Dr Himanshu Reddy v. State Of NCT Of Delhi And ANR.

$~25 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CRL.M.C. 6726/2025 & CRL.M.As. 28295/2025, 28297/2025 DR HIMANSHU REDDY .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Viraj Kadam, Advocate.

versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR.

.....Respondents Through:

Mr. Hitesh Vali, APP for State with SI Arti Singh, PS Begumpur.

Mr. Bal Kishan Sharma, Mr.

Himanshu Kaushik, Advocates for R-2.

R-2 in person through VC.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN

O R D E R

% 16.01.2026 1.

Issue notice. Mr. Hitesh Vali, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, accepts notice on behalf of the State. Mr. Bal Kishan Sharma, learned counsel, accepts notice on behalf of respondent No. 2 - complainant.

2.

The petitioner has filed this petition under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ["BNSS"] (corresponding to Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 ["CrPC"]), seeking quashing of FIR No. 381/2022 dated 19.05.2022, lodged at Police Station Begampur, District Rohini, New Delhi, under Sections 354/506/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ["IPC"], on the ground of settlement. 3.

The FIR came to be registered at the instance of respondent No. 2. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

It is alleged therein that the petitioner instigated respondent No. 2 against her family members and pressurized her to get married at the earliest. It is further alleged that the petitioner furnished false information about himself and molested respondent No. 2 on multiple occasions. It is also stated that the petitioner threatened to commit suicide, on account of which respondent No. 2 was compelled to marry him on 09.05.2022. 4.

The parties have since entered into a settlement, recorded in an order dated 22.07.2024, passed by the Local Commissioner appointed by the Family Court, North West District, Rohini Courts, Delhi. In light of the aforesaid, the parties seek quashing of the impugned FIR. 5.

The petitioner is present, and is identified by learned counsel and the Investigating Officer ["IO"]. Respondent No. 2 is also present through video conference, and is identified by her learned counsel and the IO. 6.

Although some of the averments in the petition are disputed, particularly with regard to the romantic involvement of the petitioner and respondent No. 2, the fact that they had solemnized their marriage on 09.05.2022 is not disputed. The parties have also consented to a decree of dissolution of their marriage as a nullity, as recorded in an order of the Family Court dated 24.08.2024.

7.

Respondent No. 2 confirms that she has no objection to the quashing of the FIR at this stage, and she remains bound by the compromise.

8.

Although the offence under Section 354 of the IPC is noncompoundable, the Supreme Court has clearly held that, in certain circumstances, the High Courts, in exercise of their powers under Section 482 of CrPC [corresponding to Section 528 of BNSS], can quash criminal The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

proceedings, even with respect to non-compoundable offences, on the ground that there is a compromise between the accused and the complainant, especially when no overarching public interest is adversely affected.

9.

In Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and Anr. [(2012) 10 SCC 303], the Supreme Court held as follows:

"58. Where the High Court quashes a criminal proceeding having regard to the fact that the dispute between the offender and the victim has been settled although the offences are not compoundable, it does so as in its opinion, continuation of criminal proceedings will be an exercise in futility and justice in the case demands that the dispute between the parties is put to an end and peace is restored; securing the ends of justice being the ultimate guiding factor.

No doubt, crimes are acts which have harmful effect on the public and consist in wrongdoing that seriously endangers and threatens the well-being of the society and it is not safe to leave the crime-doer only because he and the victim have settled the dispute amicably or that the victim has been paid compensation, yet certain crimes have been made compoundable in law, with or without the permission of the court. In respect of serious offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc., or other offences of mental depravity under IPC or offences of moral turpitude under special statutes, like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity, the settlement between the offender and the victim can have no legal sanction at all.

However, certain offences which overwhelmingly and predominantly bear civil flavour having arisen out of civil, mercantile, commercial, financial, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony, particularly relating to dowry, etc. or the family dispute, where the wrong is basically to the victim and the offender and the victim have settled all disputes between them amicably, irrespective of the fact that such offences have not been made compoundable, the High Court may within the framework of its inherent power, quash the criminal proceeding or criminal complaint or FIR if it is satisfied that on the face of such settlement, there is hardly any likelihood of the offender being convicted and by not quashing the criminal proceedings, justice shall be casualty and ends of justice shall be defeated.

The above list is illustrative and not exhaustive. Each case will depend on its own facts and no hard-andfast category can be prescribed." [Emphasis supplied.] The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

Further, in Narinder Singh and Ors. v. State of Punjab and Anr. [(2014) 6 SCC 466], the Supreme Court has also laid down guidelines for High Courts while accepting settlement deeds between parties and quashing the proceedings. The relevant observations in the said decision read as under: "29. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we sum up and lay down the following principles by which the High Court would be guided in giving adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties and exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code while accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings or refusing to accept the settlement with direction to continue with the criminal proceedings: 29.1.

Power conferred under Section 482 of the Code is to be distinguished from the power which lies in the Court to compound the offences under Section 320 of the Code. No doubt, under Section 482 of the Code, the High Court has inherent power to quash the criminal proceedings even in those cases which are not compoundable, where the parties have settled the matter between themselves. However, this power is to be exercised sparingly and with caution. 29.2.

(i) ends of justice, or (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court. While exercising the power the High Court is to form an opinion on either of the aforesaid two objectives.

29.3. Such a power is not to be exercised in those prosecutions which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society. Similarly, for the offences alleged to have been committed under special statute like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity are not to be quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender. 29.4. On the other hand, those criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominantly civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes should be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among themselves.

29.5. While exercising its powers, the High Court is to examine as to whether the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal cases would put the accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

him by not quashing the criminal cases."

[Emphasis supplied.] 10.

In the present case, the proceedings between the parties arise out of a matrimonial relationship, which has already culminated in a decree of dissolution of marriage as a nullity. Applying the tests laid down by the Supreme Court, it may be observed that the respondent No. 2 has also categorically affirmed the voluntary nature of the settlement before the Court. In these circumstances, the criminal proceedings are unlikely to result in conviction, and its continuation would be an empty formality, adding to the burden of the justice system and consuming public resources unnecessarily.

11.

Having regard to the above discussion, the petition is allowed, FIR No. 381/2022 dated 19.05.2022, lodged at Police Station Begampur, District Rohini, New Delhi, under Sections 354/506/34 of the IPC, alongwith all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom, stands quashed.

12.

The petition, alongwith pending applications, stands disposed of. PRATEEK JALAN, J JANUARY 16, 2026 „Bhupi/KA‟/ The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.