Ruled in favour of Tanay Jitendra Shah and Rhythm Arvind Goyal (Petitioners)
In Short
A late-night scuffle inside an office lift in Mumbai between strangers led to serious injuries and a tragic miscarriage. Four separate police cases were filed, but the main parties later reached a peaceful settlement and asked the court to cancel the criminal charges. Despite strong objections from the State prosecutor due to the severity of the incident, the court considered the voluntary settlement and the complainant's wish to move on.
The Parties
Party A: Tanay Jitendra Shah and Rhythm Arvind Goyal
Party B: The State of Maharashtra and the Complainant
Advocates & Judges
For Party A: Learned Advocate Mr. Abad Ponda, Learned Advocate Mr. Meghashyam Kocharekar, Learned Advocate Mr. Shivamsinh Deshmukh, Learned Advocate Mr. Dwarkesh B. Chavda, Learned Advocate Mr. Bahraiz Irani, Learned Advocate Mr. Shane Santos, Learned Advocate Mr. Amit Padwal, Learned Advocate Mr. Anosh Irani, Learned Advocate Ms. Afrin Dalal, Learned Advocate Ms. Aafreen Bano, and Learned Advocate Mr. Prabhakar B. Parse
For Party B: Learned Advocate Mr. Shishir S. Hiray and Learned Advocate Mr. Yogesh M. Nakhwa
Judge(s): Hon'ble Justice Milind N. Jadhav
What the Case Was About
The dispute arose from a late-night altercation inside a lift at a workplace in Mumbai involving the petitioners, the complainant, and others. What started as a verbal objection to a laser light being pointed inside the lift escalated into a physical scuffle. Tragically, the female complainant, who was unaware she was in the early stages of pregnancy, suffered a miscarriage the following day after experiencing severe pain. This single incident triggered four interconnected criminal cases and police investigations, with multiple petitions filed by different individuals seeking to quash the cases based on mutual consent and settlement.
Judgment Date
11 September 2026
The Outcome
The court reviewed the settlement affidavits and interacted directly with the complainant, who confirmed she wanted to put the matter behind her without any pressure. While the State prosecutor strongly opposed dropping the charges given the gravity of the outcome, the court navigated the complex group of petitions involving multiple cross-complaints and settlement requests.
What the Court Looked At
- The court noted that four separate FIRs were registered out of a series of linked events involving the same set of friends, relatives, and parties.
- The court observed that the complainant filed consent affidavits stating the initial incident happened in the heat of the moment due to high emotions and impulsive immaturity.
- The court considered the complainant's clear statement that the accused did not know her prior to the incident and had no premeditated plan to harm her.
- The court evaluated the strong objections raised by the Chief Public Prosecutor, who argued that the assault caused the death of an unborn person and constituted an offense against society at large.
- The court interacted personally with the complainant in the courtroom to verify that her consent to end the proceedings was given freely, voluntarily, and without any coercion.
"What happened in the heat of the moment between us in the lift, on wiser thinking and peaceful deliberation, can be attributed to an impulsive act of immaturity committed without any intention of doing the same."
What This Means For You
This case shows how a minor verbal disagreement or a thoughtless action—such as pointing a laser light inside a confined space—can rapidly spin out of control into a violent confrontation with catastrophic legal consequences. When emotions run high in public or workplace spaces, split-second poor decisions can lead to multiple criminal cases, serious charges, and prolonged jail time before the courts even examine the facts. Even when parties eventually realize the foolishness of their actions and wish to settle amicably, the legal system does not automatically wipe away serious charges without intense scrutiny. Setback Solutions can help you understand your options and coordinate next steps if you find yourself overwhelmed by complex criminal proceedings.
You Still Have Options
Dealing with a sudden criminal case or facing a false FIR can feel completely overwhelming and isolating. Whether you are dealing with a complicated multi-party dispute, struggling to understand your legal standing, or wondering how to navigate settlement talks, you do not have to figure it out alone. You can still explore alternative avenues, seek a second opinion, or look into non-judicial guidance to understand your practical choices. Reach out to Setback Solutions for help understanding your options and coordinating the next step. Please note that Setback Solutions is not a law firm, does not provide formal legal advice, and never guarantees specific legal outcomes.