As per case facts, the complainant alleged the petitioner engaged in a physical relationship with her under a false promise of marriage from early 2021, leading to an FIR under ...
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -1-
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT
CHANDIGARH
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M)
Date of Decision: 16.9.2025
Himank ......Petitioner
Versus
State of Haryana and another .....Respondents
CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE KIRTI SINGH
Present:Mr. Amit Chadha, Senior Advocate with
Mr. Kunwar Ranjan, Advocate and
Mr. Atin Chadha, Advocate
for the petitioner.
Ms. Saumya Ahluwalia, Sr. DAG, Haryana.
Mr. Sukhdeep Singh, Advocate
for respondent No. 2.
****
KIRTI SINGH , J. (ORAL)
1. The instant petition has been filed under Section 528 of BNSS
2023 seeking quashing of FIR No. 339 dated 24.10.2024, under Section
376(2)(n) IPC, registered at Police Station Sector-56, District Gurugram
(Annexure P-1) and all other consequential proceedings arising therefrom.
2. The brief factual matrix relevant and essential for disposal of
the present petition, is that a complaint No. 3383 dated 16.9.2024 moved by
the complainant-respondent was received at Police Station Dwarka, New
Delhi, wherein it was alleged that in January 2021, the complainant met the
petitioner and they became good friends. She accepted the marriage
proposal of the petitioner, and she thus engaged in physical relationship with
him. On 29.10.2023, the petitioner along with his mother and two sisters
came at her residence for finalizing their marriage, and told them to make
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -2-
necessary arrangements for the marriage in January 2024. It is alleged that
the petitioner told her to book a five star venue for roka ceremony, and also
that he demanded jewellery for himself and his family memebrs. He further
told her that minimum Rs. 50.00 lacs should be spent on the marriage. When
the complainant apprised the petitioner about their financial condition, he
proposed the postponement of the marriage to November 2024 for the reason
that his maternal aunt had passed away in November 2023. After the roka
ceremony, in the first week of August 2024, the petitioner after requesting
the parents of the complainant, took her to Ayodhya, and yet again made
physical relations with her. However shortly after, the petitioner told her
that because the gifts given in the roka ceremony were not expensive
enough, therefore his family was quarreling with him. It was also alleged
therein that a demand of an XUV-700 car was also raised by the petitioner.
Thereafter on 01.9.2024, the petitioner informed her that his family was
against their union, and he called off the marriage. On the basis of the above
said complaint, a ZERO FIR was registered at Police Station Dwarka, Delhi.
However, since the alleged occurrence pertained to District Gurugram,
therefore, the said complaint was forwarded to District Gurugram,
whereafter the present FIR was registered.
Submissions made by the learned senior counsel for the petitioner
3. Learned senior counsel for the petitioner has vehemently
argued that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case
by the complainant to wreck vengeance, as her marriage with the
petitioner which was scheduled for November 2024, was called off. It is
submitted that the petitioner is a B-Tech Graduate, and was working as a
Senior Manager at Pristyn Care Company, Gurugram in November 2020.
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -3-
The complainant joined the said company in January 2021 as a Business
Development Manager and she was reporting directly to the petitioner.
After a few months, the parties developed a liking for each other, and
started engaging in physical relations. It is highlighted by the learned
senior counsel that at no point in time, any false assurance was given by
the petitioner to the complainant for this purpose. Everything happened
with the mutual consent of both the parties. Further, the explicit whatsapp
chats (Annexure P-11) clearly show that it was the complainant who
insisted upon the physical relations, and by no stretch of imagination can
it be presumed from a perusal of the whatsapp chats that there was any
kind of coercion or pressure upon the complainant.
4. Subsequently, talks of marriage of the two started. However,
neither the petitioner nor his family members ever demanded any dowry.
Rather the petitioner was financially supporting the complainant, who had
left her job, and on numerous occasions gave money to the complainant in
cash as well as through online transactions. The petitioner even paid the
premium of Rs. 51,000/- of the health insurance policy of the parents of
the complainant, and bore the expenses of dinner at their roka ceremony
amounting to Rs. 50,000/-. Throughout the period of their relationship,
the petitioner gave many gifts to the complainant, including airpods,
phone, bags etc. besides cash, which shows the earnestness of the
petitioner and his clean intentions. Copies of the screenshots of UPI
transactions, insurance policy along with corresponding bank statement of
the petitioner are annexed with the instant petition as Annexures P-2 to
P-5.
