- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15940 CRL.P No. 785 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 785 OF 2026 BETWEEN: 1. M.G.VENKATESH, S/O. GOVINDARAJULU, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, R/AT WILLEM BARENTSZWEG 126, 1212BN, HILVERSUM, THE NETHERLANDS., REP., BY HIS G.P.A. HOLDER MR. GOVINDARAJULU M., THE PETITIONER NO.3 HEREIN. 2. NAGARATHNA M. G., W/O. GOVINDARAJULU, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, BOTH ARE TOGETHER R/AT NO. 89, 3RD MAIN, 2ND A CROSS, SRINIVASNAGAR, BSK 1ST STAGE, BENGALURU-560050. 3. GOVINDARAJULU M., S/O. LATE. SUBBAIAH SHETTY, AGED ABOUT 74 YEARS, R/AT NO. 89, 3RD MAIN, 2ND A CROSS, SRINIVASNAGAR, Digitally signed by SUMA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15940 CRL.P No. 785 of 2026 BSK 1ST STAGE, BENGALURU-560050. 4. K.R. RESHMA, W/O, M.G.VENKATESH, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, R/AT. NO.429, ANNAPOORNA NILAYA; 4TH MAIN, BSK 1ST STAGE, 1ST BLOCK, SRINGAR, BENGALURU - 560010 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. RAGHU PRAKASH BABU D., ADVOCATE FOR PETITIONER NOS.1 TO 3; SRI.GANESH NAG, ADVOCATE FOR R4) AND: STATE BY HANUMANTHA NAGAR P.S. REPRESENTED BY ITS STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BENGALURU - 560001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI.M.R.PATIL, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 BY THE ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER PRAYING THAT THIS HON'BLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO QUASH ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PETITIONER NO.1 TO 3 IN CRIMINAL CASE NO.15260/2023 FILED BY THE PETITIONER NO.4 HEREIN ON THE FILE OF THE 37TH ACJM COURT AT BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE P/US/ 498-A OF IPC AND SEC.4,5 OF DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT 1961. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15940 CRL.P No. 785 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ ORAL ORDER This petition is filed to quash the criminal proceedings in Criminal Case No.15260/2023 pending consideration before the XXXVII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru, for the offences punishable under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (henceforth referred to as 'IPC') and Sections 4 and 5 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (henceforth referred to as 'the DP Act, 1961'). 2. It appears that the petitioner No.4 is the wife of the petitioner No.1 and that there were several matrimonial disputes between them, which constrained the petitioner No.4 to file a private complaint in P.C.R.No.6735/2022. The trial Court after recording the sworn statement of the petitioner No.4 took cognizance and directed registration of a criminal case and accordingly, C.C.No.15260/2023 was registered for the offences punishable under Section 498A of IPC. The petitioner No.1 had by then filed a petition for dissolution of his marriage with the petitioner No.4 in Netherlands, while the petitioner No.4 had filed a petition for dissolution of marriage in - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15940 CRL.P No. 785 of 2026 M.C.No.1854/2022 before the II Additional Family Judge, Bengaluru. It appears that the parties have settled their disputes and their matrimonial relationship is dissolved. 3. In view of the above settlement, a joint petition is filed by them to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against the petitioner Nos.1 to 3. The petitioner No.1 is represented by his power of attorney and his father, the petitioner No.3. The petitioner Nos.2 and 3 are present in- person and are identified by their advocate. Similarly, the petitioner No.4 is present and she is identified by her advocate. Both of them agree that they have settled the dispute and have no objection for quashing the proceedings initiated against the petitioners. 4. In view of above, the following order is passed: ORDER i. The petition is allowed; ii. The impugned prosecution of the petitioners in C.C.No.15260/2023 on the file of the XXXVII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru, for - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15940 CRL.P No. 785 of 2026 the offences punishable under Section 498A of the IPC and Sections 4 and 5 of the DP Act, 1961, is quashed; iii. In token of acceptance of the above, the parties have affixed their signature to the order sheet of this Court; iv. Learned High Court Government Pleader is permitted to file a memo of appearance within ten days. Sd/- (R. NATARAJ) JUDGE BKN List No.: 2 Sl No.: 11