Delhi High Court
Aditya Vikram Singh Sethi vs State Govt. Of Nct Of Delhi And Anr on 8 September, 2025
$~47
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Date of decision: 08.09.2025
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+ CRL.M.C. 10182/2024
ADITYA VIKRAM SINGH SETHI ....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Parmesh Bali, Mr. Gagan
Garg, Advocates with petitioner
in person.
versus
STATE GOVT. OF NCT
OF DELHI AND ANR. ... Respondents
Through: Mr. Yudhvir Singh Chauhan,
APP with SI Kapil Beniwal,
PS-Punjabi Bagh.
Mr. Akhil Hasija, Advocate for
R-2.
CORAM:-
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVINDER DUDEJA
JUDGMENT(ORAL)
RAVINDER DUDEJA, J.
1. This is a petition under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik
Suraksha Sanhita, seeking quashing of FIR No. 482/2018, dated
05.09.2018, registered at P.S Punjabi Bagh, Delhi under Sections
135of Indian Electricity Act (Amend) 2003 and all proceedings
emanating therefrom on the basis of settlement between the parties.
2. As per averments made in the FIR, on 10.05.2018 an inspection
conducted by Respondent no. 2 at premises no. G-4, Jeevan Basera
Apartments, West Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, revealed that petitioner was
indulged in direct theft of electricity by tapping into the company's
supply system with illegal wires. No authorized meter or legal source
of supply was found, and a connected load of 20.666 KW for domestic
use was detected. A theft bill of ₹5,20,108 was raised. Chargesheet
has since been filed under sections 135 of Indian Electricity Act
(Amend) 2003 against the petitioner.
3. During the course of proceedings, the parties amicably resolved
their disputes and the same was recorded before the ld. Trial Court
vide order dated 20.11.2024. Pursuant to the aforesaid settlement,
petitioner have cleared all their dues totaling to Rs. 80,00/- (Rupees
Eighty Thousand only). It is submitted that in regards to the same,
respondent no. 2 has also issued a No Dues Certificate dated
21.10.2024. Copy of the No Dues Certificate dated 21.10.2024 has
been annexed as Annexure C.
4. Petitioner is physically present before the Court. They have
been identified by their respective counsels as well as by the
Investigating Officer SI Kapil Beniwal, from PS Punjabi Bagh.
5. Ld. Counsel for Respondent No. 2 confirms that the matter has
been amicably settled with the petitioner without any force, fear,
coercion and they have received the total amount of Rs. 80,00/-
(Rupees Eighty Thousand only) from the petitioner and have no
objection if the FIR No. 482/2018 is quashed against the Petitioner.
6. In view of the settlement between the parties, learned
Additional PP appearing for the State, also has no objection if the
present FIR No. 482/2018 is quashed.
7. In Gian Singh vs State of Punjab (2012) 10 SCC 303, Hon'ble
Supreme Court has recognized the need of amicable resolution of
disputes by observing as under:-
"61. In other words, the High Court must consider whether it would
be unfair or contrary to the interest of justice to continue with the
criminal proceedings or continuation of criminal proceedings
would tantamount to abuse of process of law despite settlement and
compromise between the victim and the wrongdoer and whether to
secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate that criminal case is put
to an end and if the answer to the above question(s) is in the
affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to
quash the criminal proceedings."
8. Further, it is settled that the inherent powers under section 482
of the Code are required to be exercised to secure the ends of justice or
to prevent abuse of the process of any court. Further, the High Court
can quash non-compoundable offences after considering the nature of
the offence and the amicable settlement between the concerned
parties. Reliance may be placed upon B.S. Joshi v. State of Haryana,
(2003) 4 SCC 675.
9. In view of the above facts that the parties have amicably
resolved their differences out of their own free will and without any
coercion. Hence, it would be in the interest of justice, to quash the
abovementioned FIR and the proceedings pursuant thereto.
10. The petition is allowed, and the FIR No. 482/2018, dated
05.09.2018, registered at P.S Punjabi Bagh, Delhi under section 135 of
Indian Electricity Act (Amend) 2003 and all the other consequential
proceeding emanating therefrom is hereby quashed.
11. Petition is allowed and disposed of accordingly.
12. Pending application(s), if any, also stand disposed of.
RAVINDER DUDEJA, J
September 08, 2025
SK
