Delhi High Court Rejects Accused’s Argument in Rape Case; Upholds FIR

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has stated that an accused in a rape case cannot evade charges by arguing that the woman should have feared rejection due to a large age difference.

Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma made this remark while refusing to quash the FIR filed against the accused, who stands accused of raping a woman by falsely promising marriage.

Accused Induced Victim With False Promise Of Marriage

The court observed that the accused had no intention of marrying the victim from the outset.

Instead, he manipulated her into engaging in physical relations by falsely claiming he would marry her.

Justice Kanta emphasized that this case required a full hearing, as it prima facie appeared to involve sexual harassment under false pretenses.

In light of these observations, the court ruled it would be unjust to quash the FIR at this stage.

Court Rejects Patriarchal Argument Regarding Age Difference

During the hearing, the defense argued that the woman, being older than the accused, should have feared rejection, suggesting that the age difference influenced her expectations of marriage.

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The court dismissed this argument, labeling it a reflection of a patriarchal mindset and indicating that it was rooted in misogyny.

Case Details And Victim’s Allegations

According to the victim, the accused was her colleague, and their interactions began in 2017 when he started pursuing her and proposed marriage.

Following his proposal, the woman entered into a physical relationship with him and even gave him four to five lakh rupees.

However, after the accused later refused to marry her and failed to return the money, the woman filed an FIR in 2021, leading to the current legal proceedings.

The case continues to unfold, with the Delhi High Court ensuring that the matter proceeds to a full hearing, emphasizing the need for justice in cases of sexual exploitation and fraud.