HC fines man for humiliating estranged wife

Quashes FIR as woman forgives

New Delhi: A man, who allegedly created fake online accounts on commodity sites in his estranged wife's name to humiliate her, has been slapped with fine of Rs 1 lakh in costs by the Delhi High Court, which quashed the FIR against him as the woman showed 'big heart' and forgave the husband.

The man gave description of his wife through these accounts on websites used for sale and purchase of commodities expressing desire for a companion, following which she received humiliating messages, as per the FIR.

In the high court, the man's counsel claimed that the FIR against him was an offshoot of a matrimonial dispute and sought the quashing of the FIR.

The couple later submitted in the court that it has settled the disputes and sought to close the matter.

The court agreed to quash the FIR against the man after the woman said that she has arrived at a holistic settlement with him and does not wish to prosecute the complaint.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva observed in the recent order that the allegations in the FIR about the man's conduct were "shocking" and that the facts of the case showed "how big the heart of a woman is" as she was willing to forgive her husband even after being humiliated by him.

"The allegations in the FIR about the conduct of the man are shocking, I am inclined to quash the complaint solely for the reason that continuation of the proceedings would be further humiliating and traumatic for the woman," the judge said.

"Facts of the case show how big the heart of a woman is. She even after being humiliated at the hands of her husband is willing to forgive him and forget his conduct," the court said.

The court quashed the proceedings subject to the man depositing the costs of Rs 1 lakh with the 'Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), Kerala' within three weeks.

The judge, while allowing the petition to quash the criminal proceedings under the Information Technology Act, said: "Keeping in view the allegations and in the facts and circumstances of the case, I am inclined to impose cost which would act as a deterrent to the man so that he does not repeat his conduct in future."