Meghalaya HC quashes FIR against UP students after ₹2.06 lakh settlement

The Meghalaya High Court has quashed a First Information Report (FIR) registered against six students from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly vandalising a homestay in Shillong. The decision came after the students reached a financial settlement with the property owner and tendered an unconditional apology.

Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere passed the order on Monday, setting aside the FIR that was filed at the Laitumkhrah police station on July 11. The case was closed after the homestay's proprietor and manager raised no objection, following a settlement reached on August 17.

The FIR was originally lodged by the homestay manager, who alleged that the students damaged property and threatened him when he refused to allow additional guests into a room. The group included three minors aged between 15 and 17 years. They were arrested in West Bengal on July 13 and later released on bail. Among the others, one was 18 years old, while the remaining two were in their twenties and preparing for competitive examinations.

As part of the settlement, the students paid ₹2.06 lakh as full and final compensation to the homestay proprietor. Considering the impact on the students' future, the court directed two of them to pay an additional ₹25,000 each to the proprietor within a week. These two individuals were also ordered to undertake six days of community service, while the other four were exempted due to their age.

The community service will involve three days at the Sikh Centre Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Shillong's Lachumiere area, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting Tuesday. The remaining three days will be spent with Jiva Cares' Project Operation Clean-Up, which focuses on cleanliness drives, including work on the Umkhrah river and maintenance of flowers and bins across the city.

The court has sought a report confirming the satisfactory completion of the community service, to be submitted through the public prosecutor.