Full Text
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 09th April, 2026
RAUNAQ GUPTA & ORS. .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Prakash Kumar Singh, Mr. Vishnukant Pandey and Mr. Manoj Kumar, Advocates alongwith
Petitioners in person.
Through: Mr. Raj Kumar, APP for the State with
SI Shivam Sahu.
Respondent No.2 (through V.C.).
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JUDGMENT
1. Petitioners herein seek quashing of FIR No. 307/2023 dated 18.05.2023, registered at Police Station Krishna Nagar, Delhi, for commission of offences under Sections 498A/406/323/354/354A/354B/354C/34 IPC, along with all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of compromise arrived at between the parties.
2. The marriage between complainant (respondent No.2 herein) and petitioner No.1 was solemnized on 16.01.2016, as per Hindu rites and customs. No child is born from the abovesaid wedlock.
3. However, on account of temperamental differences, the parties started residing separately since 02.07.2022 and when a complaint was lodged by CRL.M.C. 2664/2026 2 respondent No.2, it resulted into registration of the abovesaid FIR.
4. Charge-sheet has already been filed.
5. Fortunately, with the intervention of common friends and relatives, parties have entered into a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated 31.10.2025 and have been able to resolve all their disputes and have decided to part ways gracefully.
6. It is in the abovesaid backdrop that quashing is being sought.
7. Petitioners are present in Court.
8. Respondent no. 2 has joined the proceedings through video-conferencing and she has been duly identified by her counsel as well as by Investigating Officer.
9. When asked, respondent No. 2 reiterates the terms of abovesaid settlement. She submits that there is already a divorce between them by way of mutual consent on 24.12.2025. She states that she has agreed to accept a total sum of Rs. 15,00,000/- as full and final settlement in lieu of istridhan, alimony, maintenance for self (past, present and future). She submits that she has already received Rs.10,00,000/- and the balance amount of Rs.5,00,000/has been received today in the shape of Demand Draft drawn on Bank of Baroda. She states that she has entered into the abovesaid settlement out of her own free will, without any coercion and influence from any corner whatsoever and therefore, she would have ‘no objection’ if FIR in question is quashed.
10. Petitioner No.1 submits that he has a friend with the name of Harish Chander and the present draft has been prepared with his help as he was not carrying the requisite documents with him.
11. In view of the settlement arrived at between the parties, continuing with CRL.M.C. 2664/2026 3 criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose, especially, when dispute does not involve any public interest and is, primarily, private in nature. In any case, even the complainant does not wish to press any charges against the petitioners.
12. Accordingly, exercising inherent powers vested in this Court under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, it is deemed appropriate to quash the instant FIR.
13. Consequently, to secure the ends of justice, FIR No. 307/2023 dated 18.05.2023, registered at Police Station Krishna Nagar, Delhi, for commission of offences under Sections 498A/406/323/354/354A/354B/354C/34 IPC, along with all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, is, hereby, quashed. Original affidavits and MoU of the parties, copies of which have been placed on record in the present proceedings, shall be submitted before the learned Trial Court within four weeks from today, so that these become part of Trial Court Record.
14. The petition stands disposed of in aforesaid terms.
JUDGE APRIL 9, 2026/ss/sa