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The Court emphasized that the word 'relative' brings within its purview even distant relatives and that mental cruelty can be meted out even if they are not living in the same house as the victim.
The Court held that the FIR was a classic example of roping in family members of the husband under Section 498A to settle personal scores with the husband.
The Court while refusing to quash a case against a man, said that it would be harsh to the women if the accused-man is allowed to take a plea of absence of valid marriage to escape liability under Section 498A.
The court made the observation while quashing a cruelty case filed against a man by his wife.
The Court said that an FIR against a man for outraging the modesty of his daughter-in-law, cannot be dismissed merely on the ground that he is her father-in-law.