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -4-
5. In fact, at the time of the roka ceremony i.e. on 21.7.2024, the
petitioner’s family gave one gold diamond pendant set with tops and
chain costing to Rs. 3,00,000/-, one bag worth Rs. 12,000/-, and cash of
Rs. 15,000/-, among other gift items to the complainant’s family, which
are still lying in their possession. Reliance in this regard has been placed
on Annexure P-6. It is submitted that subsequently, the complainant
started putting pressure on the petitioner to separate from his family after
marriage, to which the petitioner flatly refused. Ultimately due to
irreconcilable temperamental differences, the family of the petitioner
decided to call of the wedding, whereupon the petitioner was abused by
the complainant and her brother. Subsequently, the present FIR was
lodged by the complainant against the petitioner, wherein vide order dated
18.11.2024, the petitioner was granted the concession of anticipatory bail
by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Gurugram.
6. It is the submission of the learned senior counsel that the
petitioner had already paid the booking amount for the marriage, which
was to be solemnized in November 2024 at Radisson Blu Hotel, New
Delhi, among other things. It is submitted that the payment receipts,
including that of booking make-up services, clearly show that the
petitioner had the bona fide intention of marrying the complainant, which
unfortunately had to be called off only due to fundamental disagreements
and incompatible viewpoints between the parties. In conclusion, it is
submitted by the learned senior counsel that there is no evidence on
record that even remotely suggests that the relations between the
petitioner and the complainant were made under the false promise of
marriage. Therefore, the ingredients of Section 376(2)(n) IPC having not
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -5-
been made out, continuation of criminal proceedings against the petitioner
would tantamount to a gross abuse of process of law. In support of the
submissions, reliance has been placed on the judgments of the Apex Court
in cases titled as (i) Pradeep Kumar Kesarwani versus State of U.T. and
another, SLP (Crl.) No. 11642 of 2019 (ii) Deepak Gulati versus State of
Haryana (2013) 7 SCC 675, (iii) Sheikh Arif versus State of
Maharashtra and another (2024) 4 SCC 463 and (iv) Uday versus State
of Karnataka, AIR 2003 SC 1639. Therefore, it is prayed that the instant
petition be allowed and the present FIR be quashed.
Submissions made by the learned State counsel as well as the counsel
for the complainant-respondent No. 2
7. Per contra, the learned State counsel as also learned counsel
for complainant-respondent No. 2 have vehemently opposed the present
petition, since serious and specific allegations have been levelled against
the petitioner. Learned State counsel submits that investigation is
complete, and final report under Section 193(3) BNSS against the present
petitioner stands presented before the learned Court concerned.
8. Learned counsel for respondent No. 2 submits that the
petitioner has deliberately concealed and suppressed the material facts.
The petitioner since 2021, had exploited and repeatedly sexually assaulted
respondent No. 2 on the false pretext of marriage, and induced her into an
intimate relationship. In fact, the petitioner even humiliated respondent
No. 2 on account of her physique, and also compelled her to leave her job
in October 2023. Thereafter on 29.10.2023, the petitioner and his family
members visited the house of respondent No. 2 for finalizing their
marriage. However, they raised unreasonable and unlawful demands
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -6-
pertaining to roka ceremony to which the family of respondent No. 2 had
to concede. In compliance of the said demands, they even booked Polo
Farms at New Delhi, for which an advance payment of Rs. 75,000/- was
made. Reliance in this regard has been placed on Annexure R-2/1.
Throughout the said relationship, the petitioner kept giving false
reassurances to respondent No. 2 that he would marry her, however, when
it came to taking any action, the petitioner kept dilly-dallying, but
continued making physical relations with her. Learned counsel further
submits that the petitioner never intended to marry respondent No. 2, and
even the talks of marriage and the small ceremonies performed were for
show. Rather, after their roka ceremony, the petitioner started avoiding
her, and ultimately called off the marriage by citing baseless and frivolous
reasons, despite having no objections throughout their relationship.
9. It is submitted that the allegations levelled against the
petitioner are grave and specific, substantiated with documentary
evidence. All the contentions raised by the learned senior counsel for the
petitioner herein are disputed question of facts, which can be determined
only after the evidence is produced before the learned trial Court. It is,
therefore, prayed that the present petition be dismissed
Inference(s) of this Court
10. Heard learned counsel on either side and perused the judicial
record with their able assistance.
