#criminal quashment

The Madhya Pradesh High Court quashed criminal proceedings against a husband’s brother and father-in-law for lack of particularized allegations, holding that mere familial ties cannot substitute for evidence of active participation in dowry harassment. The ruling reinforces that invoking Section 498A against distant relatives without concrete acts amounts to misuse of criminal law, especially where family partition has already occurred and civil remedies are pending.

Chhattisgarh High Court refuses to quash criminal proceedings under IPC Sections 419, 420, 463, and 467, holding that disputed facts in a property sale agreement must be adjudicated at trial. The ruling reinforces that Article 226 writ jurisdiction cannot bypass criminal adjudication merely due to overlapping civil disputes.

Calcutta High Court rules that acts of coercion and extortion during a vigilance enquiry fall outside the scope of official duty, stripping public servants of Section 197 CrPC immunity. The judgment clarifies that only acts integrally connected to official functions warrant protection, impacting criminal proceedings against government officials.

The Karnataka High Court held that criminal proceedings initiated as retaliation to a domestic violence complaint lack merit if medical evidence is inconsistent and intent is vengeful. The ruling reinforces that abuse of legal process cannot sustain charges under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, protecting accused from frivolous litigation.

Madhya Pradesh High Court quashes dowry prosecution due to vague allegations, decade-long delay, and absence of specific acts against accused family members.

Bombay High Court quashes FIR against accused merely present at brothel, holding that absence of victim's statement or procurement evidence negates offences under ITPA and BNS.