India, Feb. 24 -- Refusing to marry a woman over non-matching horoscopes (kundalis) after establishing a physical relationship with her and agreeing to the union before would be considered an offence of sexual intercourse by deceit or on false promise of marriage, the Delhi High Court recently observed in a ruling.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma made the observation on February 17, as the court denied bail to a man accused in an rape case registered under Section 376 of the IPC and Section 69 of the BNS, reported Bar and Bench.

"The subsequent refusal to marry on the ground of non-matching of kundalis, despite earlier assurances to the contrary, prima facie raises a question as to the nature and genuineness of the promise extended by the ...