Court quashed criminal proceedings based on mutual settlement between the accused and the complainant under IPC and Dowry Act.

ORAL ORDER

In this petition, petitioner has sought for the following reliefs:-

“a. Call for records in C.C.No.15818/2020 for the alleged offences punishable under Section 4 98A IPC r/w 3 & 4 DP Act as against the petitioner is concerned.

b. Quash the entire proceedings in C.C.No.15818/2020 pending on the file of Hon’ble 9^th Addl. CMM Court, Bengaluru City under Section 4 98A of IPC r/w 3 & 4 of DP Act as against the petitioner is concerned.”

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner – accused and 2^nd respondent – complainant and her counsel have filed Application along with Joint / Declaration Affidavit duly signed by the petitioner, 2^nd respondent and their respective counsel and the same is taken on record.

3. Petitioner – accused and his counsel and 2^nd respondent and her counsel are physically present before the Court and they admit the contents of the Joint / Declaration Affidavit, which reads as under:-

“JOINT / DECLARATION AFFIDAVIT “We, Harishikesh Simhadhari Ramadass, S/o. Late Simhadhari Krishnaswamy Ramadass Naidu, Aged about 32 years, residing at: Flat G-5, Vanshree Solitaire, 4^th Main, 1^st Cross, Chinnapanahalli, Bangalore North, Marathahalli, Bangalore-560 037 and Smt. Sneha Mary Cameons, W/o. Harishikesh Simhadhari Ramadass, aged about 34 years, residing at No.101, Innerspaces, Glory Fields Choodasandra Road, Bengaluru-560 099, do hereby solemnly affirm and state on oath as follows:-

1. We submit that we are the petitioners and the respondent No.2 in the above case. We know the facts and circumstances of the case and hence we are swearing to the contents of this affidavit.

2. We submit that respondent No.2 Smt. Sneha Mary Cameons, lodged a complaint in Crime No.124/2020, Parappana Agrahara Police Station and thereafter charge sheet has been filed against the petitioners for offence punishable under Section 4 98A & 34 of IPC, or Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act which is pending before the IX Addl. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bangalore in C.C.No.15818/2020.

3. We submit that by the intervention of friends and family, we have compromised ourselves in M.C.No.5078/2020 before the Bangalore Mediation Centre and I (Respondent No.2) is not inclined to prosecute the aforesaid case against the petitioners and prays this Hon'ble Court to quash the entire proceedings in Crime No.C.C.No.15818/2020 dated 04.05.2020 pending on the file of Hon'ble IX Addl. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bangalore under Section 4 98A & 34 r/w 3 & 4 of DP Act as against the petitioners are concerned.

4. We submit that, if this Hon'ble Court is not pleased to accept the accompanying Joint Affidavit, the petitioners and the respondent No.2 will suffer irreparable loss and great hardship. Whereas, no hardship will be caused to the prosecution if the accompanying joint affidavit is allowed. We do hereby solemnly affirm and state that this is our name and signature and the contents stated above are true and correct to the best of our knowledge, information and belief.”

4. In view of the aforesaid settlement entered into between the petitioner and 2^nd respondent, I pass the following:

ORDER (i) The petition is disposed of in terms of Joint / Declaration Affidavit dated 23.06.2025.

(ii) The proceedings in C.C.No.15818/2020 (arising out of Crime No.124/2020 of 1^st respondent – Police) registered for the offences punishable under Sections 4 98A & 34 of IPC read with Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act , pending on the file of IX Addl.