Supreme Court Quashes Rape Case Against Rajnish Singh, Cites Prolonged Consensual Relationship
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India quashed criminal proceedings against Rajnish Singh, accused of rape, blackmail, and intimidation under the pretext of a false promise of marriage. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta found it "hard to believe" that a well-educated woman remained in a 16-year relationship without protest, only to later claim it was based on deception.
Background
The case stemmed from an FIR filed in 2022 by the complainant, who alleged that Singh had exploited her since 2006 under the false promise of marriage. She accused him of drugging her, recording obscene videos, blackmailing her, and coercing her into an abortion. The situation escalated when Singh married another woman, prompting her complaint.
Key Legal Issues
1. Consent & Misconception of Fact – Was her consent vitiated by a false promise of marriage?
2. Prolonged Relationship & Voluntariness – Could a 16-year relationship still be classified as coercive?
3. Delayed FIR & Evidence – Did the long delay in filing weaken the case?
SC’s Ruling
The Court found inconsistencies in the complaint and noted that both parties were in a longstanding live-in relationship. It ruled that consent obtained under a promise of marriage is not invalid unless deception is proven from the outset. Citing precedents, the Court stated that criminal law should not be used as a tool for personal grievances in failed relationships.
Given the lack of evidence and the prolonged consensual nature of the relationship, the Supreme Court quashed the FIR, calling it a "gross abuse of process."
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