The Karnataka High Court quashed a 498A case, ruling that minor marital disagreements over cooking, cleaning, and diet do not amount to cruelty. The judgment warns against the misuse of the law as a tool to harass families.
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BENGALURU: In a landmark decision, the Karnataka High Court has quashed a criminal case filed under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against a husband and his family members, highlighting that the allegations did not amount to statutory cruelty. The judgment also emphasized that misuse of 498A can turn the law into a “weapon rather than a remedy.”
Background of the Case
The case involved a married couple who relocated to the United States after their wedding on August 25, 2017. The couple lived abroad for almost six years, during which they had two children.
In January 2023, the wife returned to India and later filed a complaint against her husband, his parents, and his brother, alleging harassment and cruelty. The Basavangudi Women Police Station registered Crime No. 90 of 2024, citing incidents like:
- Husband insists on household chores
- Criticism of cooking and dietary habits
- Restrictions on attire and lifestyle
- Alleged indifference toward the wife and children
A Look Out Circular (LOC) was also issued against the husband, preventing him from traveling abroad.
Arguments Presented
Petitioners’ Argument
The husband and his family argued that:
- The allegations pertained to minor disagreements common in marriages.
- The couple had lived in the US for most of their marriage.
- The complaint involved events over the phone after the wife returned to India.
- Continuing the proceedings and enforcing the LOC would constitute abuse of legal process.
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Respondent’s Argument
The complainant’s counsel insisted that:
- The complaint detailed harassment by the husband and in-laws.
- Investigation should continue to address the alleged offences under Sections 498A and 504 IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
High Court’s Analysis
Justice M. Nagaprasanna observed that the allegations mainly concerned household responsibilities, dietary preferences, clothing, and minor disputes, which do not meet the legal threshold for cruelty under Section 498A.
The Court emphasized:
“Section 498A of the IPC is not a panacea for all matrimonial ills.”
Additionally, the judgment highlighted the problem of implicating in-laws who resided in India while the marital life occurred abroad:
“Indiscriminate roping in of parents-in-law and brother-in-law… founded on vague and omnibus allegations, do not advance justice—they corrode it.”
The High Court referred to multiple Supreme Court rulings reinforcing that minor marital disputes cannot be criminalized:
- Shobhit Kumar Mittal v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2025): Cruelty requires specific instances.
- Abhishek v. State of Madhya Pradesh (2023): Minor spousal disagreements cannot be treated as crimes.
- Achin Gupta v. State of Haryana (2024): Repeated misuse of 498A is a serious concern.
- Belide Swagath Kumar v. State of Telangana (2025): Daily marital wear and tear is not cruelty.
- Dara Lakshmi Narayana v. State of Telangana: Warned against implicating entire families.
ALSO READ: ‘Ineffective and Misused’: Supreme Court Flags Serious Gaps in India’s Anti-Dowry Laws
The Karnataka High Court quashed FIR Crime No. 90 of 2024 and all proceedings against the husband, his parents, and his brother. The judgment noted:
“To permit the criminal process to lumber forward would be to allow law to become a weapon rather than a remedy.”
The Court also struck down the LOC against the husband, calling the allegations tenuous and emphasizing that the criminal justice system cannot be misused for omnibus allegations.
Case Title:
Abuzar Ahmed & Ors. v. The State of Karnataka & Anr.
Criminal Petition No. 7053 of 2024
READ ORDER
Click Here to Read More Reports On Misuse of Section 498A IPC
