HC stays proceedings in dating app rape case

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru

The Karnataka High Court on Monday stayed proceedings in a rape case against a Bengaluru man following a complaint filed by a woman he had met through a popular online dating app. Justice M. Nagaprasanna observed that the 22-year-old petitioner found himself “caught in a web of crime” for the "mistake" of using a dating app. “This case exemplifies the potential dangers of dating apps. The petitioner and complainant connected on the dating app, met in person, and went to an OYO room. The following day, the petitioner dropped the complainant home. However, the very next day, the complainant filed a police complaint accusing the petitioner of rape under Section 376 of the IPC," the judge remarked, as reported by Bar and Bench.

The Court noted that the police had already filed a charge sheet in the case but highlighted that there were no allegations of forced sexual acts. "According to the complainant, the acts were consensual, though she contends that her consent was obtained under coercion," it said. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the incident involved consensual sex after the two had interacted online for some time in August. The complainant, however, later alleged rape. The Court also observed procedural lapses, including the exclusion of chat records between the two from the charge sheet and witnesses’ statements being “verbatim identical.” Granting interim relief, the Court stayed further proceedings in the matter.