New Delhi, May 27 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed rape and allied charges against a 25-year-old Agriculture student, observing that a consensual relationship that later turns sour or distant cannot be a valid basis for initiating criminal proceedings under rape laws.
A division bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma allowed the appeal filed by Amol Bhagwan Nehul, setting aside a Bombay High Court order that had refused to quash an FIR registered under Sections 376, (rape) 376(2) (n), 377, 504 (threat) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.
The complainant, a woman who was previously married and residing with her child, alleged that the appellant had engaged in sexual relations with her on the false promise of marriag...