations of cruelty and dowry demand made by the respondent No. 2 against the appellant(s) herein. A bare perusal of the FIR however, shows that the allegations made by respondent No. 2 are vague and omnibus inasmuch as there is an absence of any specific instance or occasion detailed with particulars wherein the appellant(s) demanded dowry from respondent No. 2 and on refusal of the same, subjected her to mental and physical cruelty. The only allegations levelled by respondent No. 2 against the appellants herein are that subsequent to the birth of her daughter, the conduct of her husband underwent a change, which is stated to have been on account of the alleged inducement exercised by the in-laws including the appellant(s) herein for the purpose of demanding additional dowry and that - 15 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 pursuant to the counselling conducted at the Women Police Station, Nalgonda, although the husband of respondent No. 2 and his family assured that she would be treated properly, they nevertheless continued to subject respondent No. 2 to mental and physical cruelty. 15. We therefore find that the aforesaid allegations levelled against the appellant(s), even if taken at their face value, do not prima facie disclose the commission of the alleged offences so as to warrant the initiation of criminal proceedings. 16. During the course of submissions, learned counsel for the appellant(s) brought to our notice the judgment of this Court in the case of Dara Lakshmi Narayana v. State of Telangana, (2025) 3 SCC 735 (“Dara Lakshmi Narayana”) as well as other judgments which squarely apply to this case. We have perused the same. 17. This Court speaking through one of us (B.V. Nagarathna, J.) in Dara Lakshmi Narayana, while dealing with the issue of quashing of criminal proceedings instituted by the respondent wife therein against her husband and in- laws who were charged with offences punishable under Sections 498A of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the DP Act, 1961, held as follows: “27. A mere reference to the names of family members in a criminal case arising out of a matrimonial dispute, without specific allegations indicating their active involvement should be nipped in the bud. It is a well- recognised fact, borne out of judicial experience, that there is often a tendency to implicate all the members of the husband's family when domestic disputes arise out of a matrimonial discord. Such generalised and sweeping accusations unsupported by concrete evidence or particularised allegations cannot form the basis for criminal prosecution. Courts must exercise caution in such cases to prevent misuse of legal provisions and the legal process and avoid unnecessary harassment of innocent family - 16 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 members. In the present case, Appellants 2 to 6, who are the members of the family of Appellant 1 have been living in different cities and have not resided in the matrimonial house of Appellant 1 and Respondent 2 herein. Hence, they cannot be dragged into criminal prosecution and the same would be an abuse of the process of the law in the absence of specific allegations made against each of them. xxx 30. The inclusion of Section 498-A IPC by way of an amendment was intended to curb cruelty inflicted on a woman by her husband and his family, ensuring swift intervention by the State. However, in recent years, as there have been a notable rise in matrimonial disputes across the country, accompanied by growing discord and tension within the institution of marriage, consequently, there has been a growing tendency to misuse provisions like Section 498-AIPC as a tool for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family by a wife. Making vague and generalised allegations during matrimonial conflicts, if not scrutinised, will lead to the misuse of legal processes and an encouragement for use of arm twisting tactics by a wife and/or her family. Sometimes, recourse is taken to invoke Section 498-A IPC against the husband and his family in order to seek compliance with the unreasonable demands of a wife. Consequently, this Court has, time and again, cautioned against prosecuting the husband and his family in the absence of a clear prima facie case against them. xxx 31. We are not, for a moment, stating that any woman who has suffered cruelty in terms of what has been contemplated under Section 498-A IPC should remain silent and forbear herself from making a complaint or initiating any criminal proceeding. That is not the intention of our aforesaid observations but we should not encourage a case like as in the present one, where as a counterblast to the petition for dissolution - 17 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 of marriage sought by the first appellant, husband of the second respondent herein, a complaint under Section 498-A IPC is lodged by the latter. In fact, the insertion of the said provision is meant mainly for the protection of a woman who is subjected to cruelty in the matrimonial home primarily due to an unlawful demand for any property or valuable security in the form of dowry. However, sometimes it is misused as in the present case. xxx 34. We, therefore, are of the opinion that the impugned FIR No. 82 of 2022 filed by Respondent 2 was initiated with ulterior motives to settle personal scores and grudges against Appellant 1 and his family members i.e. Appellants 2 to 6 herein. Hence, the present case at hand falls within Category (7) of illustrative parameters highlighted in Bhajan Lal [State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal, 1992 Supp (1) SCC 335 : 1992 SCC (Cri) 426]. Therefore, the High Court, in the present case, erred in not exercising the powers available to it under Section 482CrPC and thereby failed to prevent abuse of the Court's process by continuing the criminal prosecution against the appellants.” (underlining by us) 18. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of this case, we find that the judgment of this Court in Dara Lakshmi Narayana would apply. Hence, the impugned order of the High Court is set aside. The proceedings instituted against the appellant(s) in C.C. No. 338/2023 pending on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate (Prohibition and Excise offence) at Nalgonda stand quashed in relation to the appellants herein.” (Emphasis supplied) 9. If the facts obtaining in the case at hand, i.e., the allegation made in the complaint and the afore-quoted judgments of the Apex Court, what would unmistakably - 18 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 emerge is, permitting further investigation / proceedings against the petitioners - accused Nos.3, 4, 6 and 7 would become an abuse of the process of the law qua the offence punishable under Section 498A of the IPC. 10. The other offence alleged is the one punishable under Section 504 of the IPC, the ingredients of which are found in Section 503 of the IPC. The interpretation of what should be the ingredients of the said offences need not detain this Court for long or delve deep into the matter. The Apex Court in the case of MOHAMMAD WAJID AND ANOTHER v. STATE OF U.P. reported in 2023 SCC OnLine SC 951 considering the very offences has held as follows: “SECTIONS 503, 504 AND 506 OF THE IPC 24. Chapter XXII of the IPC relates to Criminal Intimidation, Insult and Annoyance. Section 503 reads thus:— “Section 503. Criminal intimidation. — Whoever threatens another with any injury to his person, reputation or property, or to the person or reputation of any one in whom that person is interested, with intent to cause alarm to that person, or to cause that person to do any act which he is not legally bound to do, or to - 19 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 omit to do any act which that person is legally entitled to do, as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat, commits criminal intimidation. Explanation.