Diet, Clothing and TV Disputes Don’t Amount to Cruelty Under Section 498A: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court quashed an FIR under Section 498A IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act, holding that ordinary marital disagreements cannot be criminalised as cruelty.

The case arose from a wife’s complaint alleging cruelty and dowry harassment against her husband and in-laws during their stay in the United States. 

The Bench noted that grievances relating to diet, clothing, and disagreements over television choices merely reflected matrimonial discord.

The Court found no specific allegation of dowry demand or conduct meeting the statutory threshold of cruelty, held the allegations inherently improbable, and quashed the FIR to prevent abuse of the criminal process.