80. CRI WP-3697-26.odt Amberkar IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 3697 OF 2026 Vinay Revan Babar Patil .. Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra & Ors. .. Respondents ....................  Mr. S.G. Rajput a/w Mr. Ashish Rajput, Advocates for Petitioner  Mr. Sukanta A. Karmakar, APP for State  P.S. Abrol, Advocate for Respondent No. 2 ................... CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J. DATE : SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 P. C. : 1. Heard Mr. Rajput, learned Advocate for Petitioner; Mr. Karmakar, learned APP for State and Abrol, learned Advocate for Respondent No. 2. 2. Present Petition is filed under Section 520 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (Section 482 of the Cr.P.C.) seeking to quash the proceedings of R.C.C. No. 1685 of 2025 pending before the learned JMFC, CBD, Belapur for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468 and 471 of IPC. 3. The dispute between the parties with regard to property stands entirely settled by virtue of civil proceedings and other proceedings which have been withdrawn by the parties. The criminal proceedings are, therefore, sought to be withdrawn by virtue of by consent 1 of 7 80. CRI WP-3697-26.odt quashing. Consent affidavit dated 04.08.2026 is filed by Respondent Nos. 2 to 4. I have perused the same. It gives reference to the Consent Terms dated 30.07.2026 between the parties wherein the parties have agreed to quash the present criminal proceeding. In that view of the matter, adhering to the wishes of the parties, I am inclined to allow the present Petition. 4. Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 conferred inherent powers on High Courts to pass such orders as are justified to give effect to any order in the Court, prevent abuse of process of any Court or secure the ends of justice. In the BNSS this provision stands incorporated with Section 528 which substantially reproduces the language and intent of Section 482 of the CrPC, 1973 High Courts invoke this provision to step in where cases have been instituted with malafide motives or to harass the accused person thereby avoiding procedural harassment. It empowers Court to dismiss FIRs or criminal proceedings if there is no prima facie case or evidence against the accused person/s or if orders are made in violation of the principles of natural justice. The exercise of such powers under Section 482 of CrPC and now Section 528 of BNSS remains discretionary and varies from case to case. 2 of 7 80. CRI WP-3697-26.odt 5. In State of Harayana vs Bhajan Lal1 the Supreme Court laid down model categories and guidelines in paragraph No. 102 of the said judgment in which the FIRs can be quashed. The Supreme Court has furthered asserted that power under Section 482 is an acknowledgment of "powers inherent" and not the source of powers additional. It has held that even non compoundable offences can be quashed where necessary. It has held that High Courts have to decide whether the prosecution of an offence would further or be against the interest of justice. It is also held that grievous offences such as murder, rape, and dacoity cannot ordinarily be quashed even after settlement because they involve societal implication. 6. In the above context, when parties settle their private dispute or the lis between them is purely civil and commercial or matrimonial and the offence is not heinous or does not impact the society at large, the Court can consider such request. In such a case awarding costs for putting the criminal law into motion on the act of the accused persons and thereafter both parties seeking quashing of proceedings by consent, in my opinion, can be considered by Court which can impose costs on the parties, especially so in matters coming before the Court by “consent quashing”. 1 1992 AIR 604 3 of 7 80. CRI WP-3697-26.odt 7. For above levy of costs the legal principle rests on the logic that criminal law cannot be used as a bargaining chip or a tool for private settlements after draining the State and judicial resources. In simple words, Courts cannot be used as a recovery mechanism to settle scores and/or bring the parties into subjugation. I am of the firm opinion that imposition of costs in consent quashing matters is required to be levied for three main reasons viz., wastage of public resources, consumption of valuable judicial time and for deterrence against vexatious litigation. This is because after criminal machinery is set into motion, the Police Department is forced to take cognizance, conduct investigations, attend courts, deploy personnel, collect evidence and draft chargesheets, all using public funds/ public exchequer. Equally substantial judicial time of the Trial Courts and Sessions Courts is wasted for handling a case, presentation of a case, issuance of summons, scheduling of trial dates, appointment of prosecutors and their fees, etc. and ultimately if consent quashing is allowed such judicial time stands completely wasted, which could have otherwise been used for genuine Trial Court matters/ litigation. in one way such matters result in clogging the legal system and lead to humongous pendency which becomes difficult to tackle. 8. Another aspect to consider for imposing costs is that it curbs the growing trend of filing strategically exaggerated criminal complaints 4 of 7 80. CRI WP-3697-26.odt (especially matrimonial or commercial disputes) simply to force financial and legal settlements. In a given case made out on merits of the matter, even the Complainant can be put to costs while considering a quashing Petition purely on merits depending upon the facts of each case before Court. In some strong circumstances, even the State machinery can be put to costs if a purely civil dispute between parties strongly emanating from the facts on record is registered as criminal case and given the flavor of criminality. This Court is also equally conscious about not imposing costs blindly or mechanically if a particular party is not found to be remiss or at explicit fault for abusing the law, as also conscious about heinous offences impacting the society at large while considering consent quashing. 9. Applying the aforesaid principles to the facts of the present case, I am of the opinion that the Petitioner for his actions resulting in the Complainant invoking criminal proceedings and now both the parties seeking quashing by consent, the Petitioner is directed to pay costs of Rs. 10,000/- to Anand Mangal Bahuuddeshiya Sanstha, registered NGO and Trust situated at Malegaon working at the grassroots level towards social welfare, holistic upliftment, sustainable community development of destitutes, marginalized women, elderly persons by providing them shelter, dignity, daytime care services, medical care, promoting women empowerment by livelihood training and practical 5 of 7 80. CRI WP-3697-26.odt vocational skill training programs in rural and urban areas, supports skill development and health care access and emergency relief for vulnerable community groups and at present providing complete shelter, nutritious meals and complete healthcare to 28 destitute seniors and 6 individuals with intellectual disabilities at their Malegaon Headquarters. The details of this Sanstha for payment of costs are as under:- 10.Name of Bank: 11.Bank Of Maharashtra 12.Account Number: 13.60434381304 14.IFSC Code: 15.MAHB0002075 16.MICR Code: 17.423014102 Registered Name: Anand Mangal Bahuuddeshiya Sanstha, Malegaon. Registration No.: MAHA/2909/Nashik | F-15352 / Nashik, Office Address: S.No. 39/2/4D/41/1, Plot No.13, Near Panchaganga Auto Showroom, Malegaon, Dist. Nashik, Maharashtra, Mobile No.: +91 8208525304. 18. Petitioner through his Advocate agree to pay the aforesaid costs amount to the charity within a period of two weeks from today. 6 of 7 80. CRI WP-3697-26.odt 19. In view of the above matter, the present Petition deserves to be allowed subject to payment of costs as directed herein above. It is so allowed in terms of prayer clause (a) which read thus:- “a) The proceedings of Regular Criminal Case No. 1685 of 2015 pending against the Petitioner before the Ld. JMFC, CBD, Belapur, may be quashed;" 20. List the Writ Petition for compliance of the order regarding payment of costs on 9th October, 2026. 21. Learned Advocate for Petitioner shall remain present and show compliance on the returnable date for compliance. If he does not remain present and there is non-compliance of this order, Court will pass appropriate order for recall of this order. 22. Writ Petition is allowed and disposed. Amberkar [ MILIND N. JADHAV, J. ] 7 of 7 RAVINDRA MOHAN AMBERKAR Digitally signed by RAVINDRA MOHAN AMBERKAR Date: 2026.09.19 14:52:17 +0530