2026 (2) TMI 1210 - HC - Indian Laws

Compounding of offences permitted after verified compromise; criminal proceedings quashed subject to stipulated payments and proof.

Whether criminal proceedings may be quashed following a private compromise was decided by permitting compounding of alleged offences under the Information ... Compounding of offences - quashing of criminal proceedings - recording of compromise by Legal Services Committee - conditional quash subject to compliance - HELD THAT:- Since the parties were willing to enter into compromise, they were given a chance to settle the matter by appearing along with their respective counsel before the High Court Legal Services Committee for the State of Telangana vide orders dated 23.12.2025 passed by this Court. The Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee shall identify the parties and submit a report to that effect. Pursuant to the above said direction issued by this Court, the parties along with their respective counsel have appeared before the High Court Legal Services Committee for the State of Telangana and the Secretary of the above said Authority identified the parties and submitted a report dated 09.01.2026 stating that the parties were identified and they have willfully, without any coercion, entered into compromise. The Court allowed the compromise petitions and quashed the related criminal proceedings in F.I.R., subject to the petitioner making the prescribed payments to the High Court Legal Services Committee and the Director. Issues: Whether the criminal proceedings in F.I.R. No.1352 of 2022, the consequential charge sheet and the C.C. proceedings against the petitioner can be quashed following a compromise/compounding entered into by the parties.Analysis: The petition under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 sought quashing of proceedings registered for offences under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of The Information Technology Act, 2008 and Sections 419 and 420 of The Indian Penal Code, 1860. During pendency of the petition the parties informed the Court that they had compromised the matter and sought permission to compound the offences and to record the compromise. The Court directed the parties to appear before the High Court Legal Services Committee for identification and verification of the compromise. The Secretary of that Committee submitted a report confirming identification of the parties and that the compromise was willful and not under coercion. The prosecution opposed the compromise, but the Court considered the verification report and the parties' willingness to settle and permitted compounding and recording of the compromise, subject to stipulated payments to specified beneficiaries and filing of proof of payment within a fixed time.Conclusion: I.A.Nos.3 & 4 of 2025 are allowed; the Criminal Petition is allowed and the proceedings in F.I.R. No.1352 of 2022, the consequential charge sheet and the C.C. proceedings are quashed, subject to the petitioner making the specified payments and filing proof thereof. This outcome is in favour of the petitioner.