Nagpur :- The Division Bench of Hon’ble Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench comprising of Hon’ble Justice Anil Pansare and M.M. Nerlikar have quashed the FIR for the offence punishable under section 498-A, 504, 506 read with section 34 of the Indian Penal Code registered at Rajapeth Police Station, Amravati against the in-laws of the complainant/wife vide order dated 26/08/2025. The complainant who is a doctor by profession has lodged the aforesaid FIR against her in-laws, but did not lodge report against her husband in the FIR. The Hon’ble High Court in the order has observed that, the real cause of the dispute is death of father-in-law of complainant who left behind multiple properties. The complainant got married in May, 2015 and the relations were cordial till the death of her father-in-law. The mother-in-law of the complainant lodged multiple report against the husband of complainant saying that he is harassing her on the count of distribution of properties. Thereafter in the year 2023, the complainant/wife lodged the aforesaid FIR alleging therein that her in-laws are abusing her and her husband on the count of distribution of property. Thus, the grievance as put forth through FIR is, in substance, about harassment by her in-laws on the count of distribution of property belonging to the father-in-law of complainant. The Hon’ble High Court has observed that, if the contents of FIR are taken at its face value, none of the ingredients of Section 498-A of IPC are made out. The cruelty as spelt out under two explanations of Section 498-A will require creation of the circumstances of such a nature that would drive the woman to commit suicide and/or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health. The second explanation to cruelty is harassment of a woman for the purpose of any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security. In the present case, the FIR does not spell out the cruelty as envisaged under Section 498-A of IPC and being so, the continuation of investigation and prosecution would only amount to abuse of process of law. Accordingly, the Hon’ble High Court had quashed the aforesaid FIR. Adv. Amit R. Prasad appeared for the applicant, AGP K.R. Lule appeared for the state and Adv. S.B. Gandhe represented the complainant wife.
