Mumbai man gets bail in rape case. Reason: ‘Live-in relationship agreement’

The 29-year-old woman claims the signature on the agreement is not hers and alleged that the accused, who promised to marry her, raped her multiple times.

A 46-year-old man was granted pre-arrest bail from a Mumbai court in a rape case filed by his partner after producing a “live-in relationship agreement” that stipulated neither party would file sexual harassment claims against the other. He was granted bail on August 29.

The lawyer representing the accused has labelled the case as fraudulent.

NDTV reported that the woman, who works as an elderly caregiver, and the accused, a government employee, are now under scrutiny by the police, who are verifying the authenticity of the relationship agreement. The woman has alleged that the accused, who had promised to marry her, raped her multiple times while they were living together.

The lawyer representing the accused has labelled the case as fraudulent. “The applicant has been falsely accused. He is a victim of circumstances. They were in a live-in relationship. The agreement shows that both parties had consented to the relationship. The agreement was created, and the woman signed it. The document indicates mutual consent,” Sunil Pandey, the man’s lawyer was quoted as saying.

However, the 29-year-old woman who has taken him to court claims that the signature on the document is not hers. The report further quoted the police as saying that they are in the process of verifying the authenticity of the alleged relationship agreement.

What are provisions of agreement?

1. The two parties agreed to cohabit from August 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, under the terms of a “seven-point agreement.”
2. The second provision stipulates that during this period, neither party will file any sexual harassment claims against the other, and they are to live together harmoniously.
3. According to the third provision, the woman will reside with the man at his home, but if she finds his behaviour unacceptable, she can choose to leave with one month's notice.
4. The fourth provision specifies that the woman’s relatives are not allowed to visit her while she is living with him.
5. The fifth provision requires that the woman should not inflict any harassment or psychological distress on the man.
6. Under the sixth provision, the man will not be held liable if the woman becomes pregnant during this time.
7. The seventh provision holds the woman responsible if any harassment causes significant mental trauma to the man, severely impacting his life.