IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

266 Date of decision: 19.05.2026 Shailendra Singh Sekhawat and others ...Petitioner(s)

VERSUS State of Punjab and another ...Respondent(s)

CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD S. BHARDWAJ Present :- Mr. Piyush Setia, Advocate for the petitioner(s).

Ms. Alisha Soni, AAG Punjab.

Mr. Shubham Goyal, Advocate for respondent No.2 (through V.C.).

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VINOD S. BHARDWAJ, J. (Oral)

1. Prayer in the present petition is for quashing of FIR No.204 dated 24.09.2019 under Sections 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 registered at Police Station City-1, Abohar, District Fazilka along with all subsequent proceedings arising therefrom on the basis of compromise dated 15.11.2025 (Annexure P-2).

2. Briefly stated, the facts of the present case are that the FIR was registered on the complaint lodged by Ravi Godara son of Mani Ram. In the complaint, it was alleged that the complainant was the owner and partner in Bus No. RJ13PA5694 (Model 2015) and Bus No. RJ13PA5695 (Model 2015). It was alleged that accused Nos. 4 and 5 facilitated execution of an agreement dated 18.10.2018 between the complainant and accused No. 1 for sale of the aforesaid buses for a total sale consideration of Rs.40 lakhs. As per the terms of the said Agreement to Sell, an initial amount was to be paid at the time of execution of the agreement, while a further amount of Rs.1,49,000/- was agreed to be paid subsequently. It was further agreed that an amount of Rs.12,80,000/- was to be paid on 18.11.2018. Besides the aforesaid payments, the accused persons had undertaken to pay a sum of Rs.60,000/- per month per bus commencing from 18.11.2018. The complaint further disclosed that possession of both the buses was handed over to the accused persons on 18.10.2018 itself and that, at the time of taking possession, the accused persons issued three cheques towards part payment of the agreed consideration. However, all the said cheques were dishonoured upon presentation. It was further alleged that accused No. 3 had assumed responsibility in relation to execution and compliance of the aforesaid agreement. According to the complainant, despite repeated demands raised in the presence of witnesses for payment of the agreed amounts, the accused persons continuously avoided making payment on one pretext or another. The complainant further alleged that whenever payment was demanded, the accused persons not only refused to clear the outstanding liability but also extended threats to the complainant, stating that in the event he persisted in demanding the money, he would be killed. On the basis of the aforesaid allegations, it was alleged that all the accused persons, acting in connivance with each other and sharing common intention, dishonestly induced the complainant to part with possession of the buses, failed to honour the terms of the agreement and thereby committed offences of cheating, fraud and criminal intimidation. The complainant accordingly sought registration of a criminal case against the accused persons and prayed for protection of his life and liberty.

3. However, with the intervention of the respectables, the parties have decided to compromise the matter. Hence, the present petition.

4. The parties were directed to appear before the learned trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate vide order dated 03.02.2026 of this Court, to get their statements recorded regarding the compromise arrived at between the parties and a report in this regard was called for.

5. Pursuant to the said order, report has been received from the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Abohar vide Memo No. 410 dated

17.04.2026. The relevant extract of the report is reproduced as under:-

6. Learned State counsel does not dispute the factum of the compromise amongst the parties and does not have any serious objection to the resolution of the dispute amongst the parties.

7. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No. 2 reiterates the settlement and his concurrence to th