Karnataka High Court: Married Woman Cannot Claim Cheating Over Broken Marriage Promise

The Karnataka High Court recently quashed an FIR filed by a married woman against a man, alleging that he cheated her by not fulfilling his promise of marriage. The court ruled that since the woman was already married, there was no legal basis for her claim.

Case Background

The case was heard by a single-judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna. The petitioner had been charged under Sections 498A, 504, 507, and 417 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The complainant, a married woman with a daughter, claimed her husband had abandoned them. She alleged that she met the petitioner at work, and he promised to marry her. Based on this promise, she entered into a relationship with him.

However, the petitioner denied making any such promise. He argued that he had helped the woman financially when she was in need but had never committed to marrying her. He further stated that unless she legally divorced her husband, there was no basis for her claim that he had promised marriage.

Court’s Observations

Upon reviewing the case, the court found that the petitioner had been living in Malaysia and had sent financial support to the complainant. However, he later stopped responding to her calls, leading her to file the complaint.

The court ruled that cheating under the breach of marriage promise could not be applied in this case, as the complainant was already married. The judge stated:

“If the woman is already married, there can be no question of cheating on the grounds of a broken marriage promise. The offense cannot be laid against the petitioner.”

The court also noted that there was no document proving that the petitioner and the complainant were legally married. Since Section 498A of the IPC applies to marital disputes, the charges were not valid.

Legal Implications

The court further stated that the complainant had not obtained a divorce from her first husband, making her claim of needing maintenance from the petitioner legally unsound. The judgment clarified that occasional financial assistance does not create a legal obligation for support.

The Karnataka High Court’s ruling reinforces that a married woman cannot claim deception in a breach of marriage promise case. The decision sets a legal precedent in cases involving false allegations related to marriage promises.

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