An 8-year-long domestic violence battle ends with the Bengaluru court ruling that allegations were not backed by sufficient evidence. What happens when claims collapse under cross-examination? The answer may surprise many facing similar cases.
DV Case Dismissed for Lack of Evidence: The Court of Shri Vishwanath Savadi, Judicial Magistrate First Class, Bengaluru, has dismissed a petition filed under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. The judgment dated 27 January 2025 brings significant relief to the husband, as the Court held that the allegations were not proved by proper evidence.
The wife had alleged cruelty, dowry harassment, physical assault, emotional abuse and economic neglect. She claimed that she was subjected to domestic violence and was denied financial support. On this basis, she sought multiple reliefs under the Domestic Violence Act.
During the trial, the wife was examined as PW.1 and cross-examined five times, but she failed to appear thereafter to complete the process. Despite repeated opportunities, her continued absence led the Court to treat her further cross-examination as “not tendered.”
The Court observed:
“Cross-examination is an essential process for assessing the credibility of a witness.”
The judgment further stated that the petitioner’s absence prevented the respondent from properly challenging her claims. The Court noted that:
“The petitioner’s failure to appear for further cross-examination can be perceived as an attempt to avoid scrutiny.”
The Court also highlighted that fairness in trial requires equal opportunity to both sides. It recorded that:
“The legal principle of fairness requires that both parties have the opportunity to fully examine and cross-examine witnesses.”
Since the testimony remained incomplete, the Court found that the reliability of the allegations became doubtful.
Most importantly, the Court examined whether the wife had proved domestic violence as defined under the law. The Magistrate clearly held that:
“The evidence on record does not sufficiently establish that the petitioner experienced verbal, emotional, or economic abuse as defined under Section 3 of the PWDV Act.”
The Court also found that there was no convincing evidence that the husband had neglected to provide financial support. Due to lack of strong and consistent evidence, the Magistrate concluded that the allegations were not legally proved.
The Court ultimately dismissed the petition, stating:
“The petition filed by the petitioner under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act is hereby dismissed.”
All pending interim applications were also disposed of.
The ruling makes it clear that allegations alone are insufficient. In Domestic Violence cases, proper evidence and completed cross-examination are critical. The judgment reinforces that courts will not grant relief on untested claims and that due process must be upheld to ensure fairness.
Explanatory Table: Laws And Provisions Involved
| Law / Provision | Purpose | How Applied in This Case |
| Section 12, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 | Enables an aggrieved woman to approach the Magistrate seeking protection, maintenance, residence and other reliefs | The wife filed her complaint under this section seeking relief alleging domestic violence |
| Section 3, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 | Defines what constitutes domestic violence, including physical, verbal, emotional and economic abuse | The Court held that the evidence did not sufficiently establish domestic violence under this definition |
| Section 498A IPC (referred in objections) | Penal provision addressing cruelty and dowry harassment by husband or relatives | The respondent stated that criminal proceedings under this section were initiated after divorce proceedings began |
| Principles of Cross-Examination (Indian Evidence Act framework) | Ensures credibility of a witness is tested through questioning by the opposite party | The petitioner failed to complete cross-examination; her further evidence was treated as “not tendered,” affecting reliability |
Case Details
- Case Title: Wife Vs Husband
- Case Number: Crl. Misc. No. 160/2016
- Court: Court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class (Traffic Court – V), Bengaluru
- Judge / Presiding Officer: Shri Vishwanath Savadi
- Date of Decision: 27-01-2025
- Neutral Citation: KABC070106302016
- Counsels:
- For Petitioner: Sri M.V., Advocate
- Legal Consultant for Husband: Mr. Shonee Kapoor, Men’s Rights Activist.
- Counsel for Respondent: Sri D & S., Advocates
Key Takeaways
- Allegations under the Domestic Violence Act must be supported by clear and credible evidence, not just statements.
- If a complainant fails to complete cross-examination, the credibility of the entire case is seriously weakened.
- Courts will strictly apply the definition under Section 3 of the PWDV Act before granting any relief.
- Long duration of litigation does not guarantee success if the legal burden of proof is not discharged.
- In matrimonial disputes, due process and tested evidence ultimately decide the outcome, not emotional narratives.
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