Telangana HC grants anticipatory bail to man accused of rape on false promise of marriage, observing they were in a relationship for 6 years [Read Order]

Telangana: The Telangana High Court has granted anticipatory bail to a man accused of rape on the false promise of marriage under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 67 of the Information Technology (IT) Act (punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form).

The Sessions Court had earlier rejected his bail plea. However, the High Court, while granting bail with conditions, observed that the petitioner and the complainant had known each other since 2019 and had been in a relationship for six years.

Telangana High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail in False Promise of Marriage Case

The complainant stated that she met the petitioner in 2019 while pursuing her degree. The accused allegedly assured her of marriage and engaged in a physical relationship with her. On December 24, 2024, the petitioner allegedly took her to his house, recorded her intimate videos and photos without her consent, and later forced her to undergo an abortion when she conceived.

Subsequently, when both families arranged their engagement on February 2, 2025, the petitioner allegedly refused to marry her. She further alleged that since February 6, 2025, the petitioner had been sharing her private photos and videos with her friends, relatives, colleagues, and Instagram contacts. Based on her complaint, a case was registered under Section 69 of BNS and Section 67 of the IT Act.

The learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Mohd. Adnan, contended that the allegations were false and motivated. He argued that the complainant had filed the case nearly six years after the relationship began, raising serious doubts about the credibility of her claims. He further submitted that a material part of the investigation had already been completed and that there was no need for the petitioner’s custodial interrogation.

Additionally, the petitioner expressed his willingness to cooperate with the investigation and abide by any conditions imposed by the court.

Rape Allegation and Anticipatory Bail: Key Observations by Telangana HC

After considering the arguments, the Telangana High Court granted anticipatory bail to the petitioner, observing:

“The petitioner and the complainant have known each other since 2019, and the material part of the investigation has already been completed.” The petitioner in this case was represented by Advocate Adnan, appearing for Tripaksha Litigation.

Speaking on the relief, Shonee Kapoor, Partner at Tripaksha Litigation, said:

“We thank the Hon’ble High Court for granting the relief of anticipatory bail. In cases where a relationship has spanned years, the police should not immediately arrest without verifying the authenticity of the allegations. I welcome this judgment as a much-needed victory in the fight against false accusations. Too often, we have seen men lose their dignity, careers, and even freedom due to baseless allegations. This judgment proves that the law cannot be a tool for personal vendetta.”

[Read Order]