Ruled in favour of Rajesh Govindrao Mankar And Others (Applicants)
In Short
A husband and his family members were stuck with a criminal case filed by the wife alleging harassment and demands for money after their marriage ran into trouble. Years later, the couple settled their disputes, got a divorce by mutual consent, and the wife received her permanent alimony while agreeing to withdraw the police case. Because the wife chose not to show up to close the case officially, the husband had to approach the High Court, which stepped in to throw out the old police case and charge-sheet once and for all.
The Parties
Party A: Rajesh Govindrao Mankar, Maya Govindrao Mankar, and Sunita Govindrao Mankar
Party B: The State of Maharashtra and Reeta Rajesh Mankar
Advocates & Judges
For Party A: Learned Advocate Mr. B.H. Tekam
For Party B: Learned Advocate Mr. A.G. Mate
Judge(s): Hon'ble Justice M.W. Chandwani
What the Case Was About
This was a family dispute that turned into a criminal case back in 2014 when a wife filed a police complaint against her husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law alleging harassment and demands for money. While the police investigation and subsequent charge-sheet moved forward in court, the couple eventually decided to part ways permanently. They obtained a legal divorce by mutual consent in 2019, and the husband paid the full permanent alimony agreed upon between them. As part of that divorce settlement, the wife explicitly agreed to withdraw her criminal complaint against the family, but the pending case remained on paper because she did not formally take steps to drop it, forcing the husband and his relatives to knock on the doors of the High Court to have it officially cancelled.
Judgment Date
09.10.2026
The Outcome
The court ruled in favour of the applicants, allowing their criminal application and completely quashing the old First Information Report and charge-sheet pending against them.
What the Court Looked At
- The court examined the official divorce decree granted by the civil court which showed a clear, written settlement between the husband and wife.
- The court noted that the wife had agreed in writing during the divorce proceedings to withdraw the criminal case she had filed against her husband and his relatives.
- The court verified that the husband had already paid the entire amount of permanent alimony agreed upon in the settlement.
- The court reviewed evidence showing the wife acknowledged receiving her full alimony amount during court proceedings.
- The court observed that despite receiving notice of the current High Court application, the wife chose not to appear or contest the matter.
"Thus, it is apparent that both the parties have already settled their dispute amicably and non-applicant no.2 agreed to withdraw the present criminal prosecution."
What This Means For You
When you settle a matrimonial dispute and your spouse agrees to drop a criminal case as part of a divorce or alimony agreement, do not assume the police file disappears on its own. In this case, the husband paid his dues and secured a clean break through a mutual consent divorce, but the old criminal charge-sheet kept hanging over his head for years simply because the formal paperwork to close the police case was never completed. The strict lesson here is that a private settlement is not enough on its own; you must ensure every single pending police complaint or court case is formally withdrawn and quashed through the proper legal channels before you move on with your life. If you find yourself tangled in a similar unresolved dispute where a settled matter refuses to go away, Setback Solutions can help you understand your options and coordinate next steps clearly and plainly.
You Still Have Options
Finding yourself stuck with an old criminal case or a pending charge-sheet long after a family dispute has already been settled can feel incredibly stressful and unfair. You do not have to stay stuck just because the other party failed to follow through on their promise to withdraw the case, and there are practical ways to look at your options, get a fresh opinion, or seek non-judicial guidance. Reach out to Setback Solutions for help understanding your options and coordinating the next step. Please remember that Setback Solutions is not a law firm, does not give legal advice, and never promises any specific court result, but is here to offer plain-language help and coordination.