Kerala High Court Quashes Rape FIRs After Finding Consensual Relationship

The Kerala High Court quashed three rape FIRs registered against a youth in Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Idukki after determining that the parties were in a consensual relationship.

The Court recorded that the complainant had voluntarily visited the petitioner and engaged in consensual sexual relations, rendering allegations of rape based on a promise to marry unsustainable.

The Court noted that the parties had amicably settled the dispute and that continuation of criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of process, particularly when the factual matrix disclosed no element of coercion or deceit.

The Court accordingly terminated all proceedings arising from the FIRs.

[Al. Anwarsha v State of Kerala & Anr.]