Woman says she has married rape accused; Thane court acquits him

Thane, Jul 14 (PTI) A special court in Thane district has acquitted a 30-year-old man facing rape and criminal intimidation charges after the complainant revealed she had consensually married him. The court, in its ruling on Monday, noted since the victim has admitted that physical relations with the accused were consensual, there is no question of committing rape. The prosecution had alleged that the man, a resident of Mira Road in Thane district, lured the 26-year-old married victim in 2022 through a social media advertisement and forced her to get into physical relations with him. He also extorted Rs 1.79 lakh from the woman and threatened to expose their chats to her husband, according to the prosecution. However, the trial before Special Judge Premal Vithalani took a dramatic turn when, during cross-examination, the victim admitted their relations were consensual and that she had no complaints against the accused. The woman also revealed she had divorced her first husband and married the accused on December 17, 2024. Judge Vithalani observed, "Since in the cross-examination the victim has admitted that physical relations were consensual, there is no question of committing rape." The court dismissed as hearsay the testimony of the victim's father and acquitted the man of charges under IPC related to rape and criminal intimidation. PTI COR RSY