Punjab and Haryana High Court Declines to Summon Family in False Promise Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has rejected a woman’s plea seeking prosecution of the parents and grandmother of a man accused of rape on the false promise of marriage.

Justice Shalini Singh Nagpal held that mere assurances allegedly given by the family members regarding marriage cannot attract criminal liability under Section 376 IPC or other offences.

The Court observed that sexual relations were solely between the complainant and the accused, and there was no strong or cogent evidence to summon his relatives as additional accused under Section 358 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

Terming the trial court’s order “logical and legal,” the High Court dismissed the revision plea.