Possibility Of 'No Strings Attached' Relationship Cannot Be Ruled Out: P&H High Court Grants Bail To Man Accused Of Rape On Pretext Of Marriage

The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted bail to a man accused of raping a woman on the false pretext of marriage, with the court observing that the possibility of their relationship being consensual and "with no strings attached" could not be ruled out. The court noted that the complainant and the accused were in a relationship for an extended period, and the woman was a major and well-educated. The judge reasoned that in modern society, it is plausible for educated adults to be in a relationship without the explicit promise of marriage. While not passing a final judgment on the merits of the case, the court's observations during the bail hearing suggest that a prolonged consensual relationship, even if it doesn't culminate in marriage, may not automatically be considered rape under the "false promise of marriage" doctrine.