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Consensual relationship without promise to marry is not rape

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 27 OF 2014
WITH
CRIMINAL INTERVENTION APPLICATION NO. 179 OF 2014

Ms. Sonali Alfred Jadhav … Intervener/Ori. Complainant in the matter between

Mahesh Balkrishna Dandane … Applicant
vs.
The State of Maharashtra  … Respondent

Mr. Ganesh K. Gole, Advocate for the applicant.
Mr. V.B. Konde­Deshmukh, APP for the State.
Mr. Mayur Salunkhe, Advocate for the applicant/intervener in Cri. APPP No. 179/2014

CORAM :   MRS. MRIDULA BHATKAR, J.
DATE     :  12th March, 2014.

Heard.  The Application for intervention is allowed.

2.  Application No. 27 of 2014 is moved for anticipatory bail under section 438 of Cr. P.C.   The complainant is a lady who has lodged a complaint under section 420, 406, 376, 323, 506(2) of IPC.  The crime is registered at C.R. No. I­321 of 2013 with Upanagar Police Station, Nashik.

3. It   is   the   case   of   the   prosecution   that   the   complainant   and applicant/accused both were having an affair and there was a promise by the applicant/accused to marry the complainant.  The complainant, therefore, readily kept sexual relationship with the applicant.  It is the case   of   the   complainant   that   since   1999   the   complainant   knew applicant/accused and in November, 2006 they had sexual interaction. At the relevant time the applicant/accused has told her that he wanted to marry her and therefore, the complainant did not object to have sexual relations with him at different places.  In the year 2008­09 the applicant   avoided   to   talk   about   their   marriage   and   therefore,   she consumed tranquilizer and was admitted in the hospital. Thereafter, they continued to meet and maintained their physical relationship.  On 6th December, 2013 the complainant came across a photograph of the applicant/accused.  The said photograph was taken while performing pre­wedding rituals and therefore, she arrived at Nashik in the evening on the same day and found that the applicant/accused has performed marriage with some other girl.   The complainant, therefore, lodged complaint on 10th December, 2013 at Khondva Police Station.  Pursuant to that, police registered FIR at C.R. No. I­321/2013 at Upnagar Police Station, Dist. Nashik.   Hence, the applicant filed this application for anticipatory bail.

4. The learned counsel for the applicant/accused submitted that the applicant/accused has neither cheated nor raped the complainant.  He submitted that he never promised complainant to marry her as they belonged to different religion.  He further submitted that though there was contacts between the parties, the complainant on 1st July, 2013 had knowledge that the applicant was engaged with other girl.  The learned counsel further submitted that the complainant attended the wedding of the applicant/accused.   The charges made by the complainant are false.     The   learned   counsel   submitted   that   on   21st  May,   2011   the applicant has lodged complaint against the complainant with Sr. Police Inspector,   Nashik   Road   Police   Station   where   he   has   expressed apprehension that the complainant would likely to commit suicide and falsely   implicate   him   in   the   offence.     The   learned   counsel   further submitted that in the said letter, the applicant/accused has mentioned that the complainant has forced him on previous date that he should marry her and threatened him that she would end her life. He further submitted that the applicant/accused is innocent and he never had intention   to   commit   any   offence   as   alleged.     The   learned   counsel further   submitted  that  the  complainant  and  applicant/accused  both have secured degree in law.  The applicant is practicing advocate and the complainant was working as a legal officer.   The learned counsel further submitted that whatever acts are done are by consent and with understanding between two persons for which the applicant/accused is not to be blamed alone.  He further submitted that physical relationship between the parties was non­committal consensual relationship.

5. Learned   APP   and   counsel   for   the   complainant   opposed   the application   for   anticipatory   bail   on   the   ground   that   the applicant/accused has cheated the complainant by giving false promise to marry her.   The applicant/accused has induced her to keep sexual relations with him and deceived her.   It is further submitted by the learned   counsel   for   the   complainant  that   the   complainant  was  not aware about the marriage of the applicant/accused with other girl.  The learned   counsel   further   submitted   that   the   complainant   conceded sexual   relationship,   as   she   was   induced   and   promised   by   the applicant/accused   to   marry   her.   Thus   her   consent   was   obtained fraudulently by the applicant/accused and has misrepresented her that he would marry her.  The learned counsel for the complainant further relied   on   many   photographs   showing   physical   intimacy   of   the applicant/accused   and   complainant.   He   relies   on   SMS   sent   by   the applicant to the complainant on 8th December, 2013 at 12.27 at night after marriage that he wanted to keep contact with her.   He further submitted that the promise of marriage was given from 2011 by the applicant when the complainant asked the applicant to marry and the same is mentioned in the FIR.

