In Brief
This appeal challenged the High Court's rejection of a petition to quash criminal proceedings. The case arose from a property dispute between neighbouring families. After a quarrel on 19 July 2016, the accused's father filed a civil suit for property partition against the complainant. The complainant later filed a Section 156(3) application alleging offences including sexual assault of his daughters. The Sessions Judge rejected this application. The complainant then filed a fresh complaint repeating the same allegations. The Court held that the proceedings were manifestly malafide and instituted with ulterior motives to settle the property dispute. Finding the case fell within Category 7 of the Bhajan Lal test (malafide prosecution), the Court allowed the appeal and quashed the criminal proceedings.
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