The Supreme Court dismissed an FIR and criminal proceedings against a Chhattisgarh-based advocate accused of raping a woman under false marriage promises. The court ruled that the case stemmed from a consensual relationship that turned sour. Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan stated that continuing the prosecution would misuse the legal process.
The complaint, lodged by a woman advocate, alleged repeated rape by the appellant on the pretext of marriage. The apex court, after reviewing the evidence, concluded that the situation indicated a consensual relationship that deteriorated. The bench noted that the complainant was already married with ongoing divorce proceedings at the time, making marriage with the accused impermissible under the law.
Highlighting that the complainant, a 33-year-old advocate, was capable of decision-making, the court rejected claims of being misled into a sexual relationship. The Supreme Court emphasized that not every broken promise to marry constitutes rape and cautioned against criminalizing failed relationships. It deemed the continuation of the prosecution inappropriate, stating that the case did not meet the criteria for prosecution under Section 376(2)(n) of the IPC.
By quashing the FIR, charge sheet, and pending sessions case, the Supreme Court concluded that allowing the prosecution to proceed was neither beneficial nor just.
