ORDER :

Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa, J.

1. The instant petition under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973[for short 'Cr.P.C'] has been filed by the petitioners/Accused Nos. 1 to 7, seeking quashment of proceedings against them in Crime No. 125 of 2021, on the file of Korukonda Police Station, Rajahmundry Urban registered for the offences punishable under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code[for short 'IPC'] and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act[for short 'the Act'].

2. The facts which led to the filing of this petition are:

a. The marriage of Respondent No. 2 was performed with Petitioner No. 1/Accused No. 1 on 06.11.2004. At the time of marriage, on demand of the mother-in-law of Respondent No. 2, an amount of Rs.5 lakhs and two sovereigns of gold were given towards dowry. After some period, all the accused started harassing Respondent No. 2 demanding additional dowry. Petitioner No. 1/Accused No. 1 at the instigation of his sisters i.e., Petitioners 2 to 7/Accused Nos. 2 to 7 used to harass her to bring additional dowry. Unable to bear with their harassment, Respondent No. 2 went to her parental home. Though the matter was placed before elders for compromise,