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Delhi High Court
Punmeet Kaur@Poonam Sethi vs State Of Nct Of Delhi & Anr on 10 February, 2026
$~63
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Date of Decision: 10th February, 2026
+ CRL.M.C. 1136/2026 & CRL.M.A. 4496/2026
PUNMEET KAUR@POONAM SETHI .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Parmesh Bali, Advocate along
with petitioner-in-person
versus
STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR. .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Raj Kumar, APP for State/R-1
Mr. Sharique Hussain and Ms. Kirti
Garg, Advocates for R-2
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN
J U D G M E N T (oral)
1. Petitioner seeks quashing of FIR No. 434/2018, registered at Police
Station Punjabi Bagh for commission of offence under Section 135 of Indian
Electricity Act (Amend.) 2003, along with all consequential proceedings
arising therefrom.
2. Case pertains to theft of electricity and as per case of prosecution,
when an inspection team of BSES officials visited the premises of Kothi No.
38/52, Basement, West Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi-110026 on 10.05.2018, no
electricity meter was found installed at the basement and it was found to be
a case of direct theft of electricity by illegal wire. Further, the electricity
was being used for non-domestic purpose and, resultantly, FIR was
registered.
3. According to petitioner, she was running a play-school in the
basement and, though, inspection was carried out but she was not aware
about the subsequent proceedings in the matter.
4. According to her, matter had been amicably settled as the BSES had
issued a 'No Dues certificate', once the entire settlement amount was
deposited by the accused on 21.09.2022 and on 31.10.2022.
5. Copy of such No Dues certificate has also been placed on record.
6. Learned counsel for petitioner, in all fairness, admits that since
petitioner was not aware about ongoing legal proceedings, petitioner was
declared proclaimed offender by the learned Trial Court way back on
25.07.2022 but, fact remains that matter was amicably settled between the
parties and final payment was made on 31.10.2022. He submits that factum
of her being declared proclaimed offender came to fore only when the
charge-sheet was subsequently filed.
7. Learned counsel for petitioner submits that he himself is appearing
before the learned Trial Court and had taken a date to file appropriate
petition seeking quashing of FIR.
8. Learned counsel for respondent no. 2-BSES Rajdhani Power Limited
are present on advance notice and admit that the matter has been amicably
settled and settled amount has already been received by them, way back in
the year 2022. They submit that since nothing is now due and the entire
payment has been made to the satisfaction of BSES, they would have no
objection if FIR is quashed.
9. Petitioner is in her fifties and is wheelchair-bound, on account of knee
issues.
10. Admittedly, the liability in question is, primarily, civil in nature.
Since matter has been settled, no purpose would be achieved by continuing
with criminal proceedings.
11. Accordingly, exercising inherent powers vested in this Court under
Section 528 of the BNSS, it is deemed appropriate to quash the instant FIR.
12. Consequently, to secure ends of justice, FIR No. 434/2018, registered
at Police Station Punjabi Bagh for commission of offence under Section 135
of Indian Electricity Act (Amend.) 2003, along with all consequential
proceedings emanating therefrom, is hereby, quashed subject to petitioner
depositing cost of Rs. 25,000/- with Delhi High Court Staff Welfare Fund
[Account no. 15530110074442: IFSC UCBA0001553] within two weeks
from today.
13. Needless to say, since FIR and all the proceedings emanating from the
said FIR have been quashed, order vide which petitioner had been declared
proclaimed offender also stands set aside.
14. Present petition stands disposed of in aforesaid terms.
15. Pending application also stands disposed of in aforesaid terms.
16. A copy of this order be sent to learned Trial Court for information and
compliance.
(MANOJ JAIN)
JUDGE
FEBRUARY 10, 2026/dr/pb
