The Supreme Court of India examined whether a man in a live-in relationship (or a void/voidable marriage) can be prosecuted under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which penalises cruelty by a 'husband' towards his wife. The dispute arose from complaints filed by respondent no. 2 (Smt. Theertha) against Dr. Lokesh B.H., who contended that no valid marriage existed between them and hence Section 498A could not apply. The High Court of Karnataka had rejected the appellant's petition to quash the proceedings, holding that the term 'husband' in Section 498A must be given a purposive and expansive construction to include men in void, voidable, or live-in relationships bearing the attributes of marriage. The Supreme Court granted leave and proceeded to examine the competing arguments on strict versus purposive interpretation of penal statutes, the legislative history of Section 498A, the concept of 'relationship in the nature of marriage' under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and relevant constitutional provisions. The judgment text provided does not record a final conclusion, as the reasoning sections are still in progress at the point the text ends.