In Brief
A marriage between the appellants ended after 20 days with the wife alleging cruelty and criminal breach of trust. Police registered a case under Sections 498A and 406 of the IPC for alleged dowry harassment. The High Court refused to quash the proceedings. The Supreme Court held that the allegations—comprising marital incompatibility, the husband's lack of affection, and his departure to Australia—did not disclose the essential ingredients of cruelty or criminal breach of trust. Without evidence of dowry demand, willful conduct endangering the wife, or dishonest misappropriation, the court quashed the criminal proceedings as being manifestly unsustainable.
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