$~86 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CRL.M.C. 8950/2025 & CRL.M.A. 37383/2025 NARESH AND ORS .....Petitioners Through: Mr. S.P. Singh, Mr. Harmeet Singh and Ms. Jasveen Kaur, Advs.

Petitioners in person.

versus THE STATE (NCT OF DELHI) AND ANR .....Respondents Through: Ms. Meenakshi Dahiya, APP for State with Mr. Bhuman Bansal, Ms. Gursharan Kaur and Ms. Divya Bakshi, Advs.

SI Lokesh, PS Govindpuri Counsel for respondent no.2 (appearance not given)

Respondent no.2 in person.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAY DIGPAUL

O R D E R

% 15.12.2025

1. The instant petition under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (earlier Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973) has been filed on behalf of the petitioners praying for the quashing of FIR No.152/2021, registered at Police Station Govindpuri, for offences punishable under Sections 498A/406/342/377/354/354A/509/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter “IPC”).

2. The brief facts concerning the present dispute are that the marriage between petitioner no. 1 and respondent no. 2 was solemnized on 22.11.2019, according to Hindu rites and ceremonies. However, due to some temperamental differences between them, shortly after their marriage, they started living separately.

3. Despite efforts of reconciliation, both the parties could not settle their differences, pursuant to which respondent no. 2 got FIR No. 152/2021 registered.

4. However, at this stage, with the intervention of family members and relatives, both the parties have entered a settlement on 30.07.2025 before the Mediation Centre, Saket Courts, New Delhi. The terms and conditions of the said settlement are mentioned in the Settlement Deed which is annexed as “Annexure P-3” to the petition. In pursuance of the said settlement, the parties have jointly agreed that they shall move for divorce under Section 13B (1) and under Section 13B (2) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and accordingly, a divorce decree dated 15.11.2025 was passed by the Court concerned.

5. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submitted that respondent no. 2 has settled all her claims in respect of her dowry articles, stridhan, marriage expenses, jewelleries, gift items and claims of past, present and future maintenance and permanent alimony with the petitioners and all disputes of any nature whatsoever for a sum of ₹9,75,000/-, out of which a remaining amount of ₹3,50,000/- was agreed to be paid at the time of quashing of the FIR.

6. At this juncture, petitioner no.1 has handed over a Demand Draft bearing No. 014917 dated 05.12.2025 for the balance amount of ₹3,50,000/- in the name of respondent no. 2 today in the Court. Respondent no. 2 has verified the particulars of the Demand Draft to her satisfaction and stated them to be correct.

7. It is, thus, prayed that the instant FIR be quashed on the basis of Settlement Deed dated 30.07.2025.

8. Learned APP for the State, who appears on advance notice, accepts notice and submits that there is no opposition to the prayer made on behalf of the petitioners seeking quashing of the FIR in question in view of the settlement arrived at between the parties.

9. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.

10. The petitioners are present before this Court and have been identified by their counsel and the Investigating Officer, Police Station Govindpuri. Respondent no. 2 is also present in the Court and has been identified by her counsel and the concerned Investigating Officer.

11. The instant criminal proceedings concern non-compoundable offences that are private in nature and do not have a serious impact on society, especially considering that there is a settlement/compromise between the victim and the accused.

12. In such cases, it is settled law that High Court is also required to consider the conduct and antecedents of the accused in order to ascertain that the settlement has been entered into by her own free will and has not been imposed upon her by the petitio