11. On 25.8.2025, respondent No. 2 appeared in person before
the Court. Upon being suggested by the Court regarding exploring the
possibility of mediation, respondent No. 2 expressed her unwillingness
qua the same unequivocal terms.
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -7-
12. Before proceeding to make an adjudication upon the present
petition, it would be apposite to first discuss the dictum of law as laid down
by the Apex Court in the judgments dealing with the offence of establishing
physical relations on the false pretest of marriage.
13. The Apex Court in case titled as ‘Amol Bhagwal Nehul versus
State of Maharrashtra and another’, SLP (Crl.) No. 10044 of 2024, has
held as under-
“8.Having heard both sides in this case and after carefully
considering the material on record, the following attributes come to
the fore:
(a) Even if the allegations in the FIR are taken as a true and
correct depiction of circumstances, it does not appear from
the record that the consent of the Complainant/Respondent
no. 2 was obtained against her will and merely on an
assurance to marry. The Appellant and the
Complainant/Respondent no. 2 were acquainted since
08.06.2022, and she herself admits that they interacted
frequently and fell in love. The Complainant/Respondent no.
2 engaged in a physical relationship alleging that the
Appellant had done so without her consent, however she not
only sustained her relationship for over 12 months, but
continued to visit him in lodges on two separate occasions.
The narrative of the Complainant/Respondent no. 2 does not
corroborate with her conduct.
(b) The consent of the Complainant/Respondent no. 2 as
defined under section 90 IPC also cannot be said to have
been obtained under a misconception of fact. There is no
material to substantiate “inducement or misrepresentation”
on the part of the Appellant to secure consent for sexual
relations without having any intention of fulfilling said
promise. Investigation has also revealed that the Khulanama,
was executed on 29.12.2022 which the
Complainant/Respondent no. 2 had obtained from her ex-
husband. During this time, the parties were already in a
relationship and the alleged incident had already taken place.
It is inconceivable that the Complainant had engaged in a
physical relationship with the Appellant, on the assurance of
marriage, while she was already married to someone else.
Even otherwise, such promise to begin with was illegal and
unenforceable qua the Appellant.
(c)x x x x
(d)x x x x
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -8-
9. In our considered view, this is also not a case where there was
a false promise to marry to begin with. A consensual relationship
turning sour or partners becoming distant cannot be a ground for
invoking criminal machinery of the State. Such conduct not only
burdens the Courts, but blots the identity of an individual accused of
such a heinous offence. This Court has time and again warned
against the misuse of the provisions, and has termed it a folly3 to
treat each breach of promise to marry as a false promise and
prosecute a person for an offence under section 376 IPC.
10.As demonstrated hereinabove, the ingredients of the offence
under Sections 376 (2)(n) or 506 IPC are not established. The
present case squarely falls under categories enumerated in Para
102(5) & 102(7) as identified by this Court in State of Haryana Vs
Bhajan Lal (supra) for the exercise of powers u/s 482 CrPC by the
High Court so as to prevent the abuse of process of law. Para 102
reads as under:
“102. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the various
relevant provisions of the Code under Chapter XIV and of the
principles of law enunciated by this Court in a series of
decisions relating to the exercise of the extraordinary power
under Article 226 or the inherent powers under Section 482 of
the Code which we have extracted and reproduced above, we
have given the following categories of cases by way of
illustration wherein such power could be exercised either to
prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure
the ends of justice, though it may not be possible to lay down
any precise, clearly defined and sufficiently channelised and
inflexible guidelines or rigid formulae and to give an exhaustive
list of myriad kinds of cases wherein such power should be
exercised.
(1)Where the allegations made in the first information
report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value
and accepted in their entirety do not prima facie constitute any
offence or make out a case against the accused.
(2)Where the allegations in the first information report and
other materials, if any, accompanying the FIR do not disclose a
cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police officers
under Section 156(1) of the Code except under an order of a
Magistrate within the purview of Section 155(2) of the Code.
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -9-
(3)Where the uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR or
complaint and the evidence collected in support of the same do
not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a case
against the accused.
(4)Where, the allegations in the FIR do not constitute a
cognizable offence but constitute only a non-cognizable offence,
no investigation is permitted by a police officer without an
order of a Magistrate as contemplated under Section 155(2) of
the Code.
