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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 48929
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
R.Vijayakumar, J
Maruthu @ Pavalavannan – Appellant
Versus
State of Tamilnadu – Respondent
Crl.OP.(MD)No.9052 of 2026
For the Appellants/Petitioners: C.Meenakshi Rama Prabu
For the Respondents: B.Arun, C.Gunasekaran
Criminal proceedings, even under special statutes, can be quashed when the parties reach a voluntary compromise and the victim consents to the termination of the prosecution, serving the interests of justice.
Headnote:The proceedings involved a petition filed under S.528 of the BNSS Act to quash a charge sheet in a criminal case originating from charges under the IPC, PPDL Act, and SC/ST (PoA) Act. The parties reached a compromise, and the defacto complainant confirmed the agreement with the petitioners. The Court, exercising its inherent powers, accepted the compromise and allowed the petition, directing the restitution of compensation funds. The primary issue was whether the criminal proceedings could be terminated on the basis of a private compromise between the accused and the victim in offenses involving special statutes. The Court emphasized the settlement between the parties and the victim's unequivocal consent, ruling that in view of the compromise, the continuance of the prosecution was no longer necessary. The criminal original petition is allowed and the charge sheet is quashed.
| Table of Content |
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| 1. parties seeking to quash criminal proceedings via mutual compromise. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. court's discretion to quash proceedings upon verified settlement. (Para 4 , 5 , 6) |
PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of BNSS Act, to call for the records relating to the charge sheet in Spl SC No.57/2018 pending on the file of the Spl. Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under SC/ST(POA) Act, Sivagangai, and quash the same.
ORDER
The present petition has been filed by the accused persons in Spl.S.C.No. 57 of 2018, on the file of the Special Court for exclusive trial of cases under the SC/ST(PoA) Act, Sivagangai, seeking to quash the charge sheet wherein they are charged with the offences under Sections 341, 294(b), 323, 506(ii) of IPC r/w Section 3 of PPDL Act and 3(1)(x) of SC/ST(PoA) Act, 1989.
2. Pending trial, the parties have entered into a compromise wherein the defacto complainant had agreed for quashing of the charge sheet.
3.Today, the defacto complainant is present in-person and he acknowledges the fact that he had agreed for quashing of the charge sheet.
4. In view of the above said fact, this Court is inclined to pass the following orders:-
a) The charge sheet in Spl.S.C.No.57 of 2018, on the file of the the Special Court for exclusive trial of cases under the SC/ST(PoA) Act, Sivagangai, stands quashed; and
b) The defacto complainant is directed to re-deposit a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) received by him as compensation under SC/ST(PoA) Act before the District Collector, Sivagangai, on or before 10.07.2026.
5. Considering the above said facts, charge sheet in Spl.S.C.No.57 of 2018, on the file of the Special Court for exclusive trial of cases under the SC/ST(PoA) Act, Sivagangai, is hereby quashed.
6. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands allowed. The joint compromise memo shall form part and parcel of the order.
