R.Venkatraman v. The State Rep By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 10-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR R.Venkatraman ..Petitioner Vs

1. The State Rep By The Inspector of Police, W-1 AWPS Thousand Lights Chennai.

(Crime No. 15/2025)

2. Debosmita Das ..Respondents Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS to call for the records of Crime No. 15 of 2025 on the file of the Inspector of Police, W-1 All Women Police Station, Thousand Lights, Chennai and quash the same. For Petitioner:

Mr.R.Ramkumar For Respondents:

Mr. Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam, Additional Public Prosecutor Assisted by Ms. T. Harshana for R1 Mr. P. Raja for R2

O R D E R

The petitioner / accused in Crime No.15 of 2025 for offences under Sections 75(2). 78(2) of the BNS and Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act on the file of the 1st respondent Police has filed this Criminal Original Petition.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 21.07.2025 at about 3.45 p.m., the defacto complainant, who was working in Taj Coromandel in the F&B Service Department, was proceeding to her accommodation after completing her duty. While she was walking through M4 Road near the Louis Philippe showroom at Nungambakkam, an unknown person suddenly approached her and touched her inappropriately. When the defacto complainant raised her voice, the accused fled from the spot. However, the defacto complainant chased him and with the help of local persons, the accused was secured and handed over to the police. On the complaint of the 2nd respondent, the 1st respondent Police registered an FIR in Crime No.15 of 2025 for offences under Sections 75(2). 78(2) of the BNS and Section 4 of the TNPHW Act against the petitioner.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner would like to withdraw the complaint, stating that the incident occurred accidentally and that she does not wish to pursue the matter further. Hence, he prayed for quashing.

4. The case is still at the stage of investigation. By passage of time, the parties have decided to bury their hatchet and compromise the dispute amicably among themselves.

5. Today the petitioner and the 2nd respondent appeared before this Court and their identities were confirmed by Ms. S. Kalpana, WHC, attached to the 1st respondent Police. This Court also enquired both the parties and was satisfied that the parties have come to an amicable settlement between themselves. The petitioner and the 2nd respondent have filed separate affidavit before this Court.

6. Under such circumstances, no useful purpose will be served in keeping the First Information Report pending, even though, the offences involved are not compoundable in nature. In the light of the guidelines given by the Hon'ble Supreme Court reported in 2017 9 SCC 641-(Parbathbhai Aahir @ Parbathbhai Vs. State of Gujrath), and after exercising due caution as advised by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in The State of Madhya Pradesh v. Dhruv Gurjar and Another reported in (2019) 2 MLJ Crl 10), this Court in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C., quashes the First Information Report on the file of the 1st respondent Police.

7. This Criminal Original Petition stands allowed and as a sequel, the investigation in Crime No.15 of 2025, on the file of the 1st respondent police, is quashed.

10-04-2026 AT

M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J.

AT To 1.The Inspector of Police, W-1 AWPS Thousand Lights, Chennai.

2.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

10-04-2026