Calcutta High Court Acquits Man Rape Law Matrimony Through Pressure

The Calcutta High Court recently set aside the seven-year rigorous imprisonment sentence awarded to a man in a rape case, observing that the grave charge cannot be treated as a “conditional grievance” that is waived upon the execution of a marriage registration.

Justice Ananya Bandyopadhyay said the appellant’s flight from the registry office just before the proposed marriage registration, allegedly fixed as part of a compromise between the families, represented the “desperate act” of an individual escaping a “coercive social mechanism” designed to enforce matrimony through “institutional pressure”.

“Criminal law cannot be permitted to be deployed as a blunt instrument for the forced solemnization of marriage, nor can the grave charge of rape be treated as a conditional grievance that is waived upon the execution of a marriage register and revived only upon its failure,” the May 22 order read.

The high court was hearing the appeal filed by a man challenging the trial court’s order of May 2008, which sentenced him to suffer rigorous imprisonment of seven years on the charges of sexually assaulting a woman.

It was placed on record that in October 2007, the survivor filed a complaint alleging that the appellant committed rape upon her against her will after allegedly assuring her that he would marry her.

According to the prosecution, after the allegation surfaced, discussions were held between the two families and village elders to settle the matter through marriage. A compromise meeting was allegedly held at the police station on October 25, 2007, and the marriage was fixed for October 29, 2007. However, the accused allegedly left the registry office before the marriage could be registered, following which the FIR was formally filed.

In 2008, a trial court convicted the accused of the charges of rape and sentenced him to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment. Challenging the conviction, the accused approached the Calcutta High Court with this appeal.

Representing the man, advocate Abhra Mukherjee argued that these highly orchestrated social arbitrations, spearheaded by village elders and local factions, point not to the guilt of the appellant, but to an aggressive, community-led extortion campaign designed to force the appellant into a coercive matrimonial alliance.

It was argued with great emphasis that the appellant’s strategic flight from the registry office and his refusal to sign formal marital applications are not indices of a guilty mind escaping from justice, but rather the natural actions of an innocent young man evading a social trap and resisting a forced marriage predicated upon an entirely fabricated accusation.

He argued the prosecution’s heavy reliance on the purported meetings at the Purulia registry office and within the physical precincts of the police station was a double-edged sword that cuts through the core of their own case.

Appearing for the state, advocate Faria Hossain demonstrated that the prosecution’s case does not suffer from isolation, but was supported by a seamless chain of corroborative evidence.

It was argued that the behavioural responses of the family members—including the temporary preservation of domestic silence to avoid immediate public scandal—are entirely consistent with normal human conduct in a rural joint family structure.

It was further submitted that the appellant’s active participation in these negotiations and his subsequent calculated flight from the registry office constitute clear, circumstantial proof of a guilty mind.

It was added that the appellant’s deceptive deployment of a marital promise was a strategic shield to evade immediate arrest, further highlighting his underlying culpability.

Richa Sahay is a Legal Correspondent for The Indian Express, where she focuses on simplifying the complexities of the Indian judicial system. A law postgraduate, she leverages her advanced legal education to bridge the gap between technical court rulings and public understanding, ensuring that readers stay informed about the rapidly evolving legal landscape. Expertise Advanced Legal Education: As a law postgraduate, Richa possesses the academic depth required to interpret intricate statutes and constitutional nuances. Her background allows her to provide more than just summaries; she offers context-driven analysis of how legal changes impact the average citizen. Specialized Beat: She operates at the intersection of law and public policy, focusing on: Judicial Updates: Providing timely reports on orders from the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts. Legal Simplification: Translating dense "legalese" into accessible, engaging narratives without sacrificing factual accuracy. Legislative Changes: Monitoring new bills, amendments, and regulatory shifts that shape Indian society. ... Read More