- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1688 CRL.P No. 16631 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM CRIMINAL PETITION NO.16631 OF 2025 BETWEEN: DR. SINDHU TRILOKYA A D/O SANKARA RAJU ADLURI AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.214 ROHIT GARDENS 1ST CROSS, 4TH MAIN TATANAGAR WATER TANK KODIGEHALLI SAHAKAR NAGAR BENGALURU CITY-560092 …PETITIONER (BY SRI.PRUTHVEEN PRALHAD KATTIMANI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY AMRUTHAHALLY P S SAMPIGEHALLI SUB-DIVISION REPRESENTED BY SPP BENGALURU - 560092 2. SMT.NARAYANAMMA W/O NARAYAN RAJU AGE UNKNOWN RESIDING AT NO.1083 11TH MAIN, 13TH CROSS JUDICIAL LAYOUT GKVK, YELAHANKA BENGALURU-560065 Digitally signed by AL BHAGYA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1688 CRL.P No. 16631 of 2025 3. SRI. NARAYAN RAJU S/O UNKNOWN AGED UNKNOWN RESIDING AT NO.1083, 11TH MAIN 13TH CROSS, JUDICIAL LAYOUT GKVK, YELAHANKA BENGALURU-560065 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.ANOOP KUMAR, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/SEC.482 (FILED U/S.528 BNSS) CR.P.C BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HONOURABLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO QUASH THE CRIMINAL ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN C.C.NO.26024/2023 ON THE FILE OF THE COURT OF THE VII ACMM, BENGALURU AS WITHDRAWN ARISING OUT OF CRIME NO.124/2023 MADE BY THE PETITIONER REGISTERED BY RESPONDENT NO.1 POLICE FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/SEC.323, 498-A, 504 AND 506 R/W SEC.34 OF IPC AND SEC 3 AND 4 OF DP ACT IN VIEW OF THE SETTLEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER This petition is filled by the petitioner - De-facto Complainant under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1688 CRL.P No. 16631 of 2025 Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking leave of this Court to withdraw the entire proceedings pending in C.C.No.26024/2023 on the file of the VII ACMM, Bengaluru in the light of the quashing of the proceedings filed by accused No.1 for the offence punishable under Sections 323, 498A, 504 and 506 read with 34 of IPC and under Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. 2. Referring to the statement recorded in Criminal Petition No.1215/2024, the petitioner herein, who is the De-facto Complainant, has filed the present petition submitting that the matrimonial dispute between herself and accused No.1 (husband) has been amicably resolved. It is stated that pursuant to such settlement, this Court has already quashed the criminal proceedings insofar as accused No.1 is concerned. In view of the said development, the petitioner submits that she does not intend to prosecute the proceedings any further and accordingly, seeks leave of this Court to withdraw the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1688 CRL.P No. 16631 of 2025 complaint pending against the remaining accused, who are the in-laws of the complainant. 3. The learned High Court Government Pleader, on instructions, fairly acknowledges that the criminal proceedings have already been quashed against the prime accused No.1. It is submitted that in the light of the settlement arrived at between the parties and the quashing of proceedings against the husband, the continuation of criminal proceedings against the remaining accused would serve no fruitful purpose. It is, therefore, submitted that this Court may exercise its inherent jurisdiction to quash the proceedings pending against the in-laws of the complainant as well. 4. Having considered the submissions and on perusal of the materials on record, this Court notes that the matrimonial dispute, which was the genesis of the criminal proceedings, has been given a quietus. The proceedings against accused No.1-husband having already - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1688 CRL.P No. 16631 of 2025 been quashed by this Court in Criminal Petition No.1215/2024, the substratum of the prosecution no longer survives. The complainant herself is before this Court invoking the inherent jurisdiction under Section 528 of the BNSS, 2023 of Criminal Procedure and has unequivocally expressed her intention not to pursue the complaint any further. 5. This Court is of the considered view that when the complainant does not intend to prosecute the matter and when the matrimonial dispute stands resolved in its entirety, compelling the remaining accused, who are the in-laws of the complainant to face criminal trial, would amount to an abuse of the process of law. The continuation of proceedings in such circumstances would neither advance the cause of justice nor serve any useful purpose. Therefore, this Court finds it appropriate to permit the complainant to withdraw the complaint and to quash the proceedings in exercise of its inherent powers. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1688 CRL.P No. 16631 of 2025 6. Therefore, this Court proceeds to pass the following; ORDER (i) The Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) The petitioner – De-facto complainant is permitted to withdraw the criminal proceedings pending in C.C.No.26024/2023 on the file of the VII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Sections 323, 498A, 504 and 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. (iii) Consequently, the proceedings in C.C.No.26024/2023 pending on the file of the VII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, are hereby quashed. Pending applications, if any, are also disposed off. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE NBM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 4