Badri Mandal and Others v. State of Haryana and Another

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o o ooooooo ooooooo o o o o o o o oooooCRM-M-54453-2025o Dateoofodecision:oooo12.11.2025o BadrioMandalo&oothersooooo o o o o o o o o o o ....Petitionerso V/so StateoofoHaryanaoandoanotherooo o o o o o o o o o ....Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oNajaroSingh,oAdvocateoforoo o o Mr.oNavmohitoSingh,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioners.oo o o Mr.oGurmeetoSingh,oAAGoHaryana.oo o o Mr.oSmitoKamboj,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.2.oo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.ooo

1.o o Theo petitiono ino hando haso beeno preferredo byo theo accusedo –o petitioners,ounderoSectiono528oofotheoBharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o 2023,oforoquashingoofoFIRoNo.38odatedo27.06.2025o(hereinafterotoobeoreferredo asotheoimpugnedoFIR)oregisteredounderoSectionso318(4),o336(3),o338,o340,o61o ofoBNSoatoPoliceoStationoPSoCyberoSonipat,oHaryana,oasoalsootheoproceedingso subsequentothereto,oonotheobasisoofoaocompromiseodeedodatedo20.09.2025o (appendedoasoAnnexureoP-2owithotheopresentopetition).oo

2.o o Theo gravameno ofo theo impugnedo FIRo iso thato theo complainanto namelyoDivyaodaughteroofoSureshoKumar,oResidentoofo1008/3,oSBIoLane,oNewo Colony,o Railwayo Road,o Sonipato allegedo thato sheo iso employedo aso ano AccountantoatoInstituteoofoCompetitiveoStudiesoPvt.oLtd,ohavingoanoaccounto withotheoHDFCoBankobearingoAccountoNo.50200053031318.oOno24.06.2025,o aototaloofosevenounauthorizedotransactionsoamountingotooRs.14,83,696/-owereo carriedooutofromotheosaidoaccountowithoutotheoknowledgeooroconsentoofotheo 2025.11.12 12:05 complainant.oNooOTPoorotransactionomessageowasoreceivedoatotheotimeoofo o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 2o o theseo transactions.o o Upono loggingo intoo neto banking,o theo complainanto discoveredotheofraudulentowithdrawals.ooTheocomplainantolaterolearnedothato theomoneyohadobeenotransferredotoofraudulentoaccountsoopenedousingofakeo documentsothroughoaofakeowebsite.ooThereafter,oanoonlineocomplaintowaso lodgedoatotheoCyberoCrimeoHelplineo(1930)oandoaocomplaintowasoregisteredo underoNo.31306250043329.ooBasedoonothisocomplaint,otheopresentoFIRohaso beenoregistered.ooo

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso haso arguedo thato theo petitionersohaveobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoimpugnedoFIR.ooAccordingo toolearnedocounsel,otheomatterohasobeenoamicablyoresolvedobetweenotheopartieso witho theo interventiono ofo theo respectableo personso ando respondento No.2-complainantodoesonotowantotoocontinueowithotheoimpugnedoFIR.oLearnedo counselohasofurtherourgedothatoaocompromiseowasoenteredointoobetweenotheo petitionersoandotheoFIR-complainantoono20.09.2025,orelevantowhereoforeadso asounder:-o o "1.oo Thato theo Firsto Partyo agreeso too withdrawo theo complaint/FIR/noo longeropursueotheolegalocaseoagainstotheoSecondoPartyoinorespectoofotheo aforementionedocybercrimeoandohasonoofurtherogrievanceooroclaimoinothiso matter.oo o 2.o Thatobothopartiesoaffirmothatothisocompromiseohasobeenoenteredointoo voluntarily,owithofullounderstandingoofoitsolegaloimplications.oo o 3.o Thato botho partieso undertakeo too cooperateo ino filingo appropriateo applicationsobeforeotheoHon'bleoCourt/PoliceoAuthoritiesoforoquashingoofo FIRo(iforegistered),owithdrawaloofocomplaintooroseekingopermissionoforo compromiseounderoapplicableolaw.oo o 4.o Thatothisocompromiseoshallobeobindingoonobothoparties,otheirolegalo heirs,orepresentativesoandoassigns."ooo o o Learnedocounselohas,othus,oiteratedothatotheoFIRoinoquestion,o whichowasogotoregisteredoonoaccountoofoaomisunderstanding,ohasosinceobeeno resolvedobetweenotheopartiesoandoinoorderotookeepopeaceoasoalsooharmony,otheo o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 3o o partiesodoonotowishotoocontinueowithoproceedingsoagainstoeachoother,oincludingo theoimpugnedoFIR.ooLearnedocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothat,opursuantotoo orderodatedo25.09.2025oearlieropassedobyothisoCourt,ostatementsoofotheorivalo privateopartiesowereorecordedobeforeotheoconcernedoMagistrateowhereinotheo saidopartiesohaveoreiteratedohavingoenteredointoosettlementoandoaoreportodatedo

10.10.2025ohasobeenoreceivedofromotheosaidoMagisterialoCourt.ooLearnedo counselohasofurtherourgedothatonoousefulopurposeowouldolikelyobeoservedobyo allowingotheocriminaloprosecutionotoocontinueoagainstotheopetitioners.ooThus,o itohasobeenoentreatedothatotheopetitionoinohandobeogranted.oo

4.o o LearnedoStateocounselohasoarguedothatotheoimpugnedoFIRowaso registeredo foro seriouso allegationso ofo cybero fraudo involvingo fraudulento transactions.ooAccordingotoolearnedoStateocounsel,otheooffenceoofocyberofraudo notoonlyoaffectsotheocomplainantobutoalsooerodesotheopublicoconfidenceoino digitalo bankingo transactions.o Thougho theo partieso haveo enteredo intoo ao compromiseoandotheocomplainantohasoexpressedonooobjectionotooquashingoofo theoimpugnedoFIRobutowhileoconsideringotheocompromise,otheonatureoando gravityoofoallegationsoareoalsootoobeotakenointooaccountoasotheooffence(s)oino questionopertainsotoocyberoandofinancialofraud.oLearnedoStateocounselohaso emphasizedothatotheopowerotooquasholiesowithothisoCourtounderoSectiono528oofo BNSS,o2023obutoitohasotoobeoexercisedosparinglyoandocautiously.oOnotheobasiso ofoaforesaidosubmissions,olearnedoStateocounselohasoprayedoforodismissaloofo theopetitionoinohand.oo

