The Delhi High Court has refused to grant bail to a 49-year-old man accused of raping a 53-year-old woman under the false pretext of marriage, observing that the relationship did not appear to be consensual and was allegedly built on deliberate misrepresentations.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, while passing the order on July 4, said the case involved serious allegations and that the evidence on record—including WhatsApp chats and fabricated documents—prima facie suggested that the woman had been misled by the accused.
“There is no material to show that the relationship was consensual. The complainant, although a divorcee, appears to have been induced into a physical relationship based on false assurances of marriage,” the court noted.
According to the prosecution, the accused met the woman through a social riders’ group, where he was the administrator. He allegedly introduced himself as a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in the Narcotics Department and later visited her residence, where he allegedly raped her under the promise of marriage.
When the woman pressed for marriage, the accused reportedly sent her a copy of a purported divorce petition via WhatsApp, claiming he would soon separate from his wife and marry her. He also allegedly threatened to leak her private photos, leading her to file a complaint and register an FIR.
The accused, in his bail plea, claimed the relationship was consensual and argued that the woman, being 53 years old and a mother of a grown-up son, was aware of the implications of her actions. He also argued that she knew he was married, and thus any promise of marriage lacked credibility.
However, the court rejected these arguments, pointing to WhatsApp conversations and other records that appeared to show the accused had impersonated a senior police officer and sent a fabricated divorce petition to deceive the woman.
The chargesheet included further claims made by the accused, including that he was an ex-Navy captain who later joined the National Security Guard (NSG) and was part of the team during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He also allegedly posed as a DCP in the Narcotics Department.
The court noted that a police inspector had confirmed that the accused introduced himself as a senior officer, supporting the prosecution’s claim of impersonation.
“In view of the pending examination of material witnesses and the gravity of the accusations, this court finds no grounds for grant of bail at this stage,” the order stated.
