Bombay HC Quashes FIR Against Olympic Decor LLP, Imposes Costs

Authority: High Court of Judicature at Bombay

Order Date: September 28, 2026

Case Overview

Petitioners: Olympic Decor LLP & Ors.; Respondents: State of Maharashtra and Respondent No.2 (identified as the complainant).
Writ Petition No. 4403 of 2026 filed seeking quashing and setting aside of FIR No. 775 of 2025 registered at MIDC Police Station, Mumbai, under Sections 318(3) & 3(5) of the Bombay Police Act r/w Sections 63 and 69 of the Copyright Act, 1957.
Dispute arose from publication and airing of memes, reels and videos on social media platforms by the petitioners, leading to the criminal complaint.
Parties reconciled their business dispute and filed a consent affidavit dated 03.09.2026, stating the settlement was voluntary, without coercion, and the complainant had no objection to quashing the FIR and all consequential proceedings.
The Court, after interacting with the parties and their advocates, considered the request to avoid the ignominy of ongoing criminal proceedings affecting future business prospects.
Legal basis: Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (inherent powers of High Courts) and Section 528 of the Bombay Police Act, which mirror Section 482, allowing dismissal of FIRs where no prima facie case exists or where proceedings would be an abuse of process.
The Court referenced State of Haryana vs. Bhajan Lal (1992 AIR 604) for guidelines on quashing FIRs, noting that even non‑compoundable offences may be quashed if justice requires, but serious offences like murder, rape, and dacoity are generally excluded.
Emphasis was placed on the principle that criminal law should not be used as a bargaining chip; costs may be imposed to deter vexatious litigation and compensate for public resources expended.

Final Outcome

The Court allowed the petition by consent, quashing and setting aside FIR No. 775 of 2025 under the cited sections of the Copyright Act.
Both Olympic Decor LLP (Petitioners) and Respondent No.2 were directed to pay costs of Rs.15,000 each to the corpus of A.K. Munshi Yojana, a charitable trust (registered under Society Registration Act, XXI of 1980 No. 387/81 GBBSD and Public Trust Act, XXIX of 1950 No. F‑6809, RCI Reg. No. 0163) that runs medical centres, vocational training centres, and a special school for 150 special children.
Payment to be made within two weeks from the date of the order.
The petition was listed for compliance on October 12, 2026; the advocates for both parties must appear and show compliance, failing which the Court will pass an appropriate order for recall of this order.
The criminal writ petition was allowed and disposed.