5.o o LearnedocounseloforotheorespondentoNo.2ohasosubmittedothatotheo partiesohaveoamicablyosettledotheomatterowithotheopetitioners.ooTheocomplainanto haso executedo ao compromiseo affidavito datedo 20.09.2025o ando categoricallyo statedothatosheohasonooobjectionoifotheoimpugnedoFIRoandoalloproceedingso o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 4o o arisingo therefromo areo quashedo againsto theo petitioners.o o Furthermore,o theo compromiseohasobeenoarrivedoatovoluntarilyowithoutoanyothreatocoercionooro undueoinfluence.ooThus,oinoviewoofotheocompromiseodulyoexecutedobetweeno theoparties,olearnedocounselohasoprayedothatotheopetitionoinohandobeoallowedo ando theo impugnedo FIRo ando allo consequentialo proceedingso emanatingo therefromobeoquashed.ooo

6.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandohaveoperusedotheo record.ooo PrimeoIssueoo

7.o o Theoissueothatoarisesoforoconsiderationoinotheopetitionoinohandoiso aso too whethero theo impugnedo FIRo ando theo proceedingso arisingo therefromo deserveotoobeoquashedoonotheobasisoofocompromise/settlementohavingobeeno arrivedoatobetweenotheorivaloprivateoparties.ooooo o o o Theoseminalolegaloissueothatoarisesofororuminationoisoasotoowhethero anoFIRo(asoalsooproceedingsoemanatingotherefrom)ocanobeoquashedoonotheobasiso ofocompromise/settlementobetweenotheorivalopartiesowhereinotheoFIRopertainso tooallegationsoofocyberofraud.ooo

8.o o RelevantoStatutoryoProvisionsoo o o Theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o 1973o (hereinaftero too beo referredoaso'theoCr.P.C.)o o Sectiono482oofoCr.P.C.,o1973oreadsoasounder:o o "482.oSavingoofoinherentopoweroofoHighoCourto–oNothingoinothisoCodeoshallo beodeemedotoolimitooroaffectotheoinherentopowersoofotheoHighoCourtotoomakeo suchoordersoasomayobeonecessaryotoogiveoeffectotooanyoorderounderothisoCode,o orotoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourtoorootherwiseotoosecureotheo endsoofojustice."oo o o o TheoBharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(hereinaftero 2025.11.12 12:05 toobeoreferredoasoBNSS,o2023)o o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 5o o o o SectionoofotheoBNSS,o2023oreadsoasounder:o o o "528.oSavingoofoinherentopowersoofoHighoCourto–oNothingoinothisoSanhitao shallobeodeemedotoolimitooroaffectotheoinherentopowersoofotheoHighoCourtotoo makeosuchoordersoasomayobeonecessaryotoogiveoeffectotooanyoorderounderothiso Sanhita,oorotoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourtoorootherwiseotoo secureotheoendsoofojustice."o RelevantoCaseoLawo

9.oo o Theoprecedents,oaproposotootheomatter(s)oinoissue,oareoasofollows:o o Re:oPowersoofotheoHighoCourtounderoSectiono482oofoCr.P.C.,vis-a-vis.,o quashingo ofo theo FIR/criminalo proceedingso ono theo basiso ofo compromiseo

(i)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoGianoSinghovs.oStateoofoPunjaboando another,o2012o(10)oSCCo303oaothreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "48.oTheoquestionoisowithoregardotootheoinherentopoweroofotheoHighoCourtoino quashingotheocriminaloproceedingsoagainstoanooffenderowhoohasosettledohiso disputeowithotheovictimoofotheocrimeobutotheocrimeoinowhichoheoisoallegedlyo involvedoisonotocompoundableounderoSectiono320oofotheoCode.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx o o o 57.oo Theo positiono thato emergeso fromo theo aboveo discussiono cano beo summarisedothus:otheopoweroofotheoHighoCourtoinoquashingoaocriminalo proceedingooroFIRoorocomplaintoinoexerciseoofoitsoinherentojurisdictionoiso distincto ando differento fromo theo powero giveno too ao criminalo courto foro compoundingotheooffencesounderoSectiono320oofotheoCode.oInherentopowero isoofowideoplenitudeowithonoostatutoryolimitationobutoitohasotoobeoexercisedo inoaccordowithotheoguidelineoengraftedoinosuchopoweroviz;o(i)otoosecureotheo endsoofojusticeooro(ii)otoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourt.oInowhato casesopowerotooquashotheocriminaloproceedingoorocomplaintooroF.I.Romayo beoexercisedowhereotheooffenderoandovictimohaveosettledotheirodisputeowouldo dependoonotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofoeachocaseoandonoocategoryocano beoprescribed.oHowever,obeforeoexerciseoofosuchopower,otheoHighoCourto mustohaveodueoregardotootheonatureoandogravityoofotheocrime.oHeinousoando seriousooffencesoofomentalodepravityoorooffencesolikeomurder,orape,odacoity,o etc.ocannotobeofittinglyoquashedoevenothoughotheovictimoorovictim'sofamilyo I attest to the accuracy and andotheooffenderohaveosettledotheodispute.oSuchooffencesoareonotoprivateoino o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 6o o natureoandohaveoseriousoimpactoonosociety.oSimilarly,oanyocompromiseo betweenotheovictimoandooffenderoinorelationotootheooffencesounderospecialo statutesolikeoPreventionoofoCorruptionoActoorotheooffencesocommittedobyo publicoservantsowhileoworkingoinothatocapacityoetc;ocannotoprovideoforoanyo basisoforoquashingocriminaloproceedingsoinvolvingosuchooffences.oButotheo criminalocasesohavingooverwhelminglyoandopre-dominatinglyociviloflavouro standoonodifferentofootingoforotheopurposesoofoquashing,oparticularlyotheo offencesoarisingofromocommercial,ofinancial,omercantile,ocivil,opartnershipo orosucholikeotransactionsoorotheooffencesoarisingooutoofomatrimonyorelatingo toodowry,oetc.oorotheofamilyodisputesowhereotheowrongoisobasicallyoprivateo oropersonaloinonatureoandotheopartiesohaveoresolvedotheiroentireodispute.oIno thisocategoryoofocases,oHighoCourtomayoquashocriminaloproceedingsoifoinoitso view,obecauseoofotheocompromiseobetweenotheooffenderoandovictim,otheo possibilityoofoconvictionoisoremoteoandobleakoandocontinuationoofocriminalo caseowouldoputoaccusedotoogreatooppressionoandoprejudiceoandoextremeo injusticeowouldobeocausedotoohimobyonotoquashingotheocriminalocaseodespiteo fulloandocompleteosettlementoandocompromiseowithotheovictim.oInoothero words,otheoHighoCourtomustoconsiderowhetheroitowouldobeounfairoorocontraryo too theo interesto ofo justiceo too continueo witho theo criminalo proceedingo oro continuationoofotheocriminaloproceedingowouldotantamountotooabuseoofo processoofolawodespiteosettlementoandocompromiseobetweenotheovictimoando wrongdoeroandowhetherotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice,oitoisoappropriateothato criminalocaseoisoputotooanoendoandoifotheoanswerotootheoaboveoquestion(s)oiso inoaffirmative,otheoHighoCourtoshallobeowellowithinoitsojurisdictionotooquasho theocriminaloproceeding.o

(ii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoNarinderoSinghovs.oStateoofoPunjab,o 2014(6)oSCCo466o,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "31.oInoviewoofotheoaforesaidodiscussion,oweosumoupoandolayodownotheo followingoprinciplesobyowhichotheoHighoCourtowouldobeoguidedoinogivingo adequateotreatmentotootheosettlementobetweenotheopartiesoandoexercisingoitso powerounderoSectiono482oofotheoCodeowhileoacceptingotheosettlementoando quashingotheoproceedingsoororefusingotooacceptotheosettlementowithodirectiono toocontinueowithotheocriminaloproceedings:o o (I)o Powero conferredo undero Sectiono 482o ofo theo Codeo iso too beo distinguishedofromotheopowerowhicholiesoinotheoCourtotoocompoundo theooffencesounderoSectiono320oofotheoCode.oNoodoubt,ounderoSectiono 482oofotheoCode,otheoHighoCourtohasoinherentopowerotooquashotheo criminalo proceedingso eveno ino thoseo caseso whicho areo noto NAVEEN NAGPAL compoundable,owhereotheopartiesohaveosettledotheomatterobetweeno o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 7o o themselves.oHowever,othisopoweroisotoobeoexercisedosparinglyoando withocaution.o o (II)Whenotheopartiesohaveoreachedotheosettlementoandoonothatobasiso petitionoforoquashingotheocriminaloproceedingsoisofiled,otheoguidingo factoroinosuchocasesowouldobeotoosecure:o o (i)oendsoofojustice,ooro o (ii)otoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourt.oWhileoexercisingo theopowerotheoHighoCourtoisotooformoanoopinionoonoeitheroofotheo aforesaidotwooobjectives.o o (III)oSuchoaopoweroisonotobeoexercisedoinothoseoprosecutionsowhicho involveoheinousoandoseriousooffencesoofomentalodepravityoorooffenceso likeomurder,orape,odacoity,oetc.oSuchooffencesoareonotoprivateoino natureoandohaveoaoseriousoimpactoonosociety.oSimilarly,oforooffenceso allegedo too haveo beeno committedo undero specialo statuteo likeo theoPreventiono ofo Corruptiono Actooro theo offenceso committedo byo Publico Servantso whileo workingo ino thato capacityo areo noto too beo quashedomerelyoonotheobasisoofocompromiseobetweenotheovictimoando theooffender.o o (IV)oOnotheoother,othoseocriminalocasesohavingooverwhelminglyoando pre-dominantlyocivilocharacter,oparticularlyothoseoarisingooutoofo commercialotransactionsooroarisingooutoofomatrimonialorelationshipo oro familyo disputeso shouldo beo quashedo wheno theo partieso haveo resolvedotheiroentireodisputesoamongothemselves.o o (V)oWhileoexercisingoitsopowers,otheoHighoCourtoisotooexamineoasotoo whethero theo possibilityo ofo convictiono iso remoteo ando bleako ando continuationo ofo criminalo caseso wouldo puto theo accusedo too greato oppressionoandoprejudiceoandoextremeoinjusticeowouldobeocausedotoo himobyonotoquashingotheocriminalocases.o o (VI)oOffencesounderoSectiono307oIPCowouldofalloinotheocategoryoofo heinousoandoseriousooffencesoandothereforeoisotoobeogenerallyotreatedo asocrimeoagainstotheosocietyoandonotoagainstotheoindividualoalone.o However,otheoHighoCourtowouldonotorestoitsodecisionomerelyobecauseo thereoisoaomentionoofoSectiono307oIPCoinotheoFIRoorotheochargeoiso framedounderothisoprovision.oItowouldobeoopenotootheoHighoCourtotoo examineoasotoowhetheroincorporationoofoSectiono307oIPCoisothereoforo theosakeoofoitoorotheoprosecutionohasocollectedosufficientoevidence,o whichoifoproved,owouldoleadotooprovingotheochargeounderoSectiono 307oIPC.oForothisopurpose,oitowouldobeoopenotootheoHighoCourtotoo goobyotheonatureoofoinjuryosustained,owhetherosuchoinjuryoisoinflictedo onotheovital/delegateopartsoofotheobody,onatureoofoweaponsousedoetc.o 2025.11.12 12:05 Medicaloreportoinorespectoofoinjuriesosufferedobyotheovictimocano o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 8o o generallyobeotheoguidingofactor.oOnotheobasisoofothisoprimaofacieo analysis,otheoHighoCourtocanoexamineoasotoowhetherothereoisoaostrongo possibilityoofoconvictionoorotheochancesoofoconvictionoareoremoteoando bleak.oInotheoformerocaseoitocanorefuseotooacceptotheosettlementoando quashotheocriminaloproceedingsowhereasoinotheolaterocaseoitowouldo beopermissibleoforotheoHighoCourtotooacceptotheopleaocompoundingo theooffenceobasedoonocompleteosettlementobetweenotheoparties.oAto thiso stage,o theo Courto cano alsoo beo swayedo byo theo facto thato theo settlementobetweenotheopartiesoisogoingotooresultoinoharmonyobetweeno themowhichomayoimproveotheirofutureorelationship.o o (VII)oWhileodecidingowhetherotooexerciseoitsopowerounderoSectiono 482oofotheoCodeooronot,otimingsoofosettlementoplayoaocrucialorole.o Thoseocasesowhereotheosettlementoisoarrivedoatoimmediatelyoafterotheo allegedo commissiono ofo offenceo ando theo mattero iso stillo undero investigation,o theo Higho Courto mayo beo liberalo ino acceptingo theo settlementotooquashotheocriminaloproceedings/investigation.oItoiso becauseoofotheoreasonothatoatothisostageotheoinvestigationoisostilloono andoevenotheochargeosheetohasonotobeenofiled.oLikewise,othoseocaseso whereotheochargeoisoframedobutotheoevidenceoisoyetotoostartoorotheo evidenceo iso stillo ato infancyo stage,o theo Higho Courto cano showo benevolenceoinoexercisingoitsopowersofavourably,obutoafteroprimao facieoassessmentoofotheocircumstances/materialomentionedoabove.o Ono theo othero hand,o whereo theo prosecutiono evidenceo iso almosto completeooroafterotheoconclusionoofotheoevidenceotheomatteroisoatotheo stageoofoargument,onormallyotheoHighoCourtoshouldorefrainofromo exercisingoitsopowerounderoSectiono482oofotheoCode,oasoinosuchocaseso theotrialocourtowouldobeoinoaopositionotoodecideotheocaseofinallyoono meritso ando too comeo ao conclusiono aso too whethero theo offenceo underoSectiono307oIPCoisocommittedooronot.oSimilarly,oinothoseocaseso whereotheoconvictionoisoalreadyorecordedobyotheotrialocourtoandotheo mattero iso ato theo appellateo stageo beforeo theo Higho Court,o mereo compromiseobetweenotheopartiesowouldonotobeoaogroundotooaccepto theosameoresultingoinoacquittaloofotheooffenderowhoohasoalreadyobeeno convictedobyotheotrialocourt.oHereochargeoisoprovedounderoSectiono 307oIPCoandoconvictionoisoalreadyorecordedoofoaoheinousocrimeoand,o therefore,othereoisonooquestionoofosparingoaoconvictofoundoguiltyoofo suchoaocrime."o o

