{"id":356685,"date":"2025-08-14T14:30:51","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T09:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=356685"},"modified":"2025-08-21T10:03:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T04:33:26","slug":"bom-hc-comments-on-wifes-clothing-and-cooking-not-cruelty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/08\/14\/bom-hc-comments-on-wifes-clothing-and-cooking-not-cruelty\/","title":{"rendered":"Can remarks on wife\u2019s clothing and cooking amount to cruelty under S. 498-A IPC? Bombay High Court weighs in"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Bombay High Court:<\/span> In a criminal application regarding quashing of First Information Report, charging the husband and the in-laws under the provisions of cruelty, the Division Bench of <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Vibha Kankanwadi*<\/span> and Sanjay A. Deshmukh, JJ., quashed the proceedings and held that when the relationship gets strained, exaggerations are made but such omnibus allegations if accepted as cruelty, would be an abuse of process of law.<\/p>\n<h3>Background<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The applicant 1- husband and the respondent 2-wife got married on 24-3-2022. This was the second marriage of the wife and she had taken divorce with mutual consent from her first husband on 15-1-2013. The wife stated that about 1 to 1\u00bd month she was treated properly and thereafter the dispute started. She contended that after few days of marriage she found the husband is not physically and mentally fit and this information was supressed from her before the marriage.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Wife also contended that her in-laws made comments on her and gave insulting treatment. She also claimed that her husband demanded Rs. 15,00,000 for a purchase of flat. She was also not given medical treatment when she fell ill. It was alleged that the husband said that she was not suitable for his family and was finally driven out of house on 11-6-2023. Thus, she filed an FIR against her husband and the in-laws for the offence punishable under Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561850\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">498-A<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561632\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">323<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561858\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">504<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561860\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">506<\/a> read with Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561652\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">34<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Penal Code, 1860<\/a> (\u2018IPC\u2019).<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Aggrieved by the said FIR the petitioners filed an application under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519791\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">482<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Criminal Procedure Code, 1973<\/a> (\u2018CrPC\u2019) for quashing the criminal proceedings arising out of the said FIR.<\/p>\n<h3>Analysis, Law and Decision<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court noted that the wife claimed that the husband raised doubt on her character and rested her from talking to other people. The Court pointed out that the chats between the couple which were made the part of the charge-sheet clearly talk about the medication that the husband was taking. The said chats were dated 13-1-2022 i.e. before the solemnization of the marriage. Thus, the allegation of wife regarding the suppression of illness of husband, holds no ground.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court observed that the wife tried to state that there was no consummation of marriage while she herself admitted that she was treated properly for about 1 to 1\u00bd month post marriage and does not anywhere state that there was no sexual intercourse between them during that period. The wife further alleged that the in-laws instigated her husband and they mentally harassed her.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court opined that cruelty has to be of grave nature, merely making annoying statements that the wife was not wearing proper clothes, was not able to cook food properly, cannot be said to be acts of grave cruelty or harassment as per the explanations given under the Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561850\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">498-A<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IPC<\/a>, especially when there is no other evidence except for the statements of the wife to corroborate such allegations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Accordingly, the Court quashed and set aside the criminal proceedings arising out of the FIR filed by the wife and held that when everything regarding the medication taken by the husband, was disclosed prior to the marriage and omnibus allegations were made, will not attract the provisions of cruelty contemplated under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561850\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">498-A<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IPC<\/a>. Additionally, it would be an abuse of process of law if the applicants had to face the trial in such circumstances.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">[<span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #632423;\">Tushar Sampat Mane v. State of Maharashtra, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/kul68256\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 SCC OnLine Bom 2888<\/a>, decided on: 8-8-2025<\/span>]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000080;\">*Judgement authored by: Justice Vibha Kankanwadi<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Advocate for the Petitioners-<\/span> Anshuman Deshmukh h\/f Mr. B.S. Deshmukh, Advocates<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Advocate for the Respondents-<\/span> R.P. Gour, APP<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Penal Code, 1860 \u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"penal code, 1860\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-440x293.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-60x40.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1031\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1031\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Code of Criminal Procedure\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-440x293.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-60x40.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Making statements such as, the wife does not wear proper clothes or was not able to cook food properly, cannot be said to be acts of grave cruelty or harassment as per the explanations given in Section 498-A of the Penal Code, 1860.