Delhi court acquits man of rape charges, says relationship was consensual

Delhi court acquits man of rape charges, says relationship was consensual

New Delhi, A Delhi court has acquitted a man of charges of repeatedly raping a woman, who had alleged that he established physical relations with her after a false promise of marriage, with the judge saying that evidence pointed to a consensual relationship that turned sour.

Delhi court acquits man of rape charges, says relationship was consensual

Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Pahuja was hearing a case against Bilal Ahmed alias Sheelu, who was accused under IPC sections 376 , 376 and 506 , along with charges under the BNS, relating to causing miscarriage.

The judge noted that the relationship continued for nearly three years and the complainant did not lodge any complaint during that period or disclose the allegations to family members.

In an order dated April 13, the judge said, "This court has no hesitation to conclude that the deposition of the prosecutrix which is full of infirmities and inconsistencies, has rendered her testimony wholly unreliable."

"The shaky evidence, which is only oral in nature, cannot be formed a basis of conviction in this case. None of the offence charged against the accused has been proved in this case," it added.

According to the prosecution, the complainant alleged that she met the accused in December 2022, after which they became friends and entered into a relationship.

She claimed the accused promised to marry her and established physical relations with her on that assurance on multiple occasions.

She alleged that in May 2025, she became pregnant and that the accused administered medicine which caused a miscarriage without her knowledge. She later approached the police in August 2025 after learning that the accused had become engaged elsewhere.

The court said the complainant, a 27-year-old adult woman, was mature enough to understand the consequences of her actions and there was no evidence to show that she was under threat, coercion or blackmail.

"All these circumstances lead us to the conclusion that the prosecutrix had freely and consciously consented to have sexual intercourse with the accused and her consent was not in consequence of any misconception of fact," the judge said.

The court also found no substantive evidence to support the allegation that the accused caused a miscarriage by administering medicine.

It said no specific date, time or place of the alleged act was mentioned and no medical evidence was produced to establish that the miscarriage resulted from any medicine allegedly given by the accused.

"The circumstances clearly indicate that the accused and prosecutrix were in a love relation and when the relation went sour, the prosecutrix proceeded to file a complaint against the accused," the court said.

Holding that the complainant's testimony suffered from inconsistencies and did not inspire confidence, the court said the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

"No cogent evidence has been led on record to prove the culpability of the accused qua the offences charged against him. Thus, this court is of the considered opinion that prosecution has failed to establish its case against the accused... beyond reasonable doubt," the court said.

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