(iii)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Parbatbhaio Aahiro @o Parbatbhaio BhimsinhbhaioKarmuroandoOrs.oVs.oStateoofoGujaratoandoanr.oAIRo2017o o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 9o o SUPREMEoCOURTo4843,oaothreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "15oTheobroadoprinciplesowhichoemergeofromotheoprecedentsoonotheosubject,o mayobeosummarisedoinotheofollowingopropositionso:o o (i)oSectiono482opreservesotheoinherentopowersoofotheoHighoCourtotoo preventoanoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyocourtoorotoosecureotheoendso ofo justice.o Theo provisiono doeso noto confero newo powers.o Ito onlyo recognisesoandopreservesopowersowhichoinhereoinotheoHighoCourt;o o (ii)oTheoinvocationoofotheojurisdictionoofotheoHighoCourtotooquashoao FirstoInformationoReportooroaocriminaloproceedingoonotheogroundo thatoaosettlementohasobeenoarrivedoatobetweenotheooffenderoandotheo victimo iso noto theo sameo aso theo invocationo ofo jurisdictiono foro theo purposeo ofo compoundingo ano offence.o Whileo compoundingo ano offence,o theo powero ofo theo courto iso governedo byo theo provisionso ofoSectiono320oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973.oTheopowero tooquashounderoSectiono482oisoattractedoevenoifotheooffenceoisonon-compoundable.o o (iii)o Ino formingo ano opiniono whethero ao criminalo proceedingo oro complaintoshouldobeoquashedoinoexerciseoofoitsojurisdictionoundero Sectiono482,otheoHighoCourtomustoevaluateowhetherotheoendsoofo justiceowouldojustifyotheoexerciseoofotheoinherentopower;o o (iv)oWhileotheoinherentopoweroofotheoHighoCourtohasoaowideoambito andoplenitudeoitohasotoobeoexercised;o(i)otoosecureotheoendsoofojusticeo oro(ii)otoopreventoanoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyocourt;o o (v)oTheodecisionoasotoowhetheroaocomplaintooroFirstoInformationo Reportoshouldobeoquashedoonotheogroundothatotheooffenderoando victimohaveosettledotheodispute,orevolvesoultimatelyoonotheofactsoando circumstanceso ofo eacho caseo ando noo exhaustiveo elaborationo ofo principlesocanobeoformulated;o o (vi)o Ino theo exerciseo ofo theo powero undero Sectiono 482o ando whileo dealingowithoaopleaothatotheodisputeohasobeenosettled,otheoHighoCourto mustohaveodueoregardotootheonatureoandogravityoofotheooffence.o Heinouso ando seriouso offenceso involvingo mentalo depravityo oro offencesosuchoasomurder,orapeoandodacoityocannotoappropriatelyobeo quashedothoughotheovictimoorotheofamilyoofotheovictimohaveosettledo theodispute.oSuchooffencesoare,otrulyospeaking,onotoprivateoinonatureo butohaveoaoseriousoimpactouponosociety.oTheodecisionotoocontinueo withotheotrialoinosuchocasesoisofoundedoonotheooverridingoelementoofo publicointerestoinopunishingopersonsoforoseriousooffences;o o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 10o o o (vii)oAsodistinguishedofromoseriousooffences,othereomayobeocriminalo casesowhichohaveoanooverwhelmingooropredominantoelementoofoao civilo dispute.o Theyo stando ono ao distincto footingo ino soo faro aso theo exerciseoofotheoinherentopowerotooquashoisoconcerned;o o (viii)o Criminalo caseso involvingo offenceso whicho ariseo fromo commercial,o financial,o mercantile,o partnershipo oro similaro transactionsowithoanoessentiallyociviloflavouromayoinoappropriateo situationsofalloforoquashingowhereopartiesohaveosettledotheodispute;o o (ix)o Ino sucho ao case,o theo Higho Courto mayo quasho theo criminalo proceedingoifoinoviewoofotheocompromiseobetweenotheodisputants,otheo possibilityo ofo aoconvictiono iso remoteo ando theo continuationo ofo ao criminaloproceedingowouldocauseooppressionoandoprejudice;oando o (x)oThereoisoyetoanoexceptionotootheoprincipleosetooutoinopropositionso

(viii)oando(ix)oabove.oEconomicooffencesoinvolvingotheofinancialoando economicowell-beingoofotheostateohaveoimplicationsowhicholieobeyondo theodomainoofoaomereodisputeobetweenoprivateodisputants.oTheoHigho Courtowouldobeojustifiedoinodecliningotooquashowhereotheooffenderoiso involvedoinoanoactivityoakinotooaofinancialooroeconomicofraudooro misdemeanour.oTheoconsequencesoofotheoactocomplainedoofouponotheo financialooroeconomicosystemowilloweighoinotheobalance."o

