The criminal petition is filed under section 482 of the CPC( saving inherent powers of high court) to quash the proceedings against petitioner on the file of Additional Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru for the offence punishable under section 498-A of IPC ( husband or relatives of husband of women subjecting her to cruelty) 1960 and section 3(penalty for giving or taking dowry) and 4(penalty for demanding dowry) of dowry prohibition Act, 1961 by the petitioner. And the petition is allowed by the High court of Karnataka through the learned bench led by Honorable MR. Justice H P Sandesh in the case of MR. Nishtala Ram Mohan and MRS. Vijay Lakshmi vs State of Karnataka (criminal petition no. 3207 of 2018) on 20th January 2022
Brief facts of the case are that the respondent, wife of petitioner lodged complaint against the petitioner ( husband) and also against the relatives of the husband, son of the petitioner, alleging that she was subjected to cruelty and was harassed to bring dowry from her father. Then police registered case against the petitioner and also against the relatives of the petitioner . After investigation, they have filed charge sheet against the petitioners and their son for the offences punishable under Section 498-A of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. Being aggrieved by the filing of charge-sheet, petitioners are before this Court.
Arguments presented by the learned counsel appearing on behalf petitioner that the allegations made in the charge-sheet filed against the petitioners is that the petitioners who are residing in Hyderabad came to Bengaluru and during their stay with the informant and her husband, petitioners abused her with filthy language and demanded a car and a house as dowry, except the said allegation there is no allegation against the petitioners and in the absence of the said allegation in the First Information Report, this charge-sheet filed against the petitioners is not sustainable under the law.
Arguments presented by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent that having regard to the material available, the police have rightly filed charge-sheet against the petitioners, hence he also presents that the charge-sheet filed against the petitioners is legal and warrants no interference. Learned High Court Government Pleader for respondent-state would justify the charge-sheet filed against the petitioners.
After hearing both the counsels and looking into the facts of the case and considering all the records presented before the honorable court by the counsels that the column no. 7 of the charge sheet indicates that the only allegation against the petitioners is that, when they came from Hyderabad to Bengaluru to reside with the informant and their son, she was subjected to cruelty and they demanded a car and house from her father as dowry. This allegation is not forthcoming in the First Information Report, which is the foundation for filing of charge-sheet. In the absence of such an allegation in the First Information Report and also that the informant was not residing with the petitioners, the charge-sheet filed against petitioners is not sustainable under law.
Hence, the petition is allowed by the court to quash the proceedings against the petitioners.
Judgement Reviewed by Sugam Anand Mishra
