Raped despite my protests; he said we would be married, woman said in complaint

The accused works as an accountant at a private firm in Punjab, according to his lawyer.

After that function, the complainant stated, the two interacted over phone and video calls. A day after her father died on April 19, 2021, the accused and his mother arrived in Lucknow to attend the final rites.

The following day, she said in the complaint, despite her protests, the accused allegedly raped her, arguing that their marriage was already fixed. She alleged that despite her objections, the man allegedly forced her to have sex with him on several occasions thereafter, each time telling her that they would get married, according to the complainant.

Over the last two years, she complained, although they have been in touch over phone and video calls, the man avoided a reply whenever she raised the topic of marriage. He allegedly blocked her number subsequently, stating that he didn’t want to marry her, and that he would marry some other woman, the complaint stated.

The woman also told police that the accused had threatened her, saying that he would upload her objectionable photos and videos online if she complained against him.

On the basis of her complaint, police registered a case on June 15, 2022, under IPC Section 493 (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage) and 506 (criminal intimidation), and arrested him on September 27 last year. He is in jail since then.

The accused man’s counsel has told the court that the victim refused to undergo medical examination, but police added IPS Section 376 (rape) against him on the basis of her statement before a magistrate.

Another lawyer representing the accused claimed that allegations levelled against his client are baseless.