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Akshat Jain & Ors. vs. State Govt of NCT of Delhi and Anr.

Writ Petition (Criminal) · CNR No. DLHC010495012026Decided 13 Oct 2026New Delhi Bench
W.P.(CRL) 3240/2026CNR: DLHC010495012026
Justice Mini Pushkarna

Background

The petitioners (husband and family) faced an FIR alleging cruelty, abetment of suicide, and criminal breach of trust under Sections 498A/306/34 IPC, filed by the wife in 2022 after the couple separated. The couple later signed a settlement deed at the Family Court's counselling cell, agreeing to a mutual-consent divorce and a full and final payment of Rs. 30 lakh to the wife covering maintenance, stridhan and alimony; the divorce was finalised in April 2025.

Decision Breakdown

The Court confirmed that Rs. 20 lakh had already been paid and the remaining Rs. 10 lakh was handed over (and accepted) in court via demand draft. Speaking directly with the wife, the judge confirmed she entered the settlement voluntarily and no longer wished to pursue the case; the State also raised no serious objection. Relying on Supreme Court precedent (Jitendra Raghuvanshi v. Babita Raghuvanshi, (2013) 4 SCC 58), which holds that High Courts can quash even non-compoundable offences in matrimonial disputes to encourage genuine settlements, the Court quashed the FIR and all related proceedings.

Lesson Learnt

Even serious matrimonial offences that technically cannot be "compounded" (privately settled) under ordinary criminal law can still be quashed by the High Court if the parties have reached a genuine, voluntary settlement with full payment made: courts actively encourage such resolutions in family disputes.

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