Jaspreet Singh & Ors. vs. The State NCT of Delhi and Anr.
Background
The petitioners sought quashing of a cruelty/breach-of-trust FIR filed by the first petitioner's now-ex-wife, on the basis that the couple's matrimonial disputes had been fully settled.
Decision Breakdown
The complainant, appearing via videoconferencing and identified by the investigating officer, confirmed in Hindi that the marriage had already been dissolved by divorce, that the two children of the marriage remained in her custody, and, notably, that having since remarried, she no longer wanted any compensation for stridhan or maintenance and did not wish to continue the prosecution. The Court quashed the FIR and all related proceedings.
Lesson Learnt
A complainant's subsequent remarriage and voluntary waiver of any financial claim can reinforce that a matrimonial settlement is genuine, supporting quashing of the underlying criminal case.