Kerala High Court
Akhilesh S vs State Of Kerala on 12 November, 2025
Author: C.S.Dias
Bench: C.S.Dias
2025:KER:86331
CRL.MC NO. 6980 OF 2023
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.S.DIAS
WEDNESDAY, THE 12TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2025 / 21ST KARTHIKA, 1947
CRL.MC NO. 6980 OF 2023
CRIME NO.30/2022 OF Meenangadi Police Station, Wayanad
PETITIONERS/ACCUSED 1 TO 12:
1 AKHILESH S
AGED 22 YEARS
KUNNUMMEL HOUSE, PATHIRIPPALAM, KRISHNAGIRI,
KOLAGAPPARA P.O, WAYANAD DISTRICT, PIN - 673591
2 HAFIS P K
AGED 34 YEARS
S/O. KOYASONKUTTY, PUTHANKARA HOUSE, SCHOOL ROAD,
MEENANGADI P.O, WAYANAD DISTRICT, PIN - 673591
3 JISHNU M K
AGED 31 YEARS
S/O. KRISHNANKUTTY, MALIYEKKAL HOUSE, CHEERAL,
THAZHATHOOR P.O, WAYANAD DISTRICT, PIN - 673595
4 ASIF T M
AGED 44 YEARS
S/O KASSIM HAJI, THIYYALIMARAKARATHU HOUSE,
ELLIKKADU, EDAKKARA, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN -
679331
5 HAIDER M K
AGED 46 YEARS
S/O ABOOBACKER, PAKALEDATHU HOUSE, KONOT,
KURUVATTOOR, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT, PIN - 673571
6 MUHAMMED FAISAL
AGED 42 YEARS
S/O ABOOBACKER, PILAKKATHODI HOUSE, KAALIKKAVU P.O,
2025:KER:86331
CRL.MC NO. 6980 OF 2023
2
AMBALAKKADAVU, MALAPPUARM DISTRICT, PIN - 676525
7 ABU SUFIAN
AGED 37 YEARS
S/O ABOOBACKER, PILAKKATHODI HOUSE, KAALIKKAVU P.O,
AMBALAKKADAVU, MALAPPUARM DISTRICT, PIN - 676525
8 JALALUDHEEN C A @ JALEEL
AGED 37 YEARS
S/O AHAMMED, JALAAL MANSIL HOUSE, CHENKALA, CHEROOR
P.O, KASARGODE DISTRICT, PIN - 671123
9 SHAJI M K
AGED 52 YEARS
S/O SHEKHARAN, MULLANKANDI HOUSE, PURAKKATTERI,
THALAKULATHOOR P.O, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT, PIN - 673317
10 BASHEER K K
AGED 46 YEARS
S/O KUNJABDULLA, KAITHAKANDI HOUSE, PURAMERI,
KATAMERI P.O, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT, PIN - 673542
11 ABDUL KHADER
S/O MUHAMMED KUNJI HAJI, BELMA HOUSE, NARINGANA P.O,
BANDWAL DISTRICT, KARNATAKA STATE, PIN - 575018
12 AJMAL RASHAD P. K
AGED 33 YEARS
S/O ABDUL RASHEED, POOVANKAVIL HOUSE, KATTUMUNDA,
MARAMANGALAM, MAMPAD VILLAGE, THIRUVALI, NADUVATH,
MALAPPURAM DISTRICT,, PIN - 679328
BY ADVS.
SRI.P.MOHAMED SABAH
SRI.LIBIN STANLEY
SMT.SAIPOOJA
SRI.SADIK ISMAYIL
SMT.R.GAYATHRI
SRI.M.MAHIN HAMZA
2025:KER:86331
CRL.MC NO. 6980 OF 2023
3
RESPONDENTS/STATE, COMPLAINANT & DEFACTO COMPLAINANT:
1 STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF
KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682031
2 THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER
MEENANGADI POLICE STATION, WAYANAD DISTRICT,, PIN -
673575
3 MANOHARAN
AGED 50 YEARS
S/O KESAVAN, PAZHUPLACKAL HOUSE, KRISHNAGIRI,
MEENANGADI, WAYANAD DISTRICT, PIN - 673575
OTHER PRESENT:
SR PP SRI C S HRITHWIK
THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
12.11.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
2025:KER:86331
CRL.MC NO. 6980 OF 2023
4
C.S.DIAS, J.
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Crl.M.C. No. 6980 of 2025
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Dated this the 12th day of November, 2025
ORDER
The petitioners are accused Nos.1 to 12 in Crime No.30 of 2022 registered by the Meenangadi Police Station, Wayanad, alleging the commission of the offences punishable under Section 420 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
2. The petitioners have invoked the inherent jurisdiction of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to quash all further proceedings in the above case. It is asserted that the dispute that led to the registration of the crime has been amicably settled between the petitioners and the 3 rd respondent, who has executed Annexure 2 affidavit, affirming the settlement.
3. I have heard the learned Counsel appearing for the petitioners, the learned Public Prosecutor, and the 2025:KER:86331 CRL.MC NO. 6980 OF 2023 5 learned Counsel for the 3rd respondent.
4. The learned counsel on either side submits that, with the intervention of relatives and well-wishers, the parties have resolved their disputes amicably. The 3 rd respondent has no subsisting grievance and does not wish to pursue the prosecution, and has no objection to the proceedings being quashed.
5. The learned Public Prosecutor, on instructions, submits that the Investigating Officer has reported that the parties have arrived at a genuine and bona fide settlement. The State has no objection to the Criminal Miscellaneous case being allowed.
6. The scope and ambit of the inherent powers of this Court to quash criminal proceedings on the ground of settlement between the parties have been authoritatively laid down by Hon'ble Supreme Court, in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab [(2012) 10 SCC 303], State of Madhya Pradesh v. Laxmi Narayan and Others [(2019) 5 SCC 2025:KER:86331 CRL.MC NO. 6980 OF 2023 6 688], Naushey Ali v. State of U.P. [(2025) 4 SCC 78], and in a host of judicial pronouncements. It is held that in cases where the offences are not grave or heinous, and where the parties have amicably settled the dispute, to secure the ends of justice, the High Court may invoke its inherent powers to quash the proceedings, particularly if continuation of the prosecution would serve no fruitful purpose.
7. On an overall consideration of the facts and circumstances of the present case, and the materials on record, I am satisfied that: the offences alleged are not heinous or of a serious nature; no public interest or element of societal concern is involved; the chances of conviction are remote in view of the settlement; and the continuation of the proceedings would merely burden the judicial process without advancing the cause of justice. Furthermore, the settlement would promote harmony between the parties and restore peace. Hence, this Court is 2025:KER:86331 CRL.MC NO. 6980 OF 2023 7 persuaded to hold that this is a fit case to exercise its inherent jurisdiction.
In the result, the Crl. M.C. is allowed. Accordingly, Annexure 1 FIR and all further proceedings in Crime No.30 of 2022 registered by the Meenangadi Police Station, as against the petitioners, are hereby quashed.
Sd/-
C.S.DIAS, JUDGE dkr 2025:KER:86331 CRL.MC NO. 6980 OF 2023 8 APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 6980/2023 PETITIONER ANNEXURES Annexure 1 TRUE COPY OF THE FIRST INFORMATION REPORT IN CRIME NO. 30/2022 OF MEENANGADI POLICE STATION, WAYANAD DISTRICT Annexure 2 THE ORIGINAL OF THE AFFIDAVIT DATED 20.04.2023 SWORN BY THE RESPONDENT NO. 3