$~P-1 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Reserved on: 19.02.2026 Pronounced on: 28.03.2026 Uploaded on: 28.03.2026 + CRL.M.C. 5847/2025 SANDHA GLOBAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PVT LTD .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Harshal Arora, Advocate.

versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Hitesh Vali, APP for State.

Mr. Vivek Nagar, Advocate for R2 to 4.

CORAM:

HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN

J U D G M E N T

1. The present petition has been filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 [“BNSS”] (corresponding to Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 [“CrPC”]), seeking quashing of FIR No. 561/2024 dated 24.12.2024, registered at Police Station Najaf Garh, District Dwarka, New Delhi, under Sections 289/125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 [“BNS”], alongwith all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, on the ground that the parties have amicably settled their disputes.

2. I have heard Mr. Harshal Arora, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Hitesh Vali, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, and Mr. Vivek Nagar, learned counsel for respondent Nos. 2 to 4.

3. The impugned FIR was registered at the instance of one Marcel Tiga (since deceased), who was working as a Lineman with the petitioner – Sandha Global Information Technology Private Limited. The petitioner is a service provider to BSES Rajdhani Power Limited. The allegation, as emerging from the FIR, is that, on 16.12.2024, the deceased was cutting and pruning a tree at a grid electricity office in Najafgarh, New Delhi, when a branch of the tree broke. He caught hold of another branch, which also broke, causing him to fall to the ground. He sustained injuries, and subsequently succumbed to them on 24.12.2024.

4. The family members of the deceased [respondent Nos. 2 to 4 herein] have thereafter entered into a settlement with the petitioner, as recorded in a Settlement Agreement dated 01.04.2025. The settlement inter alia records that the petitioner had paid a “voluntary compensation amount” of Rs. 15,00,000/- to the wife of the deceased [respondent No. 2 herein], without admitting the allegations contained in the impugned FIR, and with a view to securing the interests of the family members of its deceased employee.

5. The representative of the petitioner as well as the family members of the deceased were present before the Court during the course of the hearing, and were duly identified by the Investigating Officer as well as by their respective learned counsel. The family members of the deceased have affirmed that they have settled their disputes voluntarily, and do not wish to pursue the criminal proceedings arising out of the impugned FIR. 6. However, during the hearing on 07.01.2026, Mr. Vali sought time to file a status report, having regard to the specific allegations contained in the impugned FIR.

7. Pursuant thereto, the State has placed on record a status report alongwith relevant medical documents. It is stated therein that, at about 11:30 a.m. on 16.12.2024, the deceased was brought to Surya Kiran Hospital, Tuda Mandi, Najafgarh, after having fallen from a height. However, owing to the injuries sustained by him, he was unable to give a statement at that stage. His statement was thereafter recorded on 22.12.2024, wherein he alleged that he was not wearing any safety equipment at the time of the incident, as a result of which he sustained serious injuries. The deceased passed away on 24.12.2024 during the course of treatment. The cause of death is stated to be “septicaemic shock consequent upon ante mortem injury to neck, produced by blunt force/surface impact to C3-C5 cervical vertebra and spinal cord”.

8. Mr. Nagar has also placed on record an affidavit of the wife of the deceased [respondent No. 2 herein] dated 11.06.2025, wherein it is affirmed that she was present at the time the statement of the deceased was recorded, on the basis of which the impugned FIR came to be registered. It is further stated th