(5)Where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint are
so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of which no
prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that there is
sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused.
(6)Where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any of
the provisions of the Code or the concerned Act (under which a
criminal proceeding is instituted) to the institution and
continuance of the proceedings and/or where there is a specific
provision in the Code or the concerned Act, providing
efficacious redress for the grievance of the aggrieved party.
(7)Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with
mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted
with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused
and with a view to spite him due to private and personal
grudge.”
11.Taking into consideration that the Appellant is just 25 years of
age, and has a lifetime ahead of him, it would be in the interest of
justice that he does not suffer an impending trial and, therefore, the
proceedings emanating from C.R. No. 490/2023 dt. 31.07.2023 are
quashed at this stage itself.”
14. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in ‘Nitin B. Nikhare versus the
State of Maharashtra’, SLP (Crl.) No. 1889 of 2024, has observed as
under-
“5. On the other hand, the prosecution’s case is that the prosecutrix
entered into a sexual relationship with the appellant solely for the
reason that he had promised to marry her and this relationship
continued for some time and was broken when the promise of
marriage was not fulfilled. In other words, the main allegation of
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -10-
the prosecutrix is that had it not been for the promise of marriage
made by the appellant she would have never entered into a physical
relationship with him and considering that this was done by
cheating, the same amounts to rape.
6.This Court in a catena of judgments has held that the mere
fact that physical relations were established pursuant to a promise
to marry will not amount to a rape in every case. In order for the
offence of rape to be made out, two conditions need to be satisfied
i.e. that the promise of marriage was made by the accused solely
with a view to obtain consent for sexual relations without having
any intention of fulfilling said promise from the very beginning, and
that the false promise of marriage had a direct bearing on the
prosecutrix giving her consent for sexual relations.
7.From a perusal of the record, it is clear that this was a case of a
consensual relationship from the beginning. Even if the case of the
prosecutrix is accepted, it does not appear that the initial promise to
marry was in bad faith. It was only the subsequent circumstances that
prevented fulfilment of alleged false promise to marry. Resultantly, the
relationship turned sour which has given rise to the present FIR.
Further, in view of the material on record, we do not see this as a case
where provisions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
(Prevention of Atrocities) Act can be attracted.
8.Hence, the entire criminal proceedings initiated against the
appellant are nothing but an abuse of the process of law. In our
opinion the High Court should have exercised its inherent power under
Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to quash the
proceedings.”
15. Likewise, while making a reference to its previous judicial
pronouncements, the Apex Court in the case of ‘Rajnish Singh @ Soni
verus State of U.P. and another’, SLP (Crl.) No. 8549 of 2023’
concluded that unless it can be proved that the physical relationship
culminated purely on the basis of an explicit promise of marriage,
uninfluenced by any other factor, it cannot be said that there was vitiation
of consent under misconception of fact. The relevant paras of the said
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -11-
judgment read thus-
“26.In the case of Mahesh Damu Khare v. State of Maharashtra,
this Court held that to make a man, accused of having sexual
relationship by making a false promise of marriage, criminally
liable, the physical relationship must be traceable directly to the
false promise made and it must not be qualified by other
circumstances or consideration. In a situation where the woman
knowingly maintains the physical relationship for a prolonged
period, it cannot be said with certainty that the said physical
relationship was purely because of alleged promise made by the
accused to marry her.
27.In conclusion, the Court held that unless it can be shown that
the physical relationship was purely because of the promise of
marriage and without being influenced by any other consideration,
it cannot be said that there was vitiation of consent under
misconception of fact. It was further held that even if it is assumed
that a false promise of marriage was made to the complainant
initially by the accused, the fact that the relationship continued for a
period of nine long years would render the plea of the complainant
that her consent for all these years was under misconception of the
fact that the accused would marry her implausible.
28.In the case of Prashant v. State (NCT of Delhi), this Court
observed that it is inconceivable that the complainant would
continue to meet the accused or maintain a prolonged association or
physical relationship with him in the absence of voluntary consent
on her part.
