Bail Granted to Man Accused of Kidnapping and Raping Live-In Partner in Interfaith Relationship

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to a man accused of kidnapping and raping his live-in partner from a different religious faith. The verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, who took into account several crucial factors in their ruling.

The court acknowledged that the couple had a live-in relationship agreement and had jointly filed a petition seeking police protection. Additionally, the petitioner had already spent nine months in custody. These factors influenced the court’s decision to grant bail, subject to the satisfaction of the trial court and adherence to specified terms and conditions.

Advocate Namit Saxena, representing the accused, emphasized that the girl’s statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure indicated consensual involvement between the two parties.

The case was brought to the Supreme Court through a petition filed by a 22-year-old Muslim man, challenging the Rajasthan High Court’s denial of his bail plea. The petitioner and the woman, who were neighbours, fell in love despite their different religious backgrounds.

The couple desired to marry and build a life together. However, due to religious differences, the woman’s family did not approve of their relationship. Consequently, the couple eloped and entered into a live-in relationship agreement on August 25, 2022, hoping to establish some societal acceptance.

Shortly after their elopement, the girl’s father filed a missing report and later lodged an FIR against the petitioner, accusing him of kidnapping and raping his daughter.