Court’s Decision:
The Karnataka High Court quashed FIR No. 48/2022 registered at Kushalnagar Town Police Station under Sections 323, 498A, 504, 506 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), filed by the complainant against her husband and his family members. The court found that the complainant’s multiple prior complaints against different individuals over the years, coupled with the lack of substantive evidence, amounted to an abuse of the legal process.
Facts of the Case:
The complainant, after a business interaction with the first petitioner (her husband), entered into a relationship with him in 2022. She alleged that she was coerced into marriage and subjected to physical abuse and harassment for dowry by her husband and in-laws. Multiple complaints were lodged by the complainant, including accusations of physical violence and threats.
Issues:
Whether the FIR and subsequent criminal proceedings were valid in light of the complainant’s history of filing multiple complaints against different individuals and the absence of substantive evidence.
Petitioner’s Arguments:
The petitioners argued that the complainant had a history of filing complaints against various men over the past decade, casting doubt on the veracity of her current claims. They contended that the FIR was a gross misuse of the legal system intended to harass them and sought its quashing.
Respondent’s Arguments:
The complainant maintained that the allegations of harassment, coercion into marriage, and dowry demands were true, and the FIR should not be quashed. She claimed that her rights as a victim were being violated.
Court’s Reasoning:
The court noted that the complainant had filed several complaints against different men over a span of ten years, which cast doubt on the legitimacy of her claims. Additionally, the court found that there was no substantive evidence to support the allegations of dowry harassment or physical abuse. The court concluded that continuing the criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of the process of law.
Conclusion:
The FIR was quashed by the Karnataka High Court, with the court ruling that the complaint was primarily intended to harass the petitioners. The court highlighted the importance of preventing the misuse of the legal process in matrimonial disputes where no substantive evidence is presented.