29.Testing the facts of the case at hand, on the touchstone of the
above precedents, it is clear that the complainant, being a highly
qualified major woman continued in a consensual intimate sexual
relationship with the appellant over a period of 16 years. At some
point in time, the relationship went sour leading to the filing of the
FIR. No reasonable man would accept the version that the
complainant allowed the accused to establish sexual relations with
her over a period of 16 years purely under the misconception of
marriage.
x x x x x
34.It is trite that there is a distinction between rape and
consensual intercourse. This Court in Deepak Gulati v. State of
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -12-
Haryana, differentiated between a mere breach of promise and not
fulfilling a false promise and held that an accused will only be liable
if the Courts concludes that his intentions are mala fide and he has
clandestine motives. The relevant extract is reproduced
hereinbelow: -
“21. Consent may be express or implied, coerced or
misguided, obtained willingly or through deceit. Consent is
an act of reason, accompanied by deliberation, the mind
weighing, as in a balance, the good and evil on each side.
There is a clear distinction between rape and consensual sex
and in a case like this, the court must very carefully examine
whether the accused had actually wanted to marry the victim,
or had mala fide motives, and had made a false promise to
this effect only to satisfy his lust, as the latter falls within the
ambit of cheating or deception. There is a distinction between
the mere breach of a promise, and not fulfilling a false
promise. Thus, the court must examine whether there was
made, at an early stage a false promise of marriage by the
accused; and whether the consent involved was given after
wholly understanding the nature and consequences of sexual
indulgence. There may be a case where the prosecutrix agrees
to have sexual intercourse on account of her love and passion
for the accused, and not solely on account of
misrepresentation made to her by the accused, or where an
accused on account of circumstances which he could not have
foreseen, or which were beyond his control, was unable to
marry her, despite having every intention to do so. Such cases
must be treated differently. An accused can be convicted for
rape only if the court reaches a conclusion that the intention
of the accused was mala fide, and that he had clandestine
motives.
…
24. Hence, it is evident that there must be adequate
evidence to show that at the relevant time i.e. at the initial
stage itself, the accused had no intention whatsoever, of
keeping his promise to marry the victim. There may, of
course, be circumstances, when a person having the best of
intentions is unable to marry the victim owing to various
unavoidable circumstances. The “failure to keep a promise
made with respect to a future uncertain date, due to reasons
that are not very clear from the evidence available, does not
always amount to misconception of fact. In order to come
within the meaning of the term “misconception of fact”, the
fact must have an immediate relevance”. Section 90 IPC
cannot be called into aid in such a situation, to pardon the
act of a girl in entirety, and fasten criminal liability on the
other, unless the court is assured of the fact that from the very
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -13-
beginning, the accused had never really intended to marry
her.” (emphasis supplied)
35.It is, therefore, clear that the accused is not liable for the
offence of rape if the victim has wilfully agreed to maintain sexual
relations. The Court has also recognised that a prosecutrix can
agree to have sexual intercourse on account of her love and passion
for the accused.
36.This Court in Shivashankar v. State of Karnataka, had
quashed criminal proceedings on the ground that it is difficult to
hold sexual intercourse in the course of a relationship, which
continued for eight years, as ‘rape’ especially when the complainant
therein had alleged that they lived together as man and wife. The
relevant extract is reproduced hereinbelow: -
“4. In the facts and circumstances of the present case, it is
difficult to sustain the charges levelled against the appellant
who may have possibly, made a false promise of marriage to
the complainant. It is, however, difficult to hold sexual
intercourse in the course of a relationship which has
continued for eight years, as “rape” especially in the face of
the complainant's own allegation that they lived together as
man and wife.” (emphasis supplied)
37.Thus, by no stretch of imagination, can this Court be
convinced that present is a case wherein the appellant is liable to be
prosecuted for having sexually exploited/assaulted the complainant
based on a false promise of marriage. The allegations of the
complainant are full of material contradictions and are ex facie
unbelievable. Throughout the prolonged period of 16 years, the
complainant kept completely quiet about the alleged sexual abuse,
meted out to her by the appellant until she learnt that the appellant
had married another woman. Further in complete contradiction to
the case setup in the FIR, the complainant has on many occasions
portrayed herself to be the wife of the appellant and thus, evidently,
they lived together as man and wife. Additionally, the long gap of 16
years between the first alleged act of sexual intercourse, continued
relations for one and a half decade till the filing of the FIR
convinces us that it is a clear case of a love affair/live in
relationship gone sour.”
