- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 2344 OF 2025 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: SMT MANJUVANI H R D/O RAMESH HR AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS, R/AT NO.47/1, 6TH MAIN, 7TH CROSS VASANTHAPPA BLOCK, GANGANAGARA, BENGALURU 560032. PRESENT RESIDING AT HEMMADAHALLI VILLAGE, BOOKANAKERE HOBALI, KR PET TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571812. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. CHANDANA H.B., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY RT NAGAR POLICE STATION, REP. BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. 2. SMT. JANAKI W/O PRAKESH L, AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS, R/AT NO.47/1, 6TH MAIN, 7TH CROSS VASANTHAPPA BLOCK, GANGANAGARA, BENGALURU 560032. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. RASHMI PATEL, HCGP FOR R1 SRI. VIRATHI SANJAY KUMAR, ADV. FOR R2 (VK FILED IS K/B)) Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 482 CR.PC (FILED U/S 528 BNNS) PRAYING TO CALL FOR RELEVANT RECORDS AND TO QUASH THE FIR IN CRIME NO. 245/2024, R T NAGAR POLICE STATION, FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 115(2), 118 (1), 351(3), 352 OF THE BNS, 2023 NOW PENDING ON THE FILE OF 8TH ADDL, CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE COURT BENGALURU AS AGAINST THE PRESENT PETITIONER. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Call for relevant records b. Quash the FIR in Crime no. 245/2024, R T Nagar Police Station, for the offence punishable under sections 115(2), 118 (1), 351(3), 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 now pending on the file of 8th Addl, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court Bengaluru. as against the present petitioner, and c. Grant such other relief as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity. 2. Respondent No.2, the mother-in-law of the petitioner, lodged a complaint before the R.T. Nagar Police Station, Bengaluru, which was registered as Crime No.245/2024 for offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 351(3) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 3. The petitioner is the daughter-in-law of respondent No.2. The complaint arises from a matrimonial dispute between the petitioner and her husband, Mr. Roopesh P. In relation to the same matrimonial dispute, Mr. Roopesh P. has instituted M.C. No.67/2025 against the petitioner under Section 10(1)(x) of the Indian Divorce Act, 1869, which is pending before the Principal Senior Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class, Krishnaraj Pet. The petitioner, her husband and respondent No.2 are Christians. 4. The matter being referred to Mediation, a settlement having been arrived at, it has been reduced into writing in a Memorandum of Settlement under Section 89 of the CPC read with Rule 24 and 25 of the Karnataka Civil Procedure (Mediation) Rules, 2005 which would be filed in MC No.67 of 2025. 5. A joint affidavit of the petitioner and respondent No.2 has been filed in the present proceeding, which reads as under; JOINT AFFIDAVIT We, (1) Mrs. Manjuvani HR D/o Ramesh HR, aged about 31 years, residing at Hemmadahalli village, Bookanakere, K R Pete Taluk, Mandya, Karnataka- 571812, and (2) Mrs. Janaki N W/o Mr. Prakash L, aged about 58 years, residing at No.10/4, 1st Floor, 2nd E Cross, Vasanthappa Block, Ganganagar, R.T. Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 Nagar Post, Bangalore, Karnataka-560032, do hereby state and affirm on oath as follows - 1. We are the Petitioner and the Respondent No.2 in the above Petition and we are well aware of the facts and circumstances of the case. As such, we are competent to swear to this affidavit. 2. We, the Petitioner and the Respondent No.2, have amicably settled the disputes between us and accordingly, a Settlement Agreement dated 11.09.2026 has been entered into in M.C.No.67/2025, pending before the Court of the Principal Senior Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class, Krishnarajpete. 3. We state that, in compliance with and pursuant to the said Settlement Agreement, a sum of Rs.16,00,000/- (Rupees Sixteen Lakhs only) has been agreed to be paid by Mr.Roopesh P to the Petitioner herein and the minor child, Ananya, as the one-time, full and final settlement amount towards maintenance, permanent alimony, streedhan, child support and all other claims whatsoever, out of which a sum of Rs.25,000/- already paid by Mr. Roopesh P to the Petitioner herein on 28.08.2026, pursuant to the ex-parte order dated 19.03.2025 passed in Crl. Misc. No.22/2025 (filed under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, before the 1st Addl. Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class, Krishnarajpete), directing payment of Rs.5.000/- towards the Petitioner herein and Rs.3,000/- towards the minor child, has been adjusted against the said settlement amount, leaving a balance of Rs.15,75,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Lakhs Seventy-Five Thousand only) payable in the manner recorded in the said Settlement Agreement. 4. We state that, in terms of Clause 6(c) of the said Settlement Agreement, a sum of Rs. 5.75,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs Seventy-Five Thousand only), being an instalment of the settlement amount payable under Clause 6(c) thereof, is being paid by Mr. Roopesh P to the Petitioner herein simultaneously with and at the time of filing of this Joint Affidavit, by Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 way of transfer to the bank account of the Petitioner, the details whereof are as under: Name of the Bank:- State Bank of India Branch Name:- Bookanakere Name of the Account Holder:- Manjuvani H.R A/c No:- 64197107339 IFSC Code:- SBIN0040458 5. The Petitioner hereby acknowledges receipt of Rs.25,000/- (adjusted as stated in Clause 3 above), Rs.5,00,000/- paid upon signing of the Settlement Agreement before the learned Mediator, and Rs.5,75,000/- paid simultaneously with the filing of this Joint Affidavit as stated in Clause 4 above, aggregating to Rs.10,75,000/- The remaining balance of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs only) out of the settlement amount of Rs.16,00,000/- shall be paid by Mr. Roopesh P to the Petitioner herein, by way of transfer to the bank account mentioned in Clause 4 above, upon the Settlement Agreement being produced before the concerned Court in Crl.Misc.No.22/2025 and the said proceedings being closed in terms thereof. Upon payment of the said remaining balance, the entire settlement amount of Rs.16,00,000/- shall stand paid in full, and neither the Petitioner nor the minor child, Ananya, shall have any further claim of any nature whatsoever against Mr.Roopesh P or his family members, whether towards maintenance, alimony, streedhan, child support, property, assets, or otherwise. 6. I, Mrs. Janaki N, in compliance with the Settlement Agreement, do hereby agree to cooperate in the closure of the proceedings arising out of the FIR in Crime No. 245/2024, registered at R.T. Nagar Police Station on a complaint lodged by the Respondent No. 2 against the Petitioner, for the offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 351(3) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, now pending on the file of the 8th Addl. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Bengaluru against the Petitioner Mrs.Manjuvani H R. Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 7. We state that we have no claims over the movable/immovable properties belonging to each other, either existing at present or to be acquired in future. 8. We hereby agree to withdraw all the allegations made against each other, either in this Petition or in any other proceedings, including in Crime No.245/2024. 9. We state that there has been no collusion, force, fraud, coercion or undue influence in entering into the Settlement Agreement dated 11.09.2026 in any manner, and that the same has been entered into voluntarily and out of our own free will. 10. We state that we agree not to interfere in each other's personal lives in future. 11. We state that the Settlement Agreement dated 11.09.2026 has been acted upon and orders have been passed accordingly in M.C.No.67/2025 pending before the Court of the Principal Senior Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class, Krishnarajpete. 12. We state that the contents of this affidavit are true and correct to the best of our knowledge, information and belief. Wherefore, in light of the averments made above, it is prayed that this Hon'ble Court be pleased to quash the FIR in Crime No.245/2024, registered at R.T. Nagar Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 351(3) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, now pending on the file of the 8th Addl. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Bengaluru, as against the Petitioner herein, in the interest of justice and equity. Sd/- Identified by me, DEPONENT No.1 (Petitioner) Sd/- Advocate for Petitioner Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 Sd/- DEPONENT NO.2(respondent No.2) Identified by me Sd/- Advocate for Respondent No. 2 Bengaluru Date:17.09.2026 6. Under the Settlement Agreement, Mr. Roopesh P., husband of the petitioner and son of respondent No.2, has agreed to pay a total sum of Rs.16,00,000/- to the petitioner and the minor child towards full and final settlement of the claims relating to maintenance, permanent alimony, streedhan, child support and other claims arising from the matrimonial relationship. 