—A threat to injure the reputation of any deceased person in whom the person threatened is interested, is within this section. Illustration A, for the purpose of inducing B to resist from prosecuting a civil suit, threatens to burn B's house. A is guilty of criminal intimidation.” 25. Section 504 reads thus:— “Section 504. Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace.—Whoever intentionally insults, and thereby gives provocation to any person, intending or knowing it to be likely that such provocation will cause him to break the public peace, or to commit any other offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.” 26. Section 506 reads thus:— “Section 506. Punishment for criminal intimidation. —Whoever commits, the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both; If threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, etc.—And if the threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, or to cause the destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or to impute unchastity to a woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.” - 20 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 27. An offence under Section 503 has following essentials:— 1) Threatening a person with any injury; (i) to his person, reputation or property; or (ii) to the person, or reputation of any one in whom that person is interested. 2) The threat must be with intent; (i) to cause alarm to that person; or (ii) to cause that person to do any act which he is not legally bound to do as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat; or (iii) to cause that person to omit to do any act which that person is legally entitled to do as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat. 28. Section 504 of the IPC contemplates intentionally insulting a person and thereby provoking such person insulted to breach the peace or intentionally insulting a person knowing it to be likely that the person insulted may be provoked so as to cause a breach of the public peace or to commit any other offence. Mere abuse may not come within the purview of the section. But, the words of abuse in a particular case might amount to an intentional insult provoking the person insulted to commit a breach of the public peace or to commit any other offence. If abusive language is used intentionally and is of such a nature as would in the ordinary course of events lead the person insulted to break the peace or to commit an offence under the law, the case is not taken away from the purview of the Section merely because the insulted person did not actually break the peace or commit any offence having exercised self control or having been subjected to abject terror by the offender. In judging whether particular abusive language is attracted by Section 504, IPC, the court has to find out what, in the ordinary circumstances, - 21 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 would be the effect of the abusive language used and not what the complainant actually did as a result of his peculiar idiosyncrasy or cool temperament or sense of discipline. It is the ordinary general nature of the abusive language that is the test for considering whether the abusive language is an intentional insult likely to provoke the person insulted to commit a breach of the peace and not the particular conduct or temperament of the complainant. 29. Mere abuse, discourtesy, rudeness or insolence, may not amount to an intentional insult within the meaning of Section 504, IPC if it does not have the necessary element of being likely to incite the person insulted to commit a breach of the peace of an offence and the other element of the accused intending to provoke the person insulted to commit a breach of the peace or knowing that the person insulted is likely to commit a breach of the peace. Each case of abusive language shall have to be decided in the light of the facts and circumstances of that case and there cannot be a general proposition that no one commits an offence under Section 504, IPC if he merely uses abusive language against the complainant. In King Emperor v. Chunnibhai Dayabhai, (1902) 4 Bom LR 78, a Division Bench of the Bombay High Court pointed out that:— “To constitute an offence under Section 504, I.P.C. it is sufficient if the insult is of a kind calculated to cause the other party to lose his temper and say or do something violent. Public peace can be broken by angry words as well as deeds.” (Emphasis supplied) 30. A bare perusal of Section 506 of the IPC makes it clear that a part of it relates to criminal intimidation. Before an offence of criminal intimidation is made out, it must be established that the accused had an intention to cause alarm to the complainant. - 22 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 31. In the facts and circumstances of the case and more particularly, considering the nature of the allegations levelled in the FIR, a prima facie case to constitute the offence punishable under Section 506 of the IPC may probably could be said to have been disclosed but not under Section 504 of the IPC. The allegations with respect to the offence punishable under Section 504 of the IPC can also be looked at from a different perspective. In the FIR, all that the first informant has stated is that abusive language was used by the accused persons. What exactly was uttered in the form of abuses is not stated in the FIR. One of the essential elements, as discussed above, constituting an offence under Section 504 of the IPC is that there should have been an act or conduct amounting to intentional insult. Where that act is the use of the abusive words, it is necessary to know what those words were in order to decide whether the use of those words amounted to intentional insult. In the absence of these words, it is not possible to decide whether the ingredient of intentional insult is present.” (Emphasis supplied) 11. In the light of the afore-quoted judgment of the Apex Court, the ingredients of the offence under Section 504 of the IPC is also not met in the case at hand. Therefore, permitting further proceedings against the petitioners for the alleged offences would become an abuse of the process of the law. - 23 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32551 CRL.P No. 2918 of 2019 12. For the aforesaid reasons, the following; ORDER (i) The criminal petition is allowed. (ii) The proceedings in C.C.No.56596/2016 pending on the file of X Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, qua the petitioners, stand quashed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE GH List No.: 1 Sl No.: 0