Victim cannot be blamed for sexual assault because she had cordial relations with accused: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court reiterated that a victim’s prior cordial or friendly relations with an accused cannot be used to blame or discredit her in a sexual-assault prosecution. The Court emphasised that interpersonal history does not negate consent or the possibility of assault and warned against victim-blaming in appreciation of evidence. The ruling directs lower courts and investigators to avoid presumptive reasoning about behaviour and relationships, and to focus on material evidence, contemporaneous conduct and forensic/investigative records. The judgment reinforces established principles protecting complainants’ dignity and ensures that past interactions are not conflated with consent absent clear proof.