The court, while noting that the allegations were ‘omnibus’ in nature and lacked corroborative proof, stated that making annoying statements that the informant was not wearing proper clothes and was not able to cook food properly cannot be said to be acts of grave cruelty or harassment.

Read Also: Wife’s Demand To Live Separately From In-Laws Is “Unreasonable”: Jharkhand High Court

While pronouncing the verdict, a bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Justice Sanjay Deshmukh quashed the case against the husband and his family, calling the allegations vague and unsupported.

Notably, the wife had also alleged that her husband’s mental health condition was hidden before marriage as he was undergoing psychological treatment. She also alleged that her in-laws insulted her for not bringing gifts and demanding Rs 15 lakh during Diwali, apart from driving her out of the house in 2023.

Read Also: Husband’s Groundless Allegations Against Wife Equal To Mental Cruelty: Karnataka High Court

However, the court pointed out that the wife was aware of the husband’s health condition prior to marriage, based on chat records. The court also noted that when the relationship gets strained, it appears that exaggerations are made.” “When everything was disclosed prior to the marriage and allegations are omnibus or of not so grave for befitting in the concept of cruelty contemplated under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, it would be an abuse of process of law if the applicants are asked to face the trial,” the court added.

The woman’s counsel, Advocates Raviraj Wakale and Rahul Joshi, opposed the quashing petition, arguing that the acts amounted to cruelty under Section 498A, alleging physical and mental harassment, suppression of facts and unreasonable demands, including monitoring her phone and questioning her character.

Advocates Anshuman Deshmukh and BS Deshmukh appeared for the husband and his family.