K'taka HC quashes rape case against man misled by married woman's false profile on dating app
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has quashed a rape case filed against a man by a woman who falsely claimed to be divorced on a dating app. The court observed that a promise of marriage cannot hold legal ground when the complainant is already married.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna delivered the judgement while allowing the petition filed by Akhil Thomas, who was accused under s. 376, 420, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The woman, whom he met on the Bumble app, had portrayed herself as a divorced individual, despite her marriage still being valid.
The petitioner contended that their relationship was consensual and not based on any promise of marriage. He also pointed out that he withdrew from the relationship upon learning about her marital status.
During the hearing, the complainant’s counsel informed the court that she did not wish to pursue the matter further and left the decision to the court. However, the prosecution argued that the petitioner should face a full trial for the alleged offences.
The court noted, “If the complainant was already married and her marriage was subsisting, there cannot be a valid promise of marriage. The other allegations are consensual acts, which do not constitute rape under s. 376 IPC.” It further stated that continuing the proceedings would amount to an abuse of legal process and a miscarriage of justice.
The court quashed the case pending before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
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Three of family drown in river in Kerala
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Kozhikode (PTI): Three members of a family, including a girl, drowned in a river at Nadapuram in this district on Saturday, police said.
The tragic incident occurred when the family had gone to Puliyavu river near Nadapuram, to wash their clothes.
The deceased were identified as Ansar (43), his wife Suhada (39), and Isa Mariyam (8), daughter of Ansar's brother--all residents of Puliyavu here.
According to preliminary information, the child accidentally slipped into deep waters and Ansar and his wife attempted to rescue her.
But all three were also pulled in by the current and drowned.
The couple's children alerted the locals, who initiated rescue efforts.
Though they were pulled out of the water, their lives could not be saved, police said.
The bodies were shifted to the nearby state-run hospital and further procedures are underway, they added.
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