$~32 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CRL.M.C. 298/2026 SURESH CHAND .....Petitioner Through: Mohd. Anas, Advocate with petitioner in person.

versus THE STATE GNCT OF DELHI & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Meenakshi Dahiya, APP for the State with Ms. Vanshika Singh and Mr. Bhanu Pratap, Advocates SI Amit Yadav, PS.: IP Estate.

Mr. A.K. Mishra, Advocate for R-2 with R-2 in person.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SAURABH BANERJEE

O R D E R

% 12.02.2026

1. By virtue of the present petition under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) read with Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Cr.P.C.), the petitioner seeks quashing of FIR No.296/2018 dated 12.12.2018 registered under Sections 354A/323/506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) at PS.: I.P. Estate, Delhi, and all proceedings emanating therefrom, in view of the Settlement Deed dated 20.12.2025 [Annexure P4] arrived at between the petitioner and the respondent no.2., which is accompanied by the identity proof of the petitioner.

2. Issue notice.

3. Learned APP for the State accepts notice, and records her objection

4. Respondent no.2 also accepts notice. Respondent no.2 affirms the Settlement Deed dated 20.12.2025 and submits that she has voluntarily settled all disputes with the petitioner, as also that she does not wish to pursue the criminal proceedings against the petitioner. She, thus, submits that she has no objection to the quashing of the present FIR.

5. Further, the petitioner and the respondent no.2, as well as their credentials on record, have all been identified by the Investigating Officer. 6. The respondent no.2 herein has given her affidavit to the aforesaid effect and, thus she is no longer inclined to support the case of the prosecution on the basis of the Settlement Deed dated 20.12.2025 as she has voluntarily entered into with the petitioner in the midst of pendency of the proceedings to bring to quietus the pending disputes inter se them. As such, there is no reason for prolonging the trial and/ or continuing with the proceedings emanating from the present FIR.

7. As such, and even otherwise considering the existing facts and the overall events unfolding in their entirety, even though this Court is mindful that the present FIR has been registered under Sections 354A/323/506 of the IPC, this Court is inclined to quash the present FIR in exercise of its inherent powers under Section 528 of the BNSS, particularly, whence the same is in the interest of justice and will also be in the interest of the parties and betterment of their future.

8. As such, in view of the Settlement entered between the parties, they shall be bound by the terms therein, as also in order to bring a quietus to the present disputes between the parties and following the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Jitendra Raghuvanshi & Ors. vs.

Babita Raguvanshi & Anr. (2013) 4 SCC 58, Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab & Anr. (2012) 10 SCC 303 and Narinder Singh & Ors. vs. State of Punjab & Anr. (2014) 6 SCC 466, this Court is of the opinion that an exercise in futility.

9. Accordingly, the present petition is allowed and FIR No.296/2018 dated 12.12.2018 registered under Sections 354A/323/506 of the IPC at PS.: I.P. Estate, Delhi and all proceedings emanating therefrom are hereby quashed.

10. Accordingly, the petition alongwith pending application is disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

SAURABH BANERJEE, J FEBRUARY 12, 2026 NA