Manpreet Singh And Others v. State Of Punjab And Another

-1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision : 29.05.2023 Manpreet Singh and Others ..... Petitioners

Versus

State of Punjab and Another ..... Respondents CORAM :

HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE AMARJOT BHATTI

Present:

Ms. Meenu Verma, Advocate for the petitioners.

Mr. Vinay Kumar Gupta, AAG Punjab.

Ms. Harpreet Kaur Arora, Advocate for respondent No. 2.

**** AMARJOT BHATTI J. (ORAL) The petitioners - Manpreet Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Paramjeet Kaur have filed the instant petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. for quashing of FIR No. 0151 dated 11.07.2022 under Section 498-A of I.P.C. registered at Police Station Bagha Purana, District Moga as well as all consequential proceedings arising therefrom on the basis of compromise. The facts of the case are that the complainant - Amanjeet Kaur filed written complaint against her husband Manpreet Singh and others alleging that her marriage was solemnized with Manpreet Singh on 11.03.2020. Her parents had spent Rs. 18 lacs on her marriage. Her parents had given gold jewellery worth Rs. 6 lacs to her and her in-laws. At the time of marriage, her in-laws told them that the Visa application for America was pending, therefore, they did not want

-2anything in dowry. They behaved nicely for some time and thereafter, there was change in their attitude. Her father had sent Rs. 1 lac through Western Union Money Exchange. After some time, they started raising demand for dowry. She was beaten up by her husband at the instance of her mother-in-law. On 20.11.2020, her husband left her at Baghapurana, even though her parents were not living there. Her father called her in-laws from the foreign country to take her back in the matrimonial home. On this they told her father to satisfy their demands. Now she is residing in her parental house. Her husband and in-laws have refused to rehabilitate her. Ultimately, the present complaint was filed, on the basis of which present FIR has been registered.

The petitioners have filed this petition for the quashing of aforesaid FIR on the basis of compromise. The petitioners and respondent No. 2 were directed to appear before the Illaqa/Duty Magistrate for recording their statements on the basis of compromise. The detailed report regarding compromise has been received from the Court of Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Baghapurana dated 28.02.2023. The statement of respondent No. 2 has been recorded, where she confirmed the compromise with the petitioners. She submits that the compromise is genuine, voluntary and without any coercion or undue influence. She further submits that she has no objection regarding quashing of FIR. The petitioners also confirmed this fact in their joint statement.

The statement of ASI Gurnaib Singh was also recorded who further confirmed that the accused persons were neither involved in any other case nor declared proclaimed offender(s)/persons in any other criminal case.

-3without any pressure, coercion or undue influence, which is acceptable to both the parties. The parties have mutually settled all their matrimonial disputes. They have also filed joint petition under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 in which decree of divorce has been granted on 17.03.2023. Now they will be able to live independently in peace. No purpose would be served with the continuation of criminal proceedings.

Therefore, considering these facts, the petition filed by the petitioners - Manpreet Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Paramjeet Kaur is accepted and FIR No. 0151 dated 11.07.2022 under Section 498-A of I.P.C. registered at Police Station Bagha Purana, District Moga and all the consequential proceedings arising therefrom are quashed.

Accordingly, the present petition stands accepted. (AMARJOT BHATTI) JUDGE 29.05.2023 lalit Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether Reportable:

Yes/No