Mumbai Court Acquits Merchant Navy Officer in Rape Case Over Promise of Marriage
A Mumbai sessions court has acquitted a 31-year-old merchant navy officer who was accused of raping his former girlfriend by allegedly making a false promise of marriage.
The woman and the man were in a relationship but belonged to different castes. The man later refused to marry her, citing family opposition due to cultural differences.
Judge D.D. Khoche, while delivering the verdict, said that there was no clear promise of marriage before the couple became physically intimate. He noted that the case did not meet the legal definition of rape.
Court’s Observation
The court pointed out that the woman, who is Bengali, and the man, a Maharashtrian, came from different cultural and caste backgrounds. The judge said that the woman, being an adult and of sound understanding, should have been aware of the challenges of an inter-caste marriage.
The judge emphasized, “When the woman first had physical relations with the accused in 2016, she was around 25 years old and understood the consequences of being in a relationship without marriage.”
Key Legal Insight
During the court proceedings, the woman admitted there was only an “understanding” about marriage, not a direct or mutual promise. The court explained that an understanding by one person does not equal a promise unless it is clearly expressed and accepted by both parties.
Based on this reasoning and the evidence presented, the court dismissed the charges and acquitted the officer.
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