Prajakta Shubham Masne v. State Of Maharashtra, Through Police Station, Ghugus, Dist Chandrapur
2026:BHC-NAG:6284-DB 1/4
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR.
CRIMINAL APPLICATION (APL) NO.1988 OF 2025 Prajakta Shubham Masne, Aged about 28 years, Occup.Service, R/o Flat No.A3-201,Built-up, 2nd Floor of "Florida Minis" Manjari Road, Kehav Nagar, Mundhawa, Pune District Pune, 411036.....Sister in law.
... Applicant -Versus1.State of Maharashtra, through Police Station Officer,Ghugus, District Chandrapur.
2.Pritavi Rushikesh Dhanokar, Aged about 24 years, occup.Education, R/o Chemical Ward No.6, Near Airtel Tower, Ghugus,Tah and Dist.Chandrapur.
... Non-applicants ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mr.S.S.Sohoni, counsel for the applicant.
Ms.M.A.Barabde, APP for the State.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CORAM: MRS. VRUSHALI V. JOSHI, J.
DATED: 22/04/2026.
ORAL JUDGMENT: - 1) Heard.
2) Admit. By consent of the learned Counsel for the parties, the Application is heard finally.
3) The applicant has filed the present application to
2/4 quash and set aside the Charge-sheet bearing No. 89 of 2025 for the offence punishable under Sections 85, 352, 351(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the First Information Report vide Crime No.214 of 2025 registered with Police Station Ghugus, District Chandrapur, for the offence punishable under Sections 85, 352, 351(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
4) The applicant, who is the married sister-in-law of non-applicant No.2, has filed the present application. Nonapplicant No.2 has lodged a complaint against all the family members. The marriage of non-applicant No.2 with the brother of the applicant was solemnized on 24.12.2024. It is a love marriage. Non-applicant No.2 resided with her husband and his family members for a few days; thereafter, she started residing with her parents. She has lodged the complaint alleging physical and mental cruelty at the hands of all the family members.
5) Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is the married sister-in-law of non-applicant No.2. The only allegation against the present applicant is that she used to instigate her mother-in-law over the phone, and thereafter, the mother-in-law used to quarrel with nonapplicant No.2. Except this, there are no specific allegations. On the basis of these allegations, the offence came to be registered. It is further submitted that, the investigation is complete and the charge-sheet has been filed, and there is no material against the applicant except the vague allegation of instigation over the phone.
3/4 6) Considering the nature of allegations, it is prayed that the FIR and charge-sheet filed against the applicant be quashed and set aside.
7) Though non-applicant No.2 is served, she has remained absent.
8) Learned APP submits that, these are the only allegations against the present applicant and prays for passing an appropriate order.
9) Heard learned counsel for the parties.
10) The applicant is the sister-in-law of non-applicant No.2 and is residing at Pune. She was not residing with nonapplicant No.2. Merely because she is a relative of the husband, she has been implicated along with other family members. The only allegation is that she used to instigate her mother-in-law over the phone. In the absence of any specific overt act, no offence is made out against the applicant. Hence, the following order:
ORDER
i) The Criminal application is allowed. ii) Charge-sheet bearing No. 89 of 2025 for the offence punishable under Sections 85, 352, 351(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 pending on the file of 5th Joint Civil Judge, Junior division and JMFC, Chandrapur and the First Information Report vide Crime No.214 of 2025 registered
4/4 with Police Station Ghugus, District Chandrapur, for the offence punishable under Sections 85, 352, 351(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 are hereby quashed and set aside.
iii) Criminal application stands disposed of. (MRS.VRUSHALI V. JOSHI, J) Signed by: Kavita P Tayade Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 23/04/2026 19:04:05