A criminal petition may become infructuous when a key party dies and the matter is pending before a different judicial authority.

ORDER

Dated this the 26^th day of November, 2025 The accused in FIR No. 360 of 2021 of Ponkunnam Police station filed this Crl.M.C. under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C praying for quashing Annexure A1 FIR. This Crl.M.C is filed mainly on the ground that the matter has been settled with the defacto complainant/2^nd respondent. During the pendency of the Crl.M.C., the 2^nd respondent died and her husband was impleaded as additional 3^rd respondent.

2. The learned counsel for the additional 3^rd respondent submitted that the matter was not settled with the petitioner and that the signature of the 2^nd respondent was obtained by the petitioner on a blank paper, and also that she had executed a letter in that respect, which has been produced as Annexure R1. Moreover, now the police after investigation have filed final report and case is now pending before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Kanjirappally.

In the above circumstances, this Crl.M.C has also become infructuous. In the light of above circumstances, this Crl.M.C is disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to raise all contentions before the appropriate forum.