PRAYAGRAJ, April 17 -- The Allahabad high court granted bail to a 42-year-old married man accused of rape by a 25-year-old woman, noting that the FIR was lodged after delay of several months and seemed to arise more from the 'emotional aftermath' of their failed relationship rather than from any bona fide grievance of criminal wrongdoing.

The court also expressed concern over an emerging trend where failed intimate relationships are increasingly resulting in criminal proceedings.

"This case is reflective of a broader societal shift, where the sanctity and solemnity once associated with intimate relationships have seen a marked decline. The prevalence of transient and uncommitted relationships, often formed and dissolved at will, raises ...