The Karnataka High Court stayed proceedings after a man alleged he was assaulted by his wife inside a police station during Section 498A conciliation. CCTV footage obtained through RTI raised serious questions about the timing and intent behind the counter-case.
BENGALURU: In a recent order, the Karnataka High Court has stayed criminal proceedings against a husband who claimed that his wife filed a false counter-case after he complained that she assault Husband inside a police station.
The matter came up before Justice M Nagaprasanna. The husband had approached the High Court seeking relief from a criminal case registered against him. According to him, the case filed by his wife was only a counterblast to his earlier complaint in which he had accused her of physically assaulting him inside the police station during conciliation proceedings in a Section 498A case.
The counsel appearing for the husband explained that both parties had been called to the police station for settlement discussions in a pending 498A case. During this meeting, the husband alleged that he was attacked by his wife.
Referring to CCTV footage of the alleged incident, the husband’s lawyer told the Court,
“I am assaulted inside the police station infront of the inspector. And crime is registered against me as a counter blast…”.
When the Court sought clarification, the counsel stated that the assault was committed by the wife. The Court orally remarked,
“Your wife assaulted you?”.
He submitted,
“Complaint is lodged against me after 2 days, for a complaint which I registered against her for assaulting me.”
The lawyer then described the sequence of events captured on CCTV footage. He said that there were verbal arguments between the parties in front of the police inspector. According to him, the inspector asked them to step outside and not argue inside the station. He told the Court,
“Before the inspector some verbal altercations take place. Inspector says go outside, dont have this conversation inside. While they are stepping outside she assaults the husband and goes outside assaults the father-in-law kicks him and she walks off from there. According to her in the passage where she is walking off, is where I (petitioner) assaulted her. But in the video Im there in front of the inspector,”.
The husband’s stand before the High Court is that after he filed a complaint against his wife for assault, she filed a case against him two days later, claiming that he had assaulted her. He argues that the timing and circumstances clearly show that it was a retaliatory complaint.
After hearing the submissions, the High Court issued notice to the State and the other respondents. The Court passed an interim order stating,
“Emergent Notice. Further proceedings in CC 1301/2025 shall remain stayed till next date of hearing”.
This means that no further action will be taken in the criminal case against the husband until the next hearing.
The matter is now listed for further hearing on February 27. The case raises serious questions about counter-cases in matrimonial disputes and the importance of CCTV evidence in protecting the rights of the accused, especially when allegations arise during police station proceedings in Section 498A matters.
For now, the husband has received temporary relief from the High Court, and the final outcome will depend on the Court’s further examination of the facts and evidence.
Explanatory Table: Laws And Sections Involved
| Law and Section | Purpose of the Law / Provision | How Applied in This Case |
| Section 498A, Indian Penal Code (IPC) | Punishes cruelty by the husband or his relatives towards a married woman, including mental or physical harassment | The husband and wife were called to the police station for conciliation proceedings in an ongoing 498A case |
| Section 154, Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) | Procedure for registration of FIR on receipt of information about a cognizable offence | FIR was registered against the husband after two days, allegedly as a counter-blast |
| Section 482, CrPC | Inherent powers of High Court to prevent abuse of process of law and secure justice | Husband approached High Court seeking stay of criminal proceedings as misuse of law |
| Right to Information Act, 2005 | Allows citizens to obtain information from public authorities | Husband obtained CCTV footage of police station incident through RTI |
Case Details
- Case Title: ABC Vs. State of Karnataka and Anr.
- Court: Karnataka High Court
- Case Number: CC 1301/2025
- Judge: Justice M Nagaprasanna
- Date of Order: 10 February 2026
- Next Date of Hearing: 27 February 2026
Key Takeaways
- False counter-cases are often used as a pressure tactic when a husband first approaches police or courts with a genuine complaint.
- Even incidents happening inside a police station are not immune from manipulation, highlighting why objective evidence like CCTV becomes critical.
- Section 498A conciliation meetings can quickly turn into criminal traps for men if disputes escalate and facts are later twisted.
- Delay in filing complaints is a strong indicator of retaliatory intent and must be carefully examined before accepting allegations at face value.
- Men facing matrimonial disputes must document everything and assert their legal rights early to protect personal liberty and dignity.
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