The Supreme Court said, "We may be old-fashioned, but before marriage, a man and a woman are complete strangers to each other. They should exercise caution in engaging in premarital physical relations."

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday questioned how two people can have physical relations before marriage, even if it was consensual. A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing the bail plea of ​​a man accused of raping a woman on the pretext of marriage. The court asked the complainant why she went to Dubai, where the two had physical relations.

What did the Supreme Court say, know the whole thing

According to news agency PTI, the Supreme Court said, "This happened with consent. We may be old-fashioned, but before marriage, the boy and girl are complete strangers to each other. They should be cautious about having physical relations before marriage." Justice Nagarathna said, "Whatever the good or bad in their relationship, we cannot understand how they can have physical relations before marriage. Maybe we are old-fashioned, but you should be very careful, do not trust anyone before marriage."

What was the matter?

The woman's lawyer said the two met through a matrimonial website in 2022, and the accused allegedly had physical relations with her several times in Delhi and later in Dubai, under false pretenses of marriage. