CHARUL SHUKLA Vs. STATE OF U.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) The present criminal appeals have been preferred by the appellants assailing the order dtd. 18/12/2023 passed by the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench in Criminal Miscellaneous Writ Petition No.9354 of 2023, wherein the High Court declined to quash the criminal proceedings arising out of FIR No.758 of 2023 registered at Police Station Mohammadi, District Khiri, at the instance of respondent No.4 (hereinafter referred to as "the complainant") against the accused/appellants. The said FIR invoked offences punishable under Ss. 498A, 323 and 313 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as "IPC"), as well as Ss. 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as "DP Act") and subsequently a chargesheet was filed under Ss. 323, 354, 498A of IPC and Ss. 3 and 4 of DP Act.

(3.) Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that the accused/appellant in Criminal Appeal arising out of SLP (Crl.) No.555/2024 is the sister-in-law of the complainant, whereas the accused/appellants in Criminal Appeal arising out of SLP (Crl.) No.609/2024 are the mother-in-law and father-in-law (parents-inlaw) respectively of the said complainant. It is an admitted fact that the marriage between the complainant and her husband, Utkarsh Awasthi was solemnised on 16/4/2017 as per the Hindu rites and ceremonies.