Panchkula, March 18 — A local court on Monday acquitted Sumit Kumar, a Panchkula resident, in a 2021 rape case, citing lack of evidence and ruling that the relationship was consensual.
Kumar, a Pinjore native, was cleared of charges under Section 376(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The IT Park police had registered a case against him in 2021 following a complaint by a 35-year-old woman.
She alleged that Kumar, whom she met in 2010, entered into a physical relationship with her in August 2013, which continued until 2021. The woman claimed he had promised marriage but later refused, prompting her to file the complaint.
Kumar was arrested in July 2021, and charges were framed in November the same year.
Dismissing the allegations, the court stated, “It cannot be concluded that the prosecutrix engaged in a sexual relationship with the accused solely on account of any assurance of marriage.”
It observed that the relationship was cordial and consensual, adding that failure to marry did not make it criminal.
The court further noted that both parties had since married others and moved on with their lives.
It questioned the credibility of the complaint, stating it was difficult to believe that a 35-year-old woman could remain unaware of any alleged deceit over such a long period.
“The inference one can draw under the circumstances is that there was no such false promise made to the prosecutrix by the accused of marriage by continuing to have a physical relationship, so as to bring this act within the province of Section 376 IPC,” the court ruled.
