Ankush Golecha and Others vs State of M.P. and Another

Indrani Datta, J.

Petitioners have filed this petition u/s 482 of Cr.PC for quashing the entire proceedings with respect to Crime No. 59 of 2006 registered at Thana Padav, District Gwalior for offence punishable under Sections 498A and 323/34 of IPC and Sections 4 and 6 of Dowry Prohibition Act initiated against the petitioners and pending before JMFC, Gwalior.

As per petitioners, the facts stated in brief are that petitioner No. 1 Ankush Golecha was married with respondent No. 2 Smt. Shweta Golecha according to Hindu religion. Their marriage did not last longer and a decree of mutual divorce u/s 13B of Hindu Marriage Act was granted by Principal Judge of Family Court in Case No. 86-A of 2007 on the terms of giving Rs. 32 lacs for maintenance of Smt. Shweta Golecha and her son Viraj Golecha @ Veer Jain. Criminal Trial No. 4995 of 2007 was also pending in the Court of JMFC, Gwalior against petitioners. Both the parties thereafter filed compromise applications before learned Trial Court u/s 320 of Cr.PC and learned Trial Court on 13-1-2009 rejected both the applications in respect of Section 498A and Sections 4 and 6 of Dowry Prohibition Act on the ground that Section 498A of IPC is non-compoundable offence. Therefore, this petition to invoke inherent powers for quashing the proceedings of Cr. Case No. 4995 of 2007 in connection with Crime No. 59 of 2006.

Perused the certified copies of order sheets and impugned order dated 13-1-2009 passed in Cr. Case No. 4995 of 2007 pending in the Court of JMFC, Gwalior.

In case of B.S. Joshi v. State of Haryana and Anr. AIR 2003 SC 259, Hon''ble Apex Court has held that in matrimonial disputes when both the parties approached before the High Court and filed application for quashing the FIR, the High Court can quash the criminal proceedings or FIR or complaint and Section 320 of Cr.PC does not limit or affect inherent powers of High Court granted u/s 482 of Cr.PC.

In Satyaendra Dharmpal and Ors. v. State of U.P. 2008 Cri. LJ 919, in that case of matrimonial dispute application was filed u/s 482 of Cr.PC for quashing criminal proceedings against husband under Sections 323, 504, 506 and 498 of IPC and Section 3/4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, the parties arrived at compromise, there were no chances of conviction. Considering this, proceedings were quashed.

According to the contents of the petition filed u/s 482 of Cr.PC and other relevant documents on record, it is clear that the parties have resolved their dispute. They are personally present in the Court. Respondent No. 2 Shweta Golecha does not want to proceed further against her husband petitioner No. 1 Ankush Golecha and other petitioners with respect to the Criminal Case No. 4995 of 2007.

In the light of above observations and for the foregoing reasons, I allow the petition and quash the criminal proceedings of Cr. Case No. 4995 of 2007 in connection with Crime No. 59 of 2006 pending in the Court of JMFC, Gwalior.

A copy of this order be sent to the Trial Court concerned for information.