The courtroom was attentive as the Supreme Court on Friday drew a firm line between genuine matrimonial cruelty and what it called loosely drafted criminal accusations. Setting aside a Telangana High Court order, the bench ruled that vague and sweeping allegations of dowry harassment cannot be enough to force a husband to face a full criminal trial. The appeal was allowed, bringing an end to proceedings that had dragged on since early 2022.
Background
The case arose from a complaint filed by a woman against her husband, Belide Swagath Kumar, and several of his family members. The couple, both software engineers, married in December 2016 at Tirumala and later lived together in the United States. Differences surfaced after a few years, and the wife returned to her parents’ home in Hyderabad with their child.
In January 2022, an FIR was registered at Saroornagar Women Police Station alleging cruelty under Section 498A of the IPC and dowry demands under the Dowry Prohibition Act. While the husband’s parents and relatives later succeeded in getting the case quashed by the High Court, the husband himself was told to face trial. Challenging this refusal, he knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court of India.
Court’s Observations
After hearing both sides, the bench closely examined the complaint and the FIR. It noted that most allegations were broad, unspecific, and lacked details of dates, incidents, or clear acts of cruelty. “The allegations reflect the daily wear and tear of marriage and can, in no way, be categorised as cruelty,” the bench observed.
The judges were particularly clear that controlling household expenses, sending money to parents, or asking for accounts-however unpleasant-do not automatically amount to criminal cruelty unless accompanied by serious mental or physical harm. The court also pointed out that merely stating that dowry was demanded, without concrete particulars or supporting material, does not satisfy the legal requirements of Section 498A.
Referring to earlier rulings, including the well-known Bhajan Lal guidelines, the bench cautioned that criminal law should not be used as a weapon to settle personal scores. Allowing such prosecutions to continue, it said, would amount to abuse of the legal process.
Decision
In the end, the Supreme Court set aside the Telangana High Court’s order dated 27 April 2023 and quashed the FIR and all related criminal proceedings against the husband. The appeal was allowed, with the bench clarifying that its observations would not affect any other matrimonial or civil disputes pending between the parties, which must be decided independently and as per law.
Case Title: Belide Swagath Kumar v. State of Telangana & Another
Case No.: Criminal Appeal of 2025 (arising out of SLP (Crl.) Diary No. 47072 of 2023)
Case Type: Criminal Appeal (Quashing of FIR under IPC 498A & Dowry Prohibition Act)
Decision Date: 19 December 2025