Betz Paul Karathra And ORS v. The State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

by GAYATRI RAJENDRA SHIMPI Date: 2026.01.23 19:10:32 +0530 GAYATRI RAJENDRA SHIMPI CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 5771 OF 2024 Betz Paul Karathra & Ors.

... Petitioners V/s.

The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

... Respondents --- Mr. Sidheshwar Biradar, Advocate for the Petitioners. Mr. Aditya Singh i/b Mr. Suman Singh, Advocate for Respondent No. 2.

Mr. Prasanna Malshe, APP for Respondent - State. ----- CORAM :

ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.

DATE :

19th JANUARY, 2026.

P.C. :

1.

By the present Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and Section 482 of the Cr. P. C., the Petitioners have sought the following substantive reliefs :- "b) quash & set aside C. R. No. 337/2022 dated 6.7.2022 registered with the Rabale Police Station, Navi Mumbai for the offences punishable u/s.498, 323, 504 & 506 of Indian Penal Code and also quash the consequential charge sheet and charges framed therein in R. C. C. No. 1366/2022 pending on the file of Ld. Judicial Magistrate First Class, Belapur against the Petitioners in the interest of justice;"

2.

Petitioners are present in Court along with their Advocate Mr. Sidheshwar Biradar. Respondent No. 2 is present in Court along with her Advocate Mr. Aditya Singh. 3.

Mr. Sidheshwar Biradar and Mr. Aditya Singh jointly submit that the matrimonial discord between the Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2 is settled. They submit that pursuant to the said settlement the Respondent No. 2 has executed a consent affidavit dated 10th January, 2026, which they have placed on record along with the Petition at page Nos. 156 to 158, which affidavit is affirmed by Respondent No. 2 before the Notary Sujata M. Shetty, same is marked 'X' for identification. 4.

Respondent No. 2 (Jennifer Betz Karathra) states that the said affidavit ('X') is filed out of her own free will and without any pressure or coercion from any person. She states that the contents of the affidavit ('X') are as per her say. She refers to paragraph Nos. 2 to 6 of the affidavit dated 10th January, 2026 . 5.

Mr. Sidheshwar Biradar and Mr. Aditya Singh submit that the matter being amicably settled, the criminal proceedings be quashed. They submit that the Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent

No. 2 have decided to separate and part ways. 6.

Mr. Prasanna Malshe, learned APP for the State, submits that no purpose would be served in continuing with criminal proceedings in view of the affidavit ('X') filed by the Respondent No. 2. He submits that the impugned FIR and criminal proceedings can be quashed.

7.

In view of the settlement between the parties and the statement made by the Respondent No. 2 in her affidavit ('X'), Petition is allowed in terms of prayer clause (b). Consequently, C. R. No. 337 of 2022 dated 06.07.2022 registered with the Rabale Police Station, Navi Mumbai and the charge-sheet bearing RCC No. 1366 of 2022 pending on the file of the JMFC, Belapur, are quashed. Criminal proceedings commenced on the basis of the impugned FIR are closed.

8.

There shall be no order as to costs.

(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)