False Promise of Marriage Not Valid Ground for Rape Allegation if Woman is Married: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that married women cannot allege rape on the ground of a false promise of marriage.

Justice Kurian Thomas noted that when both parties are aware of an existing marriage, claims of coercion into sexual relations lack legal merit.

The man was booked under Sections 69 and 84 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly engaging in deceitful sexual relations on the pretext of marriage and threatening to leak explicit content.

Finding inconsistencies in the complaint and considering the bailable nature of the offences, the Court deemed the claim prima facie doubtful and granted bail. (Sayooj S v. State of Kerala & Others)