Sour relationship can't turn consent into rape: SC

In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court has stated that physical intimacy that occurred during a valid relationship cannot be labeled as rape simply because the relationship later ended or soured. The bench, consisting of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahdevan, dismissed charges against a Kerala resident man accused of rape and cheating.

The court emphasized the need to differentiate between cases where consent is obtained through deception and fraud from those where a person regrets consensual acts due to the end of a relationship. The court highlighted the unfortunate tendency of recent trends in converting failed relationships into criminal cases, which can unjustly deprive individuals of their liberty and reputation.

The court cautioned against treating every consensual relationship that ends as rape, as this would dilute the gravity of the offense and negate the allegation of crime.