The Bombay High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to a 43-year-old gym owner, Kartik Kumar Naidu, who was facing charges of rape, cheating, and violations under the Information Technology Act. The decision came after the court noted inconsistencies in the complainant’s accusations and suggested that the case was more likely about a deteriorating relationship than criminal misconduct.
Kartik Kumar Naidu was arrested following claims by a gym trainer at his fitness center, who alleged that their relationship, which began consensually, devolved into exploitation for financial gain. The trainer, who started working at Naidu’s gym in December 2020, entered into a romantic relationship with him despite both parties being married and having children.
The situation escalated when the complainant accused Naidu in April 2022 of coercing her into objectionable acts and mismanaging gym funds. Despite these allegations, evidence presented by Naidu’s lawyer, Advocate Sutaria, highlighted the ongoing voluntary interactions between the two, including financial transactions where Naidu’s wife allegedly paid the complainant ₹3 lakh for her silence.
In court, the additional public prosecutor, Bajoria, argued for continued custody, asserting that Naidu’s undisclosed relationships with multiple women posed a deception significant enough to warrant further investigation. However, Justice Milind N Jadhav of the Bombay High Court found the charges questionable, especially given that neither party was in a position to marry, rendering the promise of marriage legally irrelevant.
The court was particularly skeptical of the complainant’s narrative, questioning why someone who felt victimized would repeatedly expose themselves to further alleged harm. Citing past decisions from the Supreme Court, Justice Jadhav noted that consent in such intertwined personal circumstances does not typically constitute a misconception of fact.
