The Allahabad High Court has upheld the acquittal of a man accused of rape, observing that in such cases, the burden of proof rests on both the complainant and the accused. The court stressed that while laws on sexual offences rightly focus on protecting women and girls, it cannot always be assumed that the male partner is solely at fault.
Case Background
A woman from Prayagraj filed a police complaint in 2019, alleging that the accused had a sexual relationship with her for five years on the promise of marriage but later refused to marry her. She also accused him of making derogatory remarks about her caste.
In 2020, he was formally charged with rape and offences under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. In February 2024, a trial court acquitted him of rape charges but convicted him under Section 323 of the IPC for voluntarily causing hurt. The woman then appealed to the High Court.
Court’s Observations
The accused argued that the relationship was consensual. He further stated that he backed out of marriage after learning that the woman was already married and had concealed her caste identity.
The division bench of Justice Rahul Chaturvedi and Justice Nand Prabha Shukla noted:
- The complainant had maintained a relationship with the accused for five years without objection.
- Both stayed together in hotels and lodges in Allahabad and Lucknow, indicating consensual intimacy.
- The complainant failed to prove her claims regarding caste.
The court remarked, “It is difficult to decide who was deceiving whom in this case.”
Verdict
Concluding that the trial court had rightly acquitted the accused of rape and harassment charges, the High Court dismissed the woman’s appeal.
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