ORISSA HIGH COURT
ANURAG SETHI – Appellant
Versus
STATE OF ODISHA – Respondent
Order :
Sanjeeb K Panigrahi, J.
1. Since both the Criminal Miscellaneous Cases arise out of the same matrimonial relationship, involve identical parties, and emanate from a common factual matrix raising overlapping questions of law and fact, this Court deems it appropriate to hear and dispose of the same by a common order. For the sake of convenience, clarity, and orderly adjudication, CRLMC No. 3352 of 2025 is treated as the lead/main case, and the facts and pleadings therein are referred to unless the context otherwise requires.
2. In this Criminal Miscellaneous Petition, the petitioner seeks a direction from this Court to quash the criminal proceedings arising out of FIR No. 202/2024 and the consequential charge-sheet, contending that the prosecution is malicious, an abuse of process of law, and does not disclose any prima facie offence warranting continuation of trial.
I. FACTUAL MATRIX OF THE CASE:
2. The facts of the case are as follows:
(i) The marriage between the Petitioner (husband) and the Opposite Party (wife) was solemnized on 07.07.2021 as per Hindu rites during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, allegedly with restricted attendance in compliance with government guid
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