Indore Court acquits man accused in controversial live-in partner rape case

Indore(Team Newsbuddy): In a significant legal development, a 34-year-old man, who had been accused of raping his live-in partner, coercing her into having an abortion, and issuing death threats, has been acquitted by the Indore court.

The ruling, delivered on April 25, garnered attention due to its nuanced consideration of the circumstances. The court took into account an agreement between the accused and the 29-year-old woman, wherein they had mutually consented to a living arrangement. According to the agreement, the man, who was already married, would alternate living with his wife and the complainant for seven days at a time.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the woman on July 27, 2021, accusing the man of repeated rape under the pretext of marriage, forcing her to terminate a pregnancy, and threatening her life.

Following his arrest on August 15, 2021, the accused spent 200 days behind bars before being granted bail on March 2, 2022.

In delivering the verdict, Additional Sessions Judge Jaideep Singh carefully examined the evidence presented. The court found that the agreement, dated June 15, 2021, clearly indicated a consensual live-in relationship between the two individuals. Notably, it underscored that the accused was already married and incapable of marrying the complainant.

Based on these findings, the court acquitted the man of charges under sections 376 (2) (n) (repeated rape), 313 (abortion without consent), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

“In such circumstances, this man cannot be held guilty of rape and forced abortion. As far as the threat to kill the complainant woman is concerned, there is no credible evidence on record in this regard,” the court stated in its judgment.

This ruling sheds light on the complexities surrounding consent and relationships in modern society, prompting a reevaluation of the legal frameworks governing such matters.