See also  304-B, General, Vague and Inconsistent statements, Section 498-A  set aside

6. The case is based on promise to marry and fall out of broke­up relationship.   Nowadays keeping sexual relationship while having an affair or before marriage is not shocking as it was earlier.  A couple may decide to experience sex.   Today especially in metros like Mumbai, Pune etc., the Society is becoming more and more permissive.  Though unlike western countries,   we have social taboo and are hesitant to accept   free   sexual   relationship   between   unmarried   couples   or youngsters as their basic biological need; the Court cannot be oblivious to a fact of   changing behavioural norms and patterns between man and woman relationship in the Society so also a fact of ground realities and of late marriages.  A major and educated girl is expected to know demand of her body and to understand the consequences of getting into   sexual   relationship.     Today   the   law   acknowledges   live   in relationship. The law also acknowledges a woman’s right to have sex, woman’s   right   to   be   a   mother   or   woman’s   right   to   say   no   to motherhood.  Thus, having sexual relationship with a man whether is her conscious decision or not is to be tested independently depending on the facts and circumstances of each and every case and no straight jacket formula or any kind of labelling can be adopted.

7. For example, an uneducated girl from a very poor strata of a Society is induced to keep physical relationship on promise to marry by a   person   from   a   higher   class,   then   there   may   be   a   possibility   of prosecution under section 376 of IPC.  Similarly, if a man suppresses his first marriage and keeps physical relationship with a girl promising to marry her or subsequently marries then also it can be said that consent is adopted fraudulently, therefore, he can be prosecuted under section 376 of IPC.

8. However, every breach of promise to marry cannot be said to be either a cheating or rape.   A couple in love with each other may be having sexual relationship and  realize that they are not compatible and sometimes love between the parties is lost and their relationship dries gradually,   then   earlier   physical   contacts   cannot   be   said   as   rape.   A marriage cannot be imposed, as a search of life partner depends not only on  physical compatibility but also on emotional, psychological bonding.   It is a matter of choice related to individual’s notions of suitability,   emotional,   psychological   comfort   and   biological requirement.  Thus while granting anticipatory bail,   all these factors are required to be considered.

9. In the present case, both the applicant/accused and complainant are graduated in law.   A fact of their sexual relationship is admitted. Their relations were going on for a long period i.e. from 2009 till 2013. However, there was a letter written by the applicant/accused in the year 2011 wherein he has mentioned that the complainant is forcing him to marry as she  tried to commit suicide. Thereafter  also their physical relationship continued.  The photocopy of SMS sent on 1st July, 2013  prima   facie  discloses   that   complainant   had   an   idea   that applicant/accused has decided to marry other girl.  Moreover, to keep physical relationship or not is a choice of both the parties.  Prima facia it does not appear from the record that the complainant was either forced to keep sexual relationship or she was really induced to such an extent that she has no other option but to keep physical relationship with the applicant/accused.   Even though if at all there is bonafide promise to marry and the girl chooses to keep physical relationship with that persons and if a boy withdraws his promise, as they are not psychologically comfortable with each other, then it cannot bring that particular act within the purport of offence under section 375 of IPC. The  complainant   is  an  educated  girl   and  it  shows  that   it   was  her conscious decision to keep sexual relations with him.  Prima facie at this stage, possibility of non­committal, consensual relationship cannot be denied.

10. In this case it is submitted by the counsel for the complainant that the complainant is pregnant of 14 to 16 weeks.  However, it is her choice to be a mother or not.  If child is born, then for his rights, the complainant may adopt other legal recourse before appropriate forum. The submissions of learned counsel for the complainant that custodial interrogation of applicant/accused is required for DNA test cannot be appreciated, as the applicant/accused can be directed to go for DNA test.  In view of this, Application is allowed with following directions:

(i) The applicant be enlarged on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs. 25,000/­ with one or two sureties in the like amount.
(ii)The   applicant  shall   cooperate   the   police  and   also   give  blood sample for DNA test.
(iii)The applicant shall not contact the complainant and shall not pressurize her.

11. The Application is disposed of on above terms.

(MRS. MRIDULA BHATKAR, J.)

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