Karnataka High Court Refuses to Quash Cruelty FIR Against Husband, Pet Cat Attack Claim Unsubstantiated

The Karnataka High Court declined to quash an FIR filed by a wife for cruelty under Section 498A IPC against a husband after reviewing the couple’s chat messages.

The wife alleged cruelty, including a claim that her husband's pet cat attacked the wife. However, the Court deemed the cat-related claim a “stray allegation” unsupported by evidence.

The court noted profane chats indicating mental cruelty and even physical abuse, such as the wife’s wrist injury requiring hospitalisation, warranting a trial and could not be dismissed at the preliminary stage.

The Court directed police to continue their probe, emphasizing that all claims must be examined thoroughly before any FIR is quashed. (Manjunath V & Others v State of Karnataka & Anr)