PUSHKAR VAIGANKAR Vs. STATE OF GOA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith at the request of and with the consent of the learned counsel for the parties.

(2.) This Criminal Writ Petition invokes our jurisdiction under Article 226 as well as our inherent powers under Sec. 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as ' BNSS '). The petition seeks to quash and set aside the FIR bearing No.131 / 2024 dtd. 1/10/2024 registered against the petitioner alleging the commission of offences punishable under Ss. 376 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as ' IPC ').

(3.) The petitioner, aged 26, is the husband of respondent no.3, who is of a mature age. It is not in dispute that the marriage between petitioner and respondent no. 3 was registered before the Office of the Civil Registrar, Tiswadi on 1/7/2022 under entry No. MR - TIS - 566- 2022 and bearing Certificate of Marriage No. 1403-2023. It is also not disputed that the marriage was not solemnized traditionally in accordance with the religious customs.