16. A gainful reference can also be made to the observations made
by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in ‘Jothiragawan versus State REP. By the
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Inspector of the Police and another’, SLP (Crl.) No. 6821 of 2024,
wherein it was held that-
“11. We have already found that there is no promise of marriage to
coerce consent from the victim for sexual intercourse; as
forthcoming from the statements made by the victim. The promise if
any was after the first physical intercourse and even later the
allegation was forceful intercourse without any consent. In all the
three instances it was the allegation that, the intercourse was on
threat and coercion and there is no consent spoken of by the victim,
in which case there cannot be any inducement found, on a promise
held out. The allegation of forceful intercourse on threat and
coercion is also not believable, given the relationship admitted
between the parties and the willing and repeated excursions to hotel
rooms.
12.On a reading of the statements made by the victim before the
Police, both the First Information Statement and that recorded later
on, we are not convinced that the sexual relationship admitted by
both the parties was without the consent of the victim. That they
were closely related and were in a relationship is admitted by the
victim. The allegation is also of threat and coercion against the
victim, to have sexual intercourse with the accused, which even as
per the victim’s statement was repeated thrice in the same manner,
when she willingly accompanied the accused to a hotel room. The
victim had also categorically stated that after the first incident and
the second incident she was mentally upset, but that did not caution
her from again accompanying the accused to hotel rooms.
13. Having heard both sides in this case, we have absolutely no
doubt in our mind that the criminal proceedings initiated against the
present appellant are nothing but an abuse of process of the court.
This is precisely a case where the High Court should have interfered
in exercise of its inherent and extraordinary powers under Section
482 of the Cr.P.C. These proceedings cannot go on. Hence, we direct
that the proceedings initiated at the instance of the complainant
which are presently going on before Sessions Judge (Mahila Court),
Erode in S.C. No. 49 of 2022, be hereby quashed.”
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -15-
17. The settled position of law, as can be evinced from a perusal
of the afore referred judicial pronouncements, is that for attracting the
offence of rape on the ground that consent was obtained on a false pretext of
marriage, it must be established that the sexual relationship between the
parties had been induced by a false promise of marriage from the very
inception, and that the accused never had any intention of marrying the
complainant. Similarly, for the mere reason that the relationship between a
consenting couple could not culminate into marriage, cannot be made the
basis of instituting criminal proceedings against a person. Trite to say that
the Courts must, in each such case, carefully scrutinize whether the accused
had the intention to actually marry the victim, or had made the false promise
only with the malafide to satisfy his desire.
18. Reverting to the case in hand, it is the admitted position that the
parties were in a long standing consensual relationship, and talks of marriage
between their families also took place, subsequent to which even a roka
ceremony was performed on 21.7.2024. The date of marriage between the
parties was also fixed for November 2024. However, the same could not
fructify due to irreconcilable differences that cropped up between the two
sides. It is the case of respondent No. 2 that during the continuance of their
relationship i.e. from August 2021 till August 2024, the petitioner, on
numerous occasions, had established physical relations with her on the false
pretext of marriage. However, respondent No. 2 has failed to bring on record
any evidence, to prove that the relation between the two was not consensual,
or that there was any intention of the petitioner to deceive respondent No. 2
into making physical relations with him on the false pretext of marriage. It is
clear from the judicial record that the relationship between the petitioner and
respondent No. 2, both well educated and mature adults, was consensual
CRM-M-17026-2025 (O&M) -16-
from its very inception. Even if the case of respondent No. 2 is, arguendo,
accepted, it does not appear that the promise to marry made by the petitioner
was in bad faith. In fact, the parties were all set to get married, which
unfortunately could not take place, leading to the relations between the
parties and their families turning bitter, and the subsequent registration of the
instant FIR. The present case is a classic example when criminal colour is
given to a situation where a consensual relationship does not turn out in the
manner desired by one party, which cannot be permitted to continue by the
Courts, since the same tantamounts to gross abuse of process of law.
19. In view of the foregoing analysis of the facts of the present
case done in light of the authoritative pronouncements of the Hon’ble
Supreme Court contained herein above, this Court deems this a fit case
warranting the quashing of the present FIR and the resultant proceedings
emanating therefrom against the petitioner.
20. As a corollary, the present petition stands allowed. FIR No.
339 dated 24.10.2024, under Section 376(2)(n) IPC, registered at Police
Station Sector-56, District Gurugram (Annexure P-1), and all subsequent
proceedings arising therefrom, are hereby quashed qua the petitioner.
21. Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, also stands
disposed of.
(KIRTI SINGH)
JUDGE
September 16, 2025
Gurpreet Singh
Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No
Whether reportable : Yes/No
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