[2025] 7 S.C.R. 568 : 2025 INSC 819

Madhukar & Ors. v.

The State of Maharashtra

(Criminal Appeal No. 2957 of 2025)

14 July 2025

[Vikram Nath* and Sanjay Kumar, JJ.]

Issue for Consideration

Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, the High Court erred in dismissing the petitions filed by the appellants u/s.482, CrPC seeking quashing of criminal proceedings initiated against them, and holding that the proceedings involving serious offence u/s.376, IPC could not be quashed merely on the basis of a settlement or monetary compensation.

Headnotes†

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - s.482 - Quashing of proceedings involving serious offences including s.376, IPC on the ground of settlement between the parties - Permissibility:

Held: Ordinarily, quashing of proceedings involving grave and heinous offences like s.376, IPC on the ground of settlement between the parties is discouraged and should not be permitted lightly - However, the power of the Court u/s.482 CrPC is not constrained by a rigid formula and must be exercised with reference to the facts of each case - In the present matter, the FIR invoking serious charges, including s.376, IPC, was filed immediately following an earlier FIR lodged by the opposing side - Thus, the second FIR may have been reactionary - More importantly, the complainant in the second FIR has unequivocally expressed her desire not to pursue the case stating that she is now married, settled in her personal life, and continuing with the criminal proceedings would only disturb her peace and stability - Parties have amicably resolved their differences and arrived at a mutual understanding - In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, the continuation of the criminal proceedings would amount to abuse of process - Impugned order of High Court set aside - FIRs along with all proceedings, quashed - Penal Code, 1860 - ss.324, 141, 143, 147, 149, 452, 323, 504, 506; ss.376, 354-A, 354-D, 509, 506. [Paras 6-9]

* Author


List of Acts

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; Penal Code, 1860.

List of Keywords

Quashing; Quashing of proceedings involving serious offences including Section 376, IPC; Settlement between the parties; Amicable resolution; Settlement or monetary compensation; Nature of the settlement; Compromise; Section 376, IPC grave and heinous; 1st FIR; 2nd FIR; Second FIR reactionary; Mutual understanding; Differences amicably resolved; Unlawful assembly; Sexual assault; Criminal intimidation; Sexual exploitation; FIRs quashed; Abuse of process; Continuation of the criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose; Trial would not serve any meaningful/useful purpose.

Case Arising From

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No. 2957 of 2025

From the Judgment and Order dated 07.03.2025 of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay at Aurangabad in CRLA No. 2561 of 2024

With

Criminal Appeal No. 2958 of 2025

Appearances for Parties

Advs. for the Appellants: Ms. Bina Madhavan, S.. Udaya Kumar Sagar, S. Tridev Sagar, M/S. Lawyer S Knit & Co., Ms. Praseena Elizabeth Joseph, Ms. Shreyasi Kunwar.

Judgment / Order of the Supreme Court

Judgment

Vikram Nath, J.

Leave granted.

The present appeals arise from a common order dated 07.03.2025 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Aurangabad Bench in Criminal Application Nos. 2561 and 2185 of 2024, whereby

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the High Court dismissed the petitions filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 19731 seeking quashing of criminal proceedings initiated against the appellants herein.

The facts giving rise to the present appeals are as follows:

3.1. FIR bearing Crime No. 302 of 2023 dated 20.11.2023 ("1st FIR") was registered at Mehunbare Police Station, District Jalgaon under Sections 324, 141, 143, 147, 149, 452, 323, 504, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 18602 against the appellants in SLP(Crl) No.7212 of 2025.

3.2. A second FIR bearing Crime No. 304 of 2023 dated 21.11.2023 ("2nd FIR") was registered at the same police station under Sections 376, 354-A, 354-D, 509, and 506 IPC against the appellant in SLP(Crl) No.7495 of 2025, giving rise to Sessions Case No. 29 of 2024.

3.3. The 1st FIR alleged that on 19.11.2023, the appellants formed an unlawful assembly and assaulted the complainant and her family members, including her father Prabhakar (appellant in SLP(Crl) No.7495 of 2025), allegedly due to his role in causing the divorce of one of the appellants.

3.4. The 2nd FIR, filed the following day, contained grave allegations against Prabhakar, including sexual assault and criminal intimidation. It was alleged that he had sexually exploited the complainant over the time, recorded videos of the act, and interfered with her subsequent matrimonial alliances.

3.5. However, in March 2024, the complainant in the 2nd FIR filed an affidavit before the High Court expressing her desire not to pursue the prosecution and stating that she had no objection to grant of bail to the accused. She further affirmed that the matter had been amicably resolved, and she had received Rs. 5,00,000/- towards marriage-related expenses.

3.6. Based on the above, the appellants moved Criminal Applications Nos. 2561 and 2185 of 2024 before the High Court under Section 482 CrPC seeking quashing of both FIRs. By a common order

1 CrPC

IPC


dated 07.03.2025, the High Court rejected both applications, holding that an offence under Section 376 IPC being of a serious and non-compoundable nature, could not be quashed merely on the basis of a settlement or monetary compensation. The Court concluded that the compromise could not form the basis for quashing proceedings in such cases.

3.7. Aggrieved thereby, the appellants have approached this Court.

We have heard learned counsel for the parties.

It is brought to our attention that both parties have categorically taken the stand before this Court that they have resolved their disputes amicably and are desirous of moving on with their lives.

The complainant in the 2nd FIR, now married and residing with her husband, has expressed that continuation of the prosecution would cause further disruption in her personal life and that she has no wish to support the charges or pursue the matter any further.

At the outset, we recognise that the offence under Section 376 IPC is undoubtedly of a grave and heinous nature. Ordinarily, quashing of proceedings involving such offences on the ground of settlement between the parties is discouraged and should not be permitted lightly. However, the power of the Court under Section 482 CrPC to secure the ends of justice is not constrained by a rigid formula and must be exercised with reference to the facts of each case.

In the present matter, we are confronted with an unusual situation where the FIR invoking serious charges, including Section 376 IPC, was filed immediately following an earlier FIR lodged by the opposing side. This sequence of events lends a certain context to the allegations and suggests that the second FIR may have been a reactionary step. More importantly, the complainant in the second FIR has unequivocally expressed her desire not to pursue the case. She has submitted that she is now married, settled in her personal life, and continuing with the criminal proceedings would only disturb her peace and stability. Her stand is neither tentative nor ambiguous, she has consistently maintained, including through an affidavit on record, that she does not support the prosecution and wants the matter to end.

The parties have also amicably resolved their differences and arrived at a mutual understanding. In these circumstances, the continuation of the trial would not serve any meaningful purpose. It would only

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prolong distress for all concerned, especially the complainant, and burden the Courts without the likelihood of a productive outcome.

Therefore, having considered the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, and taking into account the categorical stand taken by the complainant and the nature of the settlement, we are of the opinion that the continuation of the criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose and would only amount to abuse of process.

Accordingly, the appeals are allowed. The impugned order of the High Court dated 07.03.2025 is set aside. FIR No. 302 of 2023 and FIR No. 304 of 2023, along with all proceedings arising therefrom, including Sessions Case No. 29 of 2024, stand quashed.

10. Pending applications, if any, are disposed of.

Result of the case: Appeals allowed.

†Headnotes prepared by: Divya Pandey