The Delhi High Court has firmly dismissed a man’s plea to quash a rape case against him, criticizing his claims that the woman involved was “obsessed” with him and pursued marriage unilaterally. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, delivering the verdict on March 20, articulated that the defendant’s argument inherently relied on misogynistic notions that unfairly shift the blame onto the victim.
The case, stemming from a 2021 FIR, involves accusations by a woman who alleged that the man initiated physical relations with her based on a promise of marriage, a promise he later reneged on despite repeated assurances to both her and her family. The complainant stated that these assurances were made even as they discussed the practical challenges to their union, including financial constraints and family opposition due to their age difference.
The accused contended in his petition that the woman was fully aware of these potential barriers and accused her of being obsessed with marriage. However, the court rebuffed these claims, with Justice Sharma stating, “Such an argument not only lacks legal standing but also reflects a misogynistic perspective that seeks to impose an unreasonable burden on the victim while absolving the petitioner of accountability for his own assurances and conduct.”
The Delhi Police, opposing the plea, emphasized the severity of the allegations and indicated that the evidence on record suggested the man had indeed misled the woman with false promises of marriage to initiate a physical relationship.
In her detailed nine-page order, Justice Sharma further critiqued the petitioner’s argument that a woman should foresee marriage-related difficulties due to being older than her partner, dismissing it as based on a “patriarchal and legally flawed premise.”