(iv)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoStateoofoMadhyaoPradeshovs.oLaxmio NarayanoandoothersoAIRo2019oSUPREMEoCOURTo1296,oaothreeoJudgeo BenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "13.oConsideringotheolawoonotheopointoandotheootherodecisionsoofothisoCourto onotheopoint,oreferredotoohereinabove,oitoisoobservedoandoheldoasounder:o o i)othatotheopoweroconferredounderoSectiono482oofotheoCodeotooquasho theocriminaloproceedingsoforotheonon-compoundableooffencesoundero Sectiono320oofotheoCodeocanobeoexercisedohavingooverwhelminglyo andopredominantlyotheocivilocharacter,oparticularlyothoseoarisingo outo ofo commercialo transactionso oro arisingo outo ofo matrimonialo relationshipoorofamilyodisputesoandowhenotheopartiesohaveoresolvedo theoentireodisputeoamongstothemselves;o o ii)osuchopoweroisonototoobeoexercisedoinothoseoprosecutionsowhicho involvedo heinouso ando seriouso offenceso ofo mentalo depravityo oro offenceso likeo murder,o rape,o dacoity,o etc.o Sucho offenceso areo noto privateoinonatureoandohaveoaoseriousoimpactoonosociety;o o iii)osimilarly,osuchopoweroisonototoobeoexercisedoforotheooffenceso underotheospecialostatutesolikeoPreventionoofoCorruptionoActoorotheo I attest to the accuracy and offenceso committedo byo publico servantso whileo workingo ino o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 11o o thatocapacityo areo noto too beo quashedo merelyo ono theo basiso ofo compromiseobetweenotheovictimoandotheooffender;o o iv)ooffencesounderoSectiono307oIPCoandotheoArmsoActoetc.owouldofallo inotheocategoryoofoheinousoandoseriousooffencesoandothereforeoareotoo beo treatedo aso crimeo againsto theo societyo ando noto againsto theo individualoalone,oandotherefore,otheocriminaloproceedingsoforotheo offenceounderoSectiono307oIPCoand/orotheoArmsoActoetc.owhichohaveo aoseriousoimpactoonotheosocietyocannotobeoquashedoinoexerciseoofo powersounderoSectiono482oofotheoCode,oonotheogroundothatotheo partieso haveo resolvedo theiro entireo disputeo amongsto themselves.o However,otheoHighoCourtowouldonotorestoitsodecisionomerelyobecauseo thereoisoaomentionoofoSectiono307oIPCoinotheoFIRoorotheochargeoiso framedounderothisoprovision.oItowouldobeoopenotootheoHighoCourtotoo examineoasotoowhetheroincorporationoofoSectiono307oIPCoisothereoforo theosakeoofoitoorotheoprosecutionohasocollectedosufficientoevidence,o whichoifoproved,owouldoleadotooframingotheochargeounderoSectiono 307oIPC.oForothisopurpose,oitowouldobeoopenotootheoHighoCourtotoo goobyotheonatureoofoinjuryosustained,owhetherosuchoinjuryoisoinflictedo onotheovital/delegateopartsoofotheobody,onatureoofoweaponsousedoetc.o However,osuchoanoexerciseobyotheoHighoCourtowouldobeopermissibleo onlyo aftero theo evidenceo iso collectedo aftero investigationo ando theo chargeosheetoisofiled/chargeoisoframedoand/oroduringotheotrial.oSucho exerciseo iso noto permissibleo wheno theo mattero iso stillo undero investigation.o Therefore,o theo ultimateo conclusiono ino paragraphso

29.6oando29.7oofotheodecisionoofothisoCourtoinotheocaseoofoNarindero Singho(supra)oshouldobeoreadoharmoniouslyoandotoobeoreadoasoao wholeoandoinotheocircumstancesostatedohereinabove;o o v)owhileoexercisingotheopowerounderoSectiono482oofotheoCodeotoo quashotheocriminaloproceedingsoinorespectoofonon-compoundableo offences,owhichoareoprivateoinonatureoandodoonotohaveoaoseriouso imparto ono society,o ono theo groundo thato thereo iso ao settlement/compromiseobetweenotheovictimoandotheooffender,otheo HighoCourtoisorequiredotooconsiderotheoantecedentsoofotheoaccused;o theo conducto ofo theo accused,o namely,o whethero theo accusedo waso abscondingoandowhyoheowasoabsconding,ohowoheohadomanagedowitho theocomplainantotooenterointooaocompromiseoetc."o Analysiso(reolaw)o o

10.o o Theoconventionalooutlook,oinoviewoofotheostatutoryoframework,o 2025.11.12 12:05 wasothatocriminalooffence(s)ocouldobeosettledoonlyobyowayoofocompounding,oaso o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 12o o perotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono320oofotheoCr.P.C.,o1973o(nowoSectiono359oofo BNSS,o 2023).o Ino ordinaryo parlance,o "compounding"o iso knowno aso "compromise"ooro"settlement".oThisoexpressionois,oordinarily,ounderstoodoaso condoningo ao felonyo ino exchangeo foro repatriationo receivedo byo theo victim-complainantofromotheofelon.ooInootherowords,onoocompounding/compromiseoofo aocriminalooffenceocouldobeopermittedobyotheoCourt,oexceptoforoanooffenceo whichometowithorigoursoofotheoSectiono320oofoCr.P.C.oTherefore;otheoquestiono aroseowhetherotheoHighoCourt,obyoexercisingoitsoplenary/inherentojurisdiction,o underoSectiono482oofoCr.P.C.,ocouldoquashoongoingoFIR/criminaloproceedingso onotheobasisoofocompromise/settlementohavingobeenoarrivedoatobetweenotheo rivaloparties.o

10.1.o o Beforeoproceedingofurther,oitowouldobeogermaneotoodelveointootheo nature,oscopeoandoambitoofopowersoofotheoHighoCourtounderoSectiono482oofo Cr.P.C.,o1973.o

