THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE K. SUJANA CRIMINAL PETITION No.6053 of 2025

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘the BNSS’) seeking to quash the proceedings against the petitioners in C.C.No.2081 of 2020 on the file of learned V Additional Metropolitan Magistrate, Ranga Reddy District at L.B. Nagar, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 498-A and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, ‘IPC’) and Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (for short, ‘DP Act’).

2. The brief facts of the case are that on the de-facto complainant lodged a report before the Police stating that she married accused No.1 on 22.02.2019. At the time of marriage, her parents gave 60 tulas of gold, 5 kilograms of silver, and cash as dowry. During this process, the accused demanded additional cash. The marriage was performed by her parents in a grand ceremony. After the wedding, accused No.1 visited the house of the complainant on 23.02.2019. The following day, 24.02.2019, a ceremony was held at the residence of her mother. During that event, her husband’s sister quarrelled with her mother, alleging that there was no communication regarding the gifts. They gave silver items to the sister, but further demands were made to give items to the other two sisters as well. Later that day, the complainant went to her in-laws’ house. The in-laws told her husband that they felt insulted by the complainant’s mother. He did not respond to them, but instead told the complainant that her mother was not a good person and that he would continue saying so. On 27.02.2019, the complainant returned to her mother’s house and stayed there for ten days. During that period, neither her husband nor her in-laws contacted her. She repeatedly called her husband, asking him to come get her and to register their marriage. After ten days, her husband took her to a temple in Jadcherla. Upon returning home, he physically assaulted her, telling her that he did not like her.

3. On 13.03.2019, he left for the United States. The complainant kept calling and messaging him. She stayed with her mother for a few more days before returning to her in-laws’ house. One day, her sister-in-law quarreled with her again and threatened her. The next day, the complainant returned to her mother's home. Her husband called and quarreled with her over the phone, insisting she should not stay with his mother. Throughout this time, he made no effort to initiate the green card process for her, despite being a U.S. citizen. Later, he stopped communicating with her altogether. She continued calling and messaging him and submitted all necessary documents, even those not required for the immigration process. However, he still took no action. On 13.11.2019, he informed her that he had come to Hyderabad for urgent work but did not disclose that his brother (Accused No.7) was getting engaged on 15.11.2019. Since he refused to come and take her, her mother and two brothers visited her in-laws’ house and confronted them. The complainant compromised and stayed at the in-laws’ house, but they did not treat her as their daughter-

in-law.

4. During this period, her grandmother passed away, and she went to attend the funeral. Afterward, her husband messaged her, stating she should not return home due to shusti. His brother married on 01.12.2019 in Hanumakonda. However, on 17.11.2019, her husband filed a complaint against the complainant, her mother, her two brothers, and a cousin, alleging that he felt threatened by them. Throughout this period, the complainant was physically and mentally harassed and was subjected to further demands for dowry.

5. Based on the said complaint, the Police registered a case in Crime No.385 of 2019 for the offence punishable under Sections 498-A and 506 of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of DP Act and after completion of investigation, they filed the charge sheet, vide C.C.No.2081 of 2020, before the lear