PATNA, India, July 1 -- Patna High Court issued the following judgment on June 27:

1. Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the parties.

2. The present petition is being filed on behalf of the petitioners for quashing of cognizance order dated 30.05.2024 passed in Complaint Case No. 309 of 2024 by learned J.M. 1st Class, Motihari at East Champaran whereby and whereunder the learned J.M. 1st Class has been pleased to take cognizance for offence punishable under section 498A of the Indian penal code.

3. At the outset, it is pointed out by learned counsel for the petitioner that in para no. 6 of the order dated 13.05.2025 at the fifth line Rs. 5,00,000/- was mentioned inadvertently in place of Rs. 7,50,000/-. The order dated 13.05.2025 be read with aforesaid corrections.

4. As per the case of prosecution the daughter of the complainant/ O.P. No. 2 namely, Namrata Singh married with petitioner no. 3 namely, Ankit Kumar on 10.02.2022 whereafter petitioners collectively raised demand of dowry and due to non-fulfillment of the same daughter of the complainant/ O.P. No. 2 was tortured physically and mentally. A demand for four wheeler car was also raised from complainant. It is also alleged that the daughter of the complainant became pregnant and was aborted forcibly against her will by petitioner no. 3 and her family members, whereafter she was forcibly ousted from her matrimonial, whereafter present case was lodged. 5. It is submitted by learned.

5. It is submitted by learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that the daughter of the complainant left the house of the petitioners just after 28 days of her marriage with petitioner no. 3. It is pointed out that the behavior of the daughter of the complainant was doubtful from very beginning and therefore apprehending false implication an informatory petition under Section 39 of Cr.P.C. was filed before the learned CJM, Sitamarhi bearing no. 526 of 2022 on 20.06.2022, before lodging present case. It is also pointed out that one Rakesh Singh, who is brother of the complainant and also the witness of the present complaint case, threatened to kill petitioner no. 4, whereafter petitioner no. 4 lodged a FIR bearing Sitamarhi P.S. Case No. 946 of 2022 dated 28.11.2022 against the brother of the complainant. It is further submitted that the daughter of the complainant namely, Namrata Singh herself lodged a case in year 2022 which was registered as Complaint Case No. 1917 of 2022, which is still pending before the learned court below whereafter the present complaint case almost with same allegations and for same occurrence was filed by father of Namrata Singh namely, Vijay Kumar who is O.P. No. 2 of the present quashing petition. It is pointed out that petitioner no. 1 is mother-in-law, petitioner no. 2 is sister-in-law, petitioner no. 3 is the husband and petitioner no. 4 is father-in-law of the victim.

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