10.2.o o InherentopowersoofotheoHighoCourtoareothoseowhichoareoincidentalo repleteopowers,owhichoifodidonotosooexist,otheoCourtowouldobeoobligedotoosito stilloandohelplesslyoseeotheoprocessoofolawoandotheoCourtsobeingoabusedoforotheo purposesoofoinjustice.oInootherowords;osuchopower(s)oisointrinsicotootheoHigho Court,o ito iso itso veryo life-blood,o itso veryo essence,o itso immanento attribute.o Withoutosuchopower(s),otheoHighoCourtowouldohaveoaoformobutolackotheo substance.oTheseopowersoofotheoHighoCourt,ohence,odeserveotoobeoconstruedo withotheowidestopossibleoamplitude.oTheseoinherentopowersoareoinoconsonanceo withotheonatureoofotheoHighoCourtowhichooughtotoobe,oandohasoinofactobeen,o investedowithopower(s)otoomaintainoitsoauthorityotoopreventotheoprocessoofo law/Courtsobeingoobstructedooroabused.oItoisoaotriteopositoofojurisprudenceothato thoughotheolawsoattemptotoodealowithoallocasesothatomayoarise,otheoinfiniteo o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 13o o varietyo ofo circumstanceso whicho shapeo eventso ando theo imperfectionso ofo languageomakeoitoimpossibleotoolayodownoprovisionsocapableoofogoverningo everyo case,o which,o ino fact,o arise.o Theo Higho Courto whicho existso foro theo furtheranceo ofojusticeo ino ano indefatigableo manner,oshouldotherefore,o haveo unfetteredo power(s)o too dealo witho situationso which,o thougho noto expresslyo providedoforobyotheolaw,oneedotoobeodealtowith,otoopreventoinjusticeoorotheoabuseo ofotheoprocessoofolawoandoCourts.oTheomaxim,onamely,o"quandoolexoaliquido alicuioconcedit,oconcedereovideturoetoidosineoquooresoipsa,oesseononopotest"o (whenotheolawogivesoanythingotooanyone,oitoalsoogivesoallothoseothingsowithouto whichotheothingoitselfocannotoexist)oalsoosignifiesothatotheoinherentopowersoofo theoHighoCourtoareoallosuchopowersowhichoareonecessaryotoodootheorightoandotoo undooaowrongoinotheocourseoofoadministrationoofojustice.oFurther,otheomaximo "exodebitoojustitiae"ostipulatesothatosuchopowersoareogivenotoodoorealoando substantialojustice,oforowhichopurposeoalone,otheoHighoCourtoexists.oHence,otheo powersounderoSectiono482oofoCr.P.C.,oareoaimedoatopreservingotheoinherento powersoofoaoHighoCourtotoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourtoorotoo secureotheoendsoofojustice.oTheojuridicalobasisoofotheseoplenaryopower(s)oisotheo authority;oinofact,otheoseminalodutyoandoresponsibilityoofotheoHighoCourt;otoo uphold,otooprotectoandotoofulfilotheojudicialofunctionoofoadministeringojustice,o inoaccordanceowithotheolaw,oinoaomethodical,oorderlyoandoeffectiveomanner.oIno otherowords;oSectiono482oofoCr.P.C.oreflectsopeerlessopowers,owhichoaoHigho Courtomayodrawouponoasonecessary,owheneveroitoisojustoandoequitableotoodooso;o inoparticular,otooensureotheoobservanceoofotheodueoprocessoofolaw,otooprevento vexationooro oppression,o too doo justiceo nayo substantialo justiceobetweenotheo partiesoandotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice.o o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 14o o

10.3o o Theoaboveoprinciple(s),oinocontextoofoprovisionsoofoSectiono482o ofoCr.P.C,o1973,owouldoapplyowithocompleteovigour,otootheoprovisionsoofo Sectiono528oofoBNSSoofo2023oasowell,osinceothereoisonooalterationoinotheo wordingoofotheseotwooprovisions.o

11.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoGianoSingho(supra)o hasoenunciatedothatotheopowersoofotheoHighoCourtoforoquashingoofocriminalo proceedingso ono theo basiso ofo settlemento areo materiallyo differento fromo compoundingoofooffenceoinotermsoofoSectiono320oofoCr.P.C.,o(NowoSectiono 359oofoBNSS,o2023)oasoaoCourtowhileoexercisingopowerounderoSectiono320oofo Cr.P.C.o(NowoSectiono359oofoBNSS,o2023)oisocircumscribedobyotheostatutoryo provisiono buto theo Higho Courto mayo proceedo too quasho ao criminalo offence/criminaloproceedingsoifotheoendsoofojusticeojustifyoexerciseoofosucho power.oItowasothusoheldothatotheocriminalocasesohavingooverwhelminglyoando predominantlyo civilo flavour,o offenceso arisingo outo ofo matrimonialo dispute,o offencesoarisingooutoofofamilyodispute,oasoalsoooffencesowhichoareobasicallyo privateooropersonaloinonature,ocouldobeoquashedobyotheoHighoCourtoinocaseotheo partiesohaveoresolvedotheiroentireodispute(s).oFurther,otheoHon'bleoSupremeo CourtoinotheocaseoofoNarinderoSingho(supra)ohasoheldothatotheopossibilityoofo convictionobeingoremoteoandobleak,owhereasocontinuationoofotheocriminalocaseo isoputtingotheoaccusedotoooppressionoandoprejudiceo&otheopartiesobeingoputotoo generalo inconvenience,o aso alsoo prejudiceo couldo alsoo beo consideredo aso contributingofactorsobyotheoHighoCourt,owhileoexaminingoaopleaoforoquashingo ofocriminaloproceedingsoonotheobasisoofosettlement/compromise.oHoweveroao cautionowasomadeothatocasesoinvolvingoheinousoandoseriousooffencesoofomentalo depravityo oro offenceso likeo murder,o rape,o dacoity;o offenceso undero theo PreventionoofoCorruptionoActocommittedobyopublicoservantsoetc.,ooughtonototoo o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 15o o beoquashedowhileoexercisingosuchoplenaryojurisdiction.oTootheosameoeffectoiso theodictaoofotheojudgmentoofothreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto inotheocaseoofoParbatbhaioAahirocaseo(supra).ooFurther,oaothreeoJudgeoBencho ofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentoofoLaxmioNarayanocaseo(supra)o reiteratedotheoprinciplesolaid-downoinocasesoofoGianoSingho(supra),oNarindero Singho(supra)oandoParbatbhaioAahiro(supra).oTheoaureateoenunciationoofolaw,o ino aboveo case-law,o essentiallyo pointso outo thato theo primeo factorso foro considerationo ofo quashingo ofo FIR/criminalo proceedingso ono theo basiso ofo compromise/settlementoisothatotheodispute/offenceoisoessentiallyoprivateoino nature;ocontinuationoofocriminaloproceedingowouldobeoanoexerciseoinofutilityo asoitsofait-accomplioisoknown;opendencyoofosuchoproceedingsowouldobeoano undesirableoburdenoonotheopolice/prosecutionoasoalsootheoCourts,owhooareo alreadyostrugglingoardouslyotoomanageotheoeveroincreasingoandounmanageableo docketoand/orosuchoquashingowouldoensureotheoendsoofojustice.ooo

