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Arnab Nag vs. State of NCT of Delhi & Anr.

Criminal Miscellaneous Case · 2026:DHC:7539Decided 2 Sept 2026New Delhi Bench
CRL.M.C. 4824/2026CNR: DLHC010299512026
Justice Manoj Jain

Background

A 2018 FIR alleged that the petitioner, whom the complainant had befriended at a gym, stalked, assaulted, and inappropriately touched her at a Saket mall, and threatened to eliminate her, giving rise to charges including stalking, assault, and outraging a woman's modesty (Sections 323/354/354(D)/500/506/509 IPC). A chargesheet had already been filed, but the parties later signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which the petitioner apologised and the complainant forgave him.

Decision Breakdown

The complainant, appearing via videoconference and duly identified by the investigating officer, confirmed she had genuinely forgiven the petitioner, that there had been no further misconduct since 2018, and that she no longer wished to pursue the case, stating her decision was voluntary and free of any pressure. Finding the dispute private in nature with no wider public interest requiring the prosecution to continue, the Court quashed the FIR and all related proceedings under Section 528 BNSS, directing the settlement documents be placed before the trial court.

Lesson Learnt

Even offences touching on a woman's safety and dignity, such as stalking and outraging modesty, can be resolved by genuine, voluntary compromise where the complainant herself, after real reflection, confirms she has forgiven the accused and sees no ongoing risk or public interest in continuing the case; the court's role is to satisfy itself the settlement is genuine and voluntary before quashing.

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