IMPORTANT POINT
Allegations of mental harassment and interference by a mother-in-law do not constitute cruelty under IPC Section 498-A without evidence of willful conduct leading to grave injury or coercion.

ORDER :

G. S. Ahluwalia, J.

This application under section 482 of Criminal Procedure Code has been filed seeking quashment of FIR and subsequent proceedings in Crime No. 108/2021 registered at Police Station Mahila Thana, Madan Mahal, Jabalpur, for offence under sections 498-A, 506 read with section 34 of Indian Penal Code and section 3, 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act.

2. Facts necessary for disposal of the present application in short are that respondent No. 2 lodged an FIR to the effect that she got married to the son of the applicant on 23-4-2016 in Hotel Krishna, Napier Town, Jabalpur. It was a love marriage but it was attended by the family members of both the parties. At the time of her marriage, the applicant was in service and was posted in Chakrata (Uttarakhand). After four months of their marriage, applicant took voluntary retirement and shifted to Pune and she started residing with them. She started interfering with day to day working of respondent No. 2 and also used abusive language in order to harass her mentally. Her husband was also taking side of his mother. The applicant was not happy with the marriage of her son with respondent No. 2. She had unnecessarily started claiming that as per astrologers, there are two marriages in the life of respondent No. 2 and accordingly, she was passing taunts. Whenever, they used to go to market, her husband used to quarrel with her and used to leave her in the market. When she narrated the incident to the applicant, then she also did not try to convince her son/husband of respondent No. 2 but she also continued to pass taunts and also used to cause her mental cruelty. Her husband all the time started harassing her for demand of dowry and also started demanding flat and car. Since her father had already retired and had no independent source of income and whatever bank saving he had, were already spent, therefore, she did not narrate the incident to her father. Thereafter, her mental and physical harassment continued and the demand of costly T. V. costly Camera and its lenses were being made. Respondent No. 2 had also spent money out of her savings. Later on, demand of costly articles continued. She also purchased costly Drone, triple door fridge, Microwave and other household articles. Although, the marriage was not arrange marriage and it was love marriage but immediately after the marriage, her husband had raised demand of dowry. He was in the habit of strangulating her. After the marriage, she came to know that her husband is not physically fit and in spite of various suggestions, he did not go to the doctor and on the contrary, he started assaulting her physically as well as mentally. Seven months have passed but she has not conceived. Every time her husband had given a threat to give divorce and accordingly, he is causing mental harassment to her. Whenever, she tried to convince him, he extended a threat that he would leave the house and change his mobile number. She has an apprehension that since her husband has no property and no permanent address, therefore, her husband may leave the country at any point of time and may spoil her life and therefore, it is prayed that passport of her husband may be forfeited so that her husband may not go to foreign country. In the meanwhile, applicant went to America to reside with her daughter and her son-in-law and now, her husband is also intending to leave the country and accordingly, it was prayed that his passport should be immediately seized. She has also apprehension that his husband may change mobile number and address so that his whereabouts may not be located and he may also leave the country. It was further alleged that she was not being given the personal information like bank account, social media account and information regarding her private life etc. In the month of January, her husband came to Jabalpur and during that stay also, he assaulted and caused physical injury to her. When her parents came to know about the behavior