11.1o o Itois,othus,ounequivocalothatotheoplenaryopowersovestedoinoaoHigho Court,o byo virtueo ofo itso veryo constitution,o areo too beo exercisedo witho circumspectionoandoinoaomannerobefittingojudicialopropriety.ooTheoinvocationo ofoinherentojurisdictionomustoserveotheoendsoofojustice,onecessitatingoaoholistico evaluationoofoallotheoattendantocircumstances.ooTheocriminalojusticeosystemoiso notomerelyoaoforumofororesolvingointerpersonalodisputes;oitoembodiesotheo sovereignoobligationoofotheoStateotoosafeguardotheofundamentalorightsoofoitso citizens,oincludingotheoprotectionoofolife,oliberty,oandoproperty.oInoadjudicatingo petitionsoseekingoquashingoofocriminaloproceedingsoonotheobasisoofoaopurportedo compromiseobetweenotheoparties,otheocourtomustotranscendotheoimmediateo assertionsoofoharmony.ooWhileotheoabsenceoofocurrentogrievancesobetweeno partieso mayo beo ao materialo consideration,o ito cannoto beo theo determinativeo o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 16o o criterion.ooTheocourtoisoduty-boundotooscrutinizeotheogravityoofotheoallegations,o theonatureoofotheooffences,oandotheiroramificationsoonotheopublicoorderoando societalowelfare.oThisojudicialoresponsibilityoisoaccentuatedoinocasesoinvolvingo heinousooroegregiousooffences,owhereotheobroaderosocietalointerestooutweighso privateosettlements.oCompromisingosuchocasesoonotheogroundoofomutualoaccordo risksounderminingotheopublicoconfidenceoinotheojusticeodeliveryosystemoando jeopardizingotheolargerointerestoofolawoenforcementoandomightoalsooimplyosomeo kindoofoimpunityobeingoaccordedotootheoerringoparty(s).oooo

12.o o Theocontemporaryofelonyoofocyberofraudopresentsoaotransgressiono suio generiso thato mandateso itso categoricalo exclusiono fromo theo judicialo indulgenceoforoquashingoofocriminaloproceedingsosolelyoonotheobasisoofoao compromise/settlemento havingo beeno arrivedo ato betweeno theo complainant/victimo andotheo accused.o Digitalo economyoiso theounassailableo locusoofomodernocommerce,osustainedoentirelyobyotheobedrockoofopublicotrust.o CyberoFraudoactsoasoaocorrosiveoinsurgency,ocausingonotomerelyoanoisolatedo pecuniaryoloss,obutoanoaggravatedosystemicodamageouponotheopublicofinancialo exchequer,o therebyo inflictingo profoundo ino remo detriment.o Owingo too theo anonymity,o trans-bordero expanseo ando ao propensityo ofo causingo substantialo adverseoimpact,oaocourtoisocompelledotoolookobeyondotheoprivateosettlement,o lestoitomayotantamountotoograntingojudicialoimprimaturotooanoongoingosystemico threat.oWhenosuchoanooffenderoescapesoprosecutionosimplyobyoofferingoposto factoo restitution,o theo penalo measureo iso ipsoo factoo convertedo intoo ao mereo calculusoofoprofitoandorisk.oTheoperpetratoroofosuchoanoorganizedocrimeoiso emboldenedotootreatotheocompromise/settlementoasoaopredictableoexpense,o creatingoaodeleteriousolacunaoinotheolawoandogravelyoimpactingotheosanctityoofo criminalojusticeosystem.oWhenoaocyberofraudoisoperpetrated,otheoimmediateoando o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 17o o visibleofinancialodeceit/lossoisoonlyotheotipoofotheospear;otheorealovictimoisotheo digitaloecosystemoitself.oAoprivateocompromise/settlementobetweenotheorivalo privateoparties,oi.e.otheoaccusedoandotheocomplainant/victim,oisomerelyoano ineffectualorepudiationoofoindividualoliability,olackingoutterlyoinoaddressingotheo cascadingoandounquantifiableoinstitutionaloinjury.oo o o Pertinently,othisoCourtoisoabundantlyocognizantoofotheofactothato theo sineo quao nono behindo ao complainant/victim'so assento too ao compromise/settlemento ino caseso ofo financialo fraudo remainso theo assuredo restitutionoofotheomoniesoofowhichosheohasobeenoduped/criminallyodivested.o Thiso assuranceo ofo monetaryo indemnificationo actso aso ao soleo alluremento motivatingo hero too participateo ino compromise/settlemento proceedings.o Nevertheless,osuchoaocompromise/settlement,ohavingobeenoarrivedounderotheo allurementoofomonetaryorestitution,oisoinherentlyoincapableoofoamelioratingotheo inherentogravityoandoegregiousonatureoofotheooffenceoofocyberofraud,owhichohaso theo propensityo ofo causingo extensiveo publico detrimento ando impartingo ao perniciousoimpactoonotheofoundationalotrust,ounderpinningoanyocommercialo activity.oo

