Ravi Kumar v. State NCT of Delhi and Anr & Anr

O R D E R %

20.08.2026 CRL.M.A.25566/2026

¶1Exemption allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

¶2The application stands disposed of. CRL.M.C. 6114/2026

¶1The relief prayed in the present petition are as under: "It is, therefore, most respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to Quash the FIR NO.: 601/2022 which was registered U/s: 498-A/406/34 IPC, at P.S. Narela, in the interest of justice." The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

¶2The parties in the afore-captioned petition are present before the Court. They have been identified by the Investigating Officer of the case as well as by their respective counsel.

¶3It is submitted by the parties that on 27.12.2020, the marriage between the petitioner and respondent no. 2 was solemnized at Arya Samaj Mandir Mandal, Naharpur, Sector-7, Rohini, Delhi. Subsequently, owing to marital discord, disputes arose between the parties, and they have been living separately since 27.12.2020 due to irreconcilable differences.

¶4It is further averred by the parties that owing to certain misunderstandings between them, the complainant/respondent no. 2 had lodged FIR No. 601/2022 under Section 498-A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('IPC') against the petitioner at P.S. Narela. It is further submitted that, in the meantime, the petitioner had also filed a petition for divorce under Section 13-1(IA) of the Hindu Marriage Act against Respondent No. 2 before the Ld. Principal Judge, Family Court, North District, Rohini Courts, Delhi, registered as HMA No. 489/2024.

¶5However, it is submitted that the parties have now amicably settled the dispute by way of a Memorandum of Understanding ('MOU') dated

28.07.2026, executed before the Counsellor, Family Court, North District, Sh. Balbir Singh, whereby the petitioner and respondent no. 2 have amicably resolved all their grievances and disputes inter se. It is further submitted that respondent no. 2 has made her statement voluntarily, of her own free will and accord, and without any coercion, pressure, threat or undue influence of any kind whatsoever.

¶6The grounds of settlement as per the MOU dated 28.07.2026 are reproduced as follows: The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

¶1IT IS UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED BETWEEN THE PARTIES THAT THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO FILE QUASHING PETITION OF FIR NO. 601/2022 AT P.S. NARELA, BEFORE THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF NCT DELHI AND SHALL NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE AND SHALL NEITHER HAVE ANY VALUE NOR IT SHALL ANYWAY PREJUDICE THE INTEREST OF ANY PARTY.

¶2That the parties have amicably settled all their dispute and already got divorce from each other by the order of Hon'ble Judge Family court, North district, as the second party already received Rs. 5,00,000/- (Five Lakhs Rupees Only) as alimony/settlement amount, at the time of giving statement during the first and second motion for divorce by mutual consent, as agreed between the both parties.

¶3That the second party will cooperate in filing a petition before the Hon'ble Delhi High Court for seeking quashing of FIR NO. 601/2022, P.S. Narela.

¶4That the second party will appear personally before the Hon'ble Delhi High Court for the purpose of the quashing of FIR and will give her statement in this regard and the second party has no objection if the FIR and all consequential proceedings are quashed.

¶5The present Agreement between the parties is not vitiated by any force, fraud or undue influence and the parties have freely consented to the present Agreement after due consideration.

¶6It is understood and agreed that it is the most important and the essence of this Agreement to end all litigation."

¶7On behalf of the State, there is no opposition in the quashing of the FIRs in question in view of the settlement arrived at between the parties.

¶8Despite certain offences being classified as non-compoundable under the IPC, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 482 of the CrPC (Section 528 BNSS), High Courts have proceeded to quash such proceedings on account of a settlement between the parties. In Gian Singh v. State of Punjab,1 the Court recognized that such an approach serves the ends of justice by bringing the litigation to an end, preventing its needless continuation, and acknowledging that following the compromise, the likelihood of conviction has become remote and bleak.

¶9The conditions and pre-requisites for compounding were elaborated in Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab,2 and the following were deemed necessary before quashing the proceedings on the basis of a settlement/compromise: 1 (2012) 10 SCC 303. 2 (2014) 6 SCC 466. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

9.1There should hardly be any likelihood of the offender being convicted, given the compromise that took place between the parties. Particularly, so in disputes that are predominantly civil in nature, for instance those arising from commercial transactions, matrimonial relationships, or family matters, a genuine compromise may render the possibility of conviction remote and bleak;

9.2By not quashing the criminal proceedings, justice shall be the casualty and ends of justice shall be defeated. Where continuation of proceedings despite settlement is unfair, unjust, or an abuse of process, quashing may be allowed to secure the ends of justice; and

9.3The timing of the compromise also becomes relevant, quashing may be considered at the investigation or early-trial stage, but is ordinarily declined once evidence is substantially complete or conviction has been recorded.

¶10The aforesaid proposition was refined in Vijay Kumar Kela v. CBI,3 to clarify that, ultimately, it is facts and circumstances of each case that determine the compoundability of proceedings and no straight-jacket formula can be prescribed. It was also noted that before exercising powers under Section 482 of the CrPC (Section 528 BNSS), the Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime.

¶11However, the Court clarified that compounding on the basis of a purported settlement cannot take place where–first, heinous offences 3 2026 SCC OnLine SC 1003. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. affecting the society at large are in question; and second, a compromise between the parties cannot quash corruption or official duty offences.4

¶12In view of the aforesaid, bearing in mind the nature of the dispute and the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the aforesaid decisions, FIR No. 601/2022 for the offence punishable under Sections 498-A/406/34 of the IPC registered at police Station Narela, Delhi, stands quashed along with all proceedings emanating therefrom.

¶13The petition stands disposed of. PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV, J AUGUST 20, 2026 / tr 4 (2012) 10 SCC 303. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010387692026 + CRL.M.C. 6114/2026 RAVI KUMAR .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Kamal Sharma, Advocate along with petitioner in person. versus STATE NCT OF DELHI AND ANR & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Kiran Bairwa, APP along with SI Lovkesh Kumar, PS Narela. Mr. Yogesh Kaushik with Mr. Devvrat Swami, Advocates for R2 along with R2 in person. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV