Hay House Publishers India Pvt Ltd & ANR. v. State Of NCT Of Delhi & ANR.

$~111 & 69 *

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ CRL.M.C. 8307/2024 HAY HOUSE PUBLISHERS INDIA PVT LTD & ANR.

.....Petitioners Through:

Mr. Saif Khan, Mr. Prajjwal Kushwaha, Advs.

versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR.

.....Respondents Through:

Ms. Priyanka Dalal, APP with IO Saket Kumar, SI Suraj Kumar, PS Karol Bagh + CRL.M.C. 8283/2024 HAY HOUSE PUBLISHERS INDIA PVT. LTD & ANR.

.....Petitioners Through:

Mr. Saif Khan, Mr. Prajjwal Kushwaha, Advs.

versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR.

.....Respondents Through:

Ms. Priyanka Dalal, APP with Insp. Banwari Lal, PS DIU Mr. Tajinder Kaur, Ms. Madhu Tandon, Advs.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH

O R D E R

% 22.11.2024 CRL.M.A. 31729/2024 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

1.

Exemption allowed, subject to all just exceptions. 2.

The application is disposed of.

CRL.M.C. 8307/2024 & CRL.M.C. 8284/2024 3.

These are the petitions seeking quashing of the FIR No. 85/2010 and FIR Nos. 101/2010 (respectively) both dated 10.03.2010 under sections 405/406/415/417/425/426/120B/34 IPC registered at P.S. Vasant Kunj North, New Delhi.

4.

The petitioner is a publishing house and complainant/respondent no.2 is the author of the book.

5.

It was alleged in the FIR No. 85/2010 that the petitioner infringed the copyright of the respondent no. 2 by deleting some parts of the original artistic work of the respondent no. 2 without her consent and knowledge. 6.

It was alleged in FIR Nos. 101/2010 that the petitioner infringed the copyrights of the respondent by publishing and distributing the artistic works of the respondent no. 2 in USA and Canada without her due consent and knowledge.

7.

However, during the pendency of the proceedings, the parties have arrived at the settlement dated 14.10.2024, wherein a sum of Rs. 22.5 lakhs is to be paid to the complainant/respondent no.2. 8.

Rs. 11.25 lakhs has already been paid and the remaining amount of Rs. 11.25 is paid today vide DD No. 508186 dated 21.10.2024 drawn on ICICI Bank.

9.

Mr. Ashok Chopra, authorized representative of petitioner Nos. 1 and 2 is present and is identified by Mr. Saif Khan, learned counsel. 10.

Respondent No. 2 is present in court and is identified by Mr. Tajinder Kaur, learned counsel and IO Saket Kumar presently in PS Karol Bagh The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

(earlier in Vasant Kunj).

11.

Parties state that they have arrived at the settlement out of their own free will without any threat, pressure, coercion or undue influence. 12.

I am of the opinion that no useful purpose would be served in prosecuting the FIR any further on the ground that the parties have arrived at a voluntary settlement and settled their disputes. 13.

I am convinced that quashing of such proceedings on account of compromise would bring about peace and would secure ends of justice. The Court does not see any fruitful purpose if criminal proceedings as permitted to continue any further. It is a fit case for quashing. In this view of the matter, there is no reason to continue the proceedings. 14.

For the aforesaid reasons, FIR No. 85/2010 and FIR Nos. 101/2010 (respectively) both dated 10.03.2010 under sections 405/406/415/417/425/426/120B/34 IPC registered at P.S. Vasant Kunj North, New Delhi and consequential proceedings arising therefrom are hereby quashed.

15.

The petitions are disposed of in the aforesaid terms. JASMEET SINGH, J NOVEMBER 22, 2024/DM Click here to check corrigendum, if any The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.