ANJANI KUMAR SHARAN, J.
Criminal Misc. No.885 of 2022
(30.11.2022)
Praveen Kumar Singh & Ors. ... Petitioners
vs.
State of Bihar & Anr. ... Opp. Party
Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Sections 498A/34 read with Sections 3/4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 – Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 – Section 482 – Dowry offence and cruelty – Cognizance of offence – Informant has lodged FIR against petitioners after filing of divorce case by her husband – In absence of specific allegation and prima facie case against co-accused, order taking cognizance will be bad in law – Order taking cognizance set aside – Application allowed. (Paras 6 and 7)
ORDER
Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned APP for the State. Though Vakalatnama has been filed on behalf of the informant, but today nobody appears on her behalf.
2. The present quashing application has been filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing the order dated 31.8.2021, passed by learned A.C.J.M.-IV, Patna City in Didarganj P.S. Case No.52 of 2021 (GR No.807/21) by which the learned A.C.J.M.-IV, Patna City has taken cognizance under Sections 498A and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act against all the accused persons.
3. The prosecution case, in brief, is that the informant has lodged the present FIR against the petitioners with allegations that the informant was married with the son of petitioner no.1, Praveen Kumar Singh on 20.04.2018 according to Hindu rituals. From the second day of marriage, the petitioners including her husband started reproaching the informant that she belongs to a beggar and dishonest family. It is further alleged in the FIR that the husband of the informant has taken Rs.6,00,000/- (rupees six lakhs) from the informant for reception at Begusarai and Ahmedabad. It is also alleged that inlaws of the informant have pressurized her to bring Rs.20,00,000/- (rupees twenty lakhs) in cash and a four wheeler as dowry and started abusing and assaulting her for nonfulfillment of demand of additional dowry. Later on, the family of the informant gave ornaments of Rs.6,00,000/- (rupees six lakhs) to the petitioners. It is further alleged that when the informant went to Ahmedabad, her husband tortured her there. It is also alleged that the husband of the informant has illicit relation with other girls. It is alleged that the husband of the informant is impotent. It is also alleged in the FIR that when the informant tried to take part in the Tilak ceremony of petitioner no.3, Shubham Shubhra, all petitioners forced her to go back but when she denied, the petitioners including the husband of the informant locked her in a room and tried to kill her by sprinkling petrol.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that petitioner no.1, Praveen Kumar Singh is father-in-law, petitioner no.2, Rani Kumari is mother-in-law and petitioner no.3, Shubham Shubhra is brother-in-law of the informant. It is submitted that the petitioners are innocent and have falsely been implicated in the present case. It is further submitted that the husband of the informant is a Scientist/Engineer in ISRO since September, 2012 posted at Ahmedabad. He is a polio affected person from his childhood. The marriage of the informant was solemnized through Jeevan Sathi App in February, 2018 and marriage was solemnized on 20.04.2018. After perusal of the Biodata of the husband of the informant, the family of the informant approached the petitioners for marriage of their daughter knowing the fact that son of petitioner no.1 is 50% handicapped (Annexure-2 series). It is submitted that petitioners were aware that their son is disable, hence, they have not taken dowry from the family of the informant rather they themselves bore the entire expenses of marriage except the expenses of marriage ceremony solemnized on 20.04.2018 at Patna. It is further submitted that the husband of the informant has filed an informatory complaint to the Senior House Officer, Satellite Police Station at Ahmedabad on 29.06.2020 stating therein that there have been incompatibility issues between him and his wife just after one week from the date of getting married, that there was consistent allegation on him being important and that is why she used to make personal comment on his physical disability and, as such, he never consummated their marriage (Annexure-3). It is submitted that the husband of the informant has already filed a divorce case before the Family Court at Ahmedabad on 22.07.2020 being Hindu Marriage Petition No.731/2020 on the ground of mental and physical torture committed on him on several occasions by t
General allegations against relatives in matrimonial disputes require specificity to avoid misuse of legal provisions; familial ties do not necessitate implication without clear actionable offenses.
The court ruled that in the context of matrimonial disputes, without specific allegations against accused relatives, criminal proceedings may be quashed to prevent abuse of legal process.
The truthfulness of allegations in an FIR cannot be examined at the stage of quashing, and the accused have the opportunity to raise objections at the time of framing of charges.
The court emphasized that the truthfulness of allegations in an FIR should not be examined at the quashing stage and that an FIR cannot be quashed on the basis of affidavits.
General allegations against in-laws in matrimonial disputes require specific accusations to avoid quashing of FIR under Section 482, Cr.P.C.
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