7. The joint affidavit records that Rs.25,000/- already paid pursuant to the order passed in Crl.Misc.No.22/2025 has been adjusted towards the settlement amount. A further sum of Rs.5,00,000/- was paid at the time of entering into the Settlement Agreement and Rs.5,75,000/- has been paid simultaneously with the filing of the joint affidavit. The balance amount of Rs.5,00,000/- is agreed to be paid upon the Settlement Agreement being acted upon in Crl.Misc.No.22/2025. Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 8. The petitioner, respondent No.2 and Mr. Roopesh P. are present before the Court and have been identified by their respective counsel. 9. On enquiry by the Court, the petitioner and respondent No.2 state that they have entered into the settlement voluntarily and of their own free will. Both state that there has been no force, coercion, fraud or undue influence. 10. Respondent No.2 further submits that, in view of the settlement of the matrimonial dispute between the petitioner and her son, she has no objection to quashing the proceedings arising out of Crime No.245/2024 registered by the R.T. Nagar Police Station against the petitioner. 11. The dispute between the petitioner and respondent No.2 is not an independent dispute. The complaint arose in the backdrop of the matrimonial discord between the petitioner and her husband, Mr. Roopesh P. The matrimonial dispute is the subject matter of M.C.No.67/2025. The parties have now resolved their disputes through mediation and have entered into a Settlement Agreement, pursuant to which they have agreed to dissolve the marriage by mutual settlement. Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified - 9 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 12. The settlement has been acted upon to a substantial extent. The parties have placed the terms of settlement before the Court, and respondent No.2, who is the complainant in Crime No.245/2024, has expressly stated that she does not wish to pursue the criminal proceedings against the petitioner. 13. The offences alleged in the present case arise out of a matrimonial and familial dispute which has now been completely settled. In these circumstances, continuation of the criminal proceedings, despite the complainant having resolved the dispute and having no objection to their termination, would serve no useful purpose. 14. The inherent jurisdiction of this Court can be exercised to secure the ends of justice where continuation of criminal proceedings, in view of a genuine settlement between the parties, would amount to an abuse of the process of law. The Court must, however, examine the nature of the offences and the circumstances in which the settlement has been arrived at. 15. In the present case, the dispute is essentially personal and matrimonial in nature. There is no material to indicate that the allegations involve an Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified - 10 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 offence of such nature as would affect the public interest or require prosecution to continue notwithstanding the settlement. The complainant herself has appeared before the Court, confirmed the settlement and expressly consented to quashing of the proceedings. 16. The settlement is voluntary, the parties are represented by counsel, and the terms have been placed on record. The matrimonial dispute between the petitioner and Mr. Roopesh P. has also been resolved through mediation and the parties have agreed to dissolve their marriage. 17. In these circumstances, continuation of the proceedings arising out of Crime No.245/2024 would serve no meaningful purpose. The dispute having been resolved at its root, the criminal proceedings against the petitioner are liable to be quashed to secure the ends of justice. 18. In view of the above this Court passes the following; ORDER i. Criminal petition is allowed. ii. The FIR in Crime No.245 of 2024 registered by the R.T.Nagar Police Station, now pending Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified - 11 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010104972025 NC: 2026:KHC:51993 CRL.P No. 2344 of 2025 on the file of the 8th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Bengaluru, is quashed. (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE SR List No.: 3 Sl No.: 3 Digitally Signed By: SURAJ GOVINDA RAJ 25/09/2026, 14:16, BENGALURU Verified