1. Accused Nos.1 to 3 are before this Court under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. with a prayer to quash the entire proceedings as against them in Crime No.450/2023 registered by Vidyaranyapura Police Station, Bengaluru City, for the offences punishable under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 and Section 417 read with Section 34 of IPC , which is pending before the Court of XLI Addl. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned HCGP for respondent No.1/State. Respondent No.2/defacto complainant, who is served in the matter has remained unrepresented before this Court.

3. Facts leading to filing of this criminal petition as revealed from the records are, the marriage engagement ceremony of the first petitioner with Divya, who is the niece of respondent No.2 was performed on 01.11.2023. The allegations in the first information which has resulted in registering FIR in Crime No.450/2023 by Vidyaranyapura Police Station, Bengaluru City, against the petitioners herein for the aforesaid offences is that, after engagement ceremony was held on 01.11.2023, the accused demanded that the joint family property belong