Overview
- Justice Pravin Patil at the Nagpur bench quashed a Wardha police FIR against a husband, his parents and relatives after finding the allegations vague and insufficient to prove cruelty.
- The court reviewed WhatsApp chats and the timeline of events, including settlement discussions and a consensual abortion, to evaluate the bona fides of the complaint.
- The order observed that educated complainants in several cases name entire families, including aged parents and married sisters living separately, causing harassment and social stigma.
- The bench affirmed it may invoke inherent and incidental powers to quash even non-compoundable private complaints when continuing proceedings would oppress innocent persons.
- In Vaibhav Gopaldas Mundada v. State of Maharashtra, the wife’s July 1, 2024 complaint was found to deploy criminal law as leverage during marital negotiations.