12.1.o o Anothero aspecto nayo vitalo aspecto ofo theo liso ino hando craveso attention.oo o o Theolegalolandscapeoisorepleteowithocasesowhereoinvocationoofo serious/grievousoallegationsopertainingotootheostringentopenaloprovisionso(sucho asothoseorelatingotootheooffenceoofocyberofraud),oconstituteoanoinstrumentoofo premeditatedo hyperbole,o scrupulouslyo invokedo too artificiallyo inflateo theo gravityoofoallegations,ootherwiseorootedoinopecuniaryobilateralotransactions.o However,o ao moreo ruminatedo scrutinyo reflectso theo inherento natureo ofo transgressionotoobeothatoofosimpliciterocheating,oconspicuouslyodevoidoofotheo o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 18o o ingredientoofopublicodetrimentorequiredoofoanooffenceopertainingotoocybero fraud.oInosuchoaofactualomilieu,otheorigidodenialotooexerciseoinherentopowersoaso savedobyowayoofoSectiono528oofotheoBNSS,o2023,otoosanctionoanootherwiseo bonao fideo compromise/settlemento ofo dispute(s),o solely,o o becauseo theo FIR/CriminaloComplaintoisoriddenowithotheoallegationsoofocyberofraud,owouldo tantamountotooabdicationoofojudicialoduty,odefeatingotheocauseoofosubstantialo justice.o For,o ito iso ano irrevocableo judicialo principleo thato ao court,o ino itso transcendentodutyotooensureocompleteojustice,omustounflinchinglyobeocognizanto ofopracticaloexigenciesoandosocialoverities.oo

12.2.o o Toodetermineoasotoowhetherooffence(s)oinoquestionopertainsotooao situationowhereotheoallegationsoofocyberofraudohaveobeenomadeomerelyotoolendo severityooroitoisoinherentlyoaocaseoofocyberofraudosimplicter,otheoCourtois,o essentially,orequiredotoolookointootheoentireofactualomilieuoofotheoparticularocaseo inohand.oNooexhaustiveosetoofoguideline(s)otoogovern,otheoexerciseoofothiso aspectobyotheoHighoCourt,ocanopossiblyobeolaidodown,ohoweveroillecebrousothiso aspecto mayo be.o o Ito iso neithero fathomableo noro desirableo too layo downo anyo straightjacketoformulaoinothisoregard.ooToodoosoowouldobeotoocrystallizeointooao rigidodefinition,oaojudicialodiscretion,owhichoforobestoofoalloreasonsodeserveotoo beoleftoundetermined.ooAnyoattemptoinothisoregardowouldobe,otoosayotheoleast,oao quixoticoendeavour.ooCircumstantialoflexibility,ooneoadditionaloorodifferento fact,omayomakeoaoseaoofodifferenceobetweenoconclusionsoofotwoocases.ooErgo,o suchoexerciseowouldothus,oindubitably,obeodependentouponotheofactualomatrixo ofotheoparticularocaseowhichotheoHighoCourtoisoinoseisinoof,osinceoeveryocaseo hasoitsoownopeculiarofactualoconspectus.ooo o o

13.o o Asoaosequituroofotheoaboveorumination,otheofollowingopostulateso emerge:o o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 19o o I.o o TheoinherentojurisdictionovestedoinotheoHighoCourtooughtonotobeo exercisedo foro quashingo ofo ano FIR/Criminalo Complaint,o pertainingo too theo allegationsoofocyberofraud,osolelyoonotheobasisoofocompromise/settlement.oTheo pervasiveopublicodetrimentoandotheosystemicoerosionoofotrust,oirrevocably,o supersedes,otheopurelyoprivateoremedialoadjustment,oachievedobetweenotheo complainant/victimoandotheoaccused.oooo II.o o Whereoaometiculousojudicialoappraisaloofofactsoreflectsothatotheo cyberofraudoallegationsohaveobeenostrategicallyoinvokedotoolendounwarrantedo gravityoandoseriousnessotoootherwiseosimpliciteropecuniaryotransactionointer-seotheoComplainant/victimoandotheoaccused,otheoCourtomustonotopermitotheo rigidityoofolawotoodefeatotheoendsoofojusticeoandomayosanctionotheobonaofideo compromise/settlementotooputoanoendotootheolis.o III.o o Tooeffectuallyodetermineoasotoowhetherotheocaseoinohandofallso withinotheoambitoandoscopeoofopostulateo(I)ooropostulateo(II)o(supra),otheoCourto mustoundertakeoaoscrupulousoandogranularoscrutinyoofotheoentireofactualomilieuo ofotheocaseoatohand.o o o Nooexhaustiveoguidelinesocanopossiblyobeolaid-downoforoexerciseo ofoaforesaidojudicialodiscretionobyoaoCourtoasoeveryocaseohasoitsoownouniqueo factualoconspectus.ooThereoisonoogainsayingothatoanoorderopassedobyotheoCourt,o whileoexercisingosuchodiscretion,omustobeoaospeakingoorderoclearlyogivingoouto reasonsothereino&omustobeoinoconsonanceowithotheobasicocanonsoofoJustice,o goodoconscienceoandoequity.oooo Analysiso(reofactsoofotheopresentocase)o

14.o o Revertingotootheofactsoofotheopresentocase,otheopetitionoinohando hasobeenofiledoforoquashingoofotheoimpugnedoFIRo(asoalsootheoproceedingo emanatingotherefrom)oonotheobasisoofocompromiseodeed(s)odatedo20.09.2025.o o CRM-M-54453-2025o o o o o o o o 20o o Itoisoneitheropleadedonorodecipherableofromotheofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoino handothatotheorivaloprivateopartiesowereoknownotooeachootherobeforeohandooro thatotheooffenceoisoinotheonatureoofoaoprivateodisputeobetweenothem.oOnotheo contrary,oaobareoperusaloofotheocontentsoofotheoFIRoinoquestion,oasoalsootheo otherofactualoaspectsoofotheocaseoinohand,oitoisoabundantlyodeducibleothatotheo caseoinohandopertainsotooaocyberofraudosimpliciter.oErgo,otheopetitionoinohando oughtonototoobeoentreatedoandodeservesorejection.oo Decisiono

15.o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:o

(i)o o Theopetition;oseekingoquashingoofoFIRoNo.38odatedo27.06.2025o (theoimpugnedoFIR)oregisteredounderoSectionso318(4),o336(3),o338,o340,o61oofo BNSoatoPoliceoStationoPSoCyberoSonipat,oHaryana,oasoalsootheoproceedingso subsequentothereto,oonotheobasisoofoaocompromiseodeedodatedo20.09.2025o (AnnexureoP-2);oisodismissed.ooo

(ii)o o Anyoobservationsomadeohereinaboveoshallonotohaveoanyoeffectoono theomeritsoofotheocaseoandotheotrialoCourt/policeoshalloproceedofurther,oino accordanceowitholaw,owithoutobeingoinfluencedowithotheosame.oo

(iii)o o Noodispositionoasotoocosts,oforotheononce.oo

(iv)o o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.o o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo oooJUDGEo o Novembero12,o2025o Naveen/Ajayo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yeso o o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yeso