In Brief
The appellant and BSES (a power utility) settled a dispute over outstanding electricity charges through Lok Adalat, and the appellant made payment according to the settlement. Thereafter, BSES filed a criminal complaint against the appellant for the same demand. The appellant's petition to quash the FIR was dismissed by the High Court. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that once a financial dispute has been finally settled between parties through a legal forum and payment received, there is no legal basis for subsequently filing an FIR on the same matter. Filing an FIR after settlement amounts to an abuse of the criminal process.
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