Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan have dismissed the rape charges against Pramod Kumar Navratna, who was accused of committing rape by falsely promising marriage. The Supreme Court found no basis for the charges and highlighted the difference between real cases and consensual relationships that don't work out.
Pramod Kumar Navratna, a lawyer, was accused by another lawyer of raping her by pretending he would marry her. The complaint was filed on February 6, 2025, at Sarkanda Police Station, Bilaspur, under FIR No.213/2025.
The woman claimed she met Navratna on September 18, 2022, and they started a relationship. She said Navratna promised to marry her, which led to a physical relationship. However, when she became pregnant, Navratna allegedly made her have an abortion and later refused to marry her.
"He likes her and wants to marry her... but later became evasive."
Navratna said the relationship was mutual and that the woman knew she was still married, as she was waiting for a divorce. He claimed she was trying to blackmail him and his family.
At first, the High Court of Chhattisgarh gave Navratna anticipatory bail on March 3, 2025, but did not dismiss the complaint. The court mentioned the complicated nature of consent and the need for further investigation.
The Supreme Court, led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna, decided that the accusations didn't amount to rape under Section 376(2)(n) IPC. The court pointed out that the woman was not legally allowed to marry because she was already married, making any promise to marry not legally valid.
"The law prohibits bigamous unions... she was not eligible for marriage."
The court stressed the importance of telling the difference between real cases of sexual assault and consensual relationships that end badly. The charges against Navratna were dismissed, overturning the High Court's decision and dropping the complaint and further legal actions.