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67011,"featured_media":356692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[2569,49853,3067,13961,79392,71795,36335,87225],"class_list":["post-356685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-highcourts","tag-Bombay_High_Court","tag-criminal-procedure-code-1973","tag-FIR","tag-ipc","tag-justice-sanjay-a-deshmukh","tag-justice-vibha-kankanwadi","tag-penal-code-1860","tag-section-498-crpc"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bom HC: Comments on wife&#039;s clothing and cooking is not cruelty | SCC Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Bombay High Court quashed FIR, against husband and in-laws where the wife had put omnibus allegations of cruelty, stating that making remarks on wife&#039;s clothing and cooking is not cruelty under IPC.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/08\/14\/bom-hc-comments-on-wifes-clothing-and-cooking-not-cruelty\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can remarks on wife\u2019s clothing and cooking amount to cruelty under S. 498-A IPC? 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Bombay High Court weighs in"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/","name":"SCC Times","description":"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/84e42bab48238baf12c7e33b3d9761fe","name":"Editor","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/34e366be721c41333586de05faa13743195f5b142dcd7a015c6fabd2389521d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/34e366be721c41333586de05faa13743195f5b142dcd7a015c6fabd2389521d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/34e366be721c41333586de05faa13743195f5b142dcd7a015c6fabd2389521d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Editor"},"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/author\/editor_4\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Comments-on-wife-clothing-cooking-not-cruelty.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":276290,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/10\/29\/bombay-high-court-mere-use-of-the-word-harassment-mentally-and-physically-not-sufficient-to-attract-ingredients-of-s-498-a-ipc\/","url_meta":{"origin":356685,"position":0},"title":"Bombay High Court | Mere use of the word harassment &#8216;mentally and physically&#8217; not sufficient to attract ingredients of S. 498-A IPC","author":"Editor","date":"October 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 Bombay High Court: In an application filed under Section 482 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for quashing the FIR for the offences punishable under Sections 498-A, 323, 504, 506 read with Section 34 of Penal Code, 1860 (IPC), a Division Bench of Vibha Kankanwadi and Rajesh S Patil,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bombay High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":352170,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/07\/02\/bomhc-on-misuse-of-s-498-a-ipc-highlights-improper-police-investigation\/","url_meta":{"origin":356685,"position":1},"title":"\u2018Classic case of misuse of S.498-A IPC\u2019; Bombay HC quashes dowry harassment case, highlights improper police investigation","author":"Editor","date":"July 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThe Court observed that the police does not take proper precautions and appropriate investigation when it came to offences under Section 498-A\u00a0IPC and called their attitude of proceeding with investigation with presumptions\/prejudicial mind, \u2018dangerous\u2019.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"misuse of S.498-A IPC","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/misuse-of-S.498-A-IPC.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/misuse-of-S.498-A-IPC.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/misuse-of-S.498-A-IPC.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/misuse-of-S.498-A-IPC.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":266970,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/05\/17\/can-filing-of-divorce-petition-by-husband-be-an-act-of-cruelty-bombay-high-court\/","url_meta":{"origin":356685,"position":2},"title":"Can filing of divorce petition by husband be an act of \u2018Cruelty\u2019? Bom HC elaborates","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"May 17, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Bombay High Court: Vibha Kankanwadi, J., held that, if a husband files a divorce petition that cannot be taken as an act of cruelty. The informant, who was the wife of the applicant contended that the applicant had demanded 10 tolas of gold and high-quality furniture, at the time of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/BomCruelty.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/BomCruelty.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/BomCruelty.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/BomCruelty.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/BomCruelty.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":329404,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/08\/27\/bombay-hc-quashes-s-498-a-proceedings-against-paramour-of-husband\/","url_meta":{"origin":356685,"position":3},"title":"Read why Bombay HC quashed S. 498-A IPC proceedings initiated against husband\u2019s paramour by wife","author":"Editor","date":"August 27, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cFor the attraction of Section 498-A, cruelty shall be inflicted upon the wife either by the husband or a relative of the husband; a paramour in extra-marital affair is not a relative of the husband.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bombay High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Bombay-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Bombay-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Bombay-High-Court.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Bombay-High-Court.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":342960,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/03\/05\/instigation-or-common-intention-cannot-be-mere-basis-to-prove-cruelty-u-s-498a-ipc-bomhc\/","url_meta":{"origin":356685,"position":4},"title":"Instigation, or common intention cannot be mere basis to prove cruelty under S.498-A IPC: Bombay HC","author":"Simranjeet","date":"March 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The allegations submitted by Respondent 2 cannot amount to cruelty under Section 498-A of Penal Code, 1860 as each person shall act in his own way and the said act independently shall amount to cruelty.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bombay High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Bombay-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Bombay-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Bombay-High-Court.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Bombay-High-Court.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":210564,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2019\/02\/22\/bom-hc-publicising-domestic-disputes-lodging-false-complaints-making-frivolous-allegations-amount-to-cruelty-and-are-grounds-for-divorce\/","url_meta":{"origin":356685,"position":5},"title":"Bom HC | Publicising domestic disputes, lodging false complaints, making frivolous allegations amount to cruelty and are grounds for divorce","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"February 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Bombay High Court:\u00a0In an interesting case, Vibha Kankanwadi, J. allowed an appeal filed by the husband against the order of the first appellate court wherein trial court's order granting divorce\u00a0to him against the respondent (wife) was reversed. Parties married to each-other at Solapur in 1999. 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