Legal Provisions Involved: Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

Judgement By: Supreme Court of India 

Bench: Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan.

Facts

The husband and wife, both software engineers, married in December 2016 and later shifted to the USA. They had a son in 2019. Due to marital differences, the wife returned to India with the child. In 2022, the husband sent a legal notice for restitution of conjugal rights. Soon after, the wife filed an FIR against the husband and his family members alleging cruelty and dowry harassment.

Key Legal Provisions

Section 498A IPC deals with cruelty by a husband or his relatives towards a married woman.

Issues Raised

Whether sending money to parents, asking the wife to maintain expense records, and making general allegations amount to cruelty under Section 498A IPC?

Arguments of the Case

The husband argued that the allegations were vague and related to normal marital issues. The wife claimed she faced mental cruelty, financial control, and dowry demands.

Judgement

The Supreme Court quashed the FIR, holding that such acts are part of ordinary marital life and do not amount to cruelty. The court stressed that vague and general allegations cannot lead to criminal prosecution under Section 498A IPC.

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