O R D E R Dated this the 23^rd day of February, 2026 The accused persons 1 to 3 involved in CC. No.34/2024 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Chalakkudy, arising out of Crime No.1249/2023 of Mala Police Station, field this Crl.M.C under Section 528 of the BNSS praying for quashing all further proceedings against them. The offence alleged against the petitioners is under section 498A r/w 34 of IPC . 2. The prosecution case is that the 1^st accused being the husband of the defacto complainant and other accused persons being his relatives, subjected the defacto complainant to cruelty both physically and mentally demanding more dowry and thereby they are alleged to have committed the aforesaid offences.

3. According to the learned counsel for the petitioners, the allegations levelled against the petitioners do not constitute the offence under Section 498A of IPC . Therefore, he prayed for quashing all further proceedings against them.

4. The petition was opposed by the learned Public Prosecutor. Though notice was served on the defacto complainant/2^nd respondent, she did not turn up.

5. On a perusal of the FI statement, it can be seen that though several allegations