IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Pranay Verma, J.
Kausar Khan (Smt.) v. State of M.P.
Miscellaneous Criminal Case No. 6026 of 2022 (I);
Decided on 11.1.2024*
Criminal P. C., 1973 -- S. 482 -- Penal Code, 1860 -- Ss. 323, 294, 498 A and 34 -- quashing of FIR -- allegations of cruelty agianst husband and mother-in-law -- specific instances with dates and particulars regarding cruelty and demand of dowry in shape of flat given -- statement of complainant also corroborated by statements of other witnesses -- sufficient material available on record to proceed with agianst husband and mother-in-law -- however other three relatives living in different cities -- allegations also general in nature -- charge sheet against them quashed. (2012) 10 SCC 741 and (2023) 3 SCC 330 referred to. [Paras 7, 8 & 10
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ORDER
1. By this petition preferred under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the petitioners/accused have prayed for quashment of charge sheet dated 23.12.2020 forming subject matter of RCT No.594/2021 pending before the Judicial Magistrate, First Class- Indore arising out of Crime No.277/2020 registered at Police Station MIG, Indore for offences punishable under section 323, 294, 498-A, 34 of the IPC.
2. As per the prosecution, on 26.6.2020 a report was lodged by the complainant/respondent No.2, to the effect that she was married to accused No.5 on 31.1.2018. At the time of marriage her parents had given considerable amount of articles to the accused by way of dowry on demand having been raised by them in that regard. They included jewelry also. Her mother-in-law, accused No.1 was however dissatisfied with the quantity of the dowry and immediately after marriage started ill-treating her. She used to instigate accused No.5 who consequently used to abuse her. Accused No.3 Wasim had once brought a meat of deer and she was asked to cook the same and upon her refusal accused No.5 had beated her. Once he had turned her out of the house and had not opened the door. He used to get angry time and again and used to beat her. He had asked the complainant to ask her father to get a flat for them at Ranade Compound. On 3.8.2018 accused No.5 found out that she is pregnant whereupon he beat her and forced her to get an abortion done. In October, 2019 he again repeated demand for a flat. The same was also done by accused No.1. Accused No.5 used to have physical relationship with her against her will as a result of which her health deteriorated but he did not get her treated. In December, accused No.2 and 3 came to her father and asked him for a flat at Ranade compound. On 24.1.2020 when she went to her matrimonial house she was turned out of the same.
3. On lodging of the report by the complainant, FIR was registered and investigation was commenced during the course of which statements of various witnesses were recorded and after completion of investigation charge sheet has been filed by the Police before the Court concerned.
4. This petition has been preferred by the accused on the ground that allegations as levelled by the complainant against them are false and fabricated. No act as alleged by the complainant has ever been committed by the accused and they have never harassed her or her family members by raising any demand of dowry. The allegations are omnibus in nature and no specific overt act has been attributed to any of the accused. The allegations are vague and concocted. The proceedings instituted by complainant are an abuse of process of law. Accused No.1 is residing at Khargone with other co-accused and they have never lived along with complainant and accused No.5. Accuseds No.3 and 4 are brother-in-law and sister-in-law of complainant who live in different city i.e Aasta, District Sehore and have their separate family. Their names have been included by complainant solely with the purpose of implicating all the family members. No allegations in their regard have been levelled. The complainant has lived happily and peacefully with accused No.5 who always treated her properly hence there was no question of any harassment having been meted out to the complainant by him. The complainant was involved in extra matrimonial relationship with a third person and when the same got exposed she threatened to commit suicide. She apologized for the same also in February, 2019. It is thus she who has always been at fault and for covering up the same has lodged the instant complaint. She had deserted accused No.5 who had hence sent a legal notice to her on 24.6.2010 but she did not come back to the matrimonial house and instead has lodged the false FIR. There is no corroboration of the allegation of the complainant as regard her forceful abortion. It is evident that the entire complaint is false and made up. It hence submitted that FIR reg
The court established that specific allegations and evidence are crucial in determining the involvement of each accused in dowry harassment cases, leading to the quashing of proceedings against those....
Matrimonial disputes require specific allegations for prosecution; vague accusations may result in quashing of proceedings to prevent misuse of legal processes.
Insufficient evidence to frame charges against accused Nos. 2 and 5 to 8 under the specified sections of the IPC and D.P. Act.
The court emphasized the importance of examining the prima facie evidence of alleged offenses from the complainant's FIR and chargesheet, even if a chargesheet had been filed.
Specific allegations are required for prosecution under dowry laws; vague claims against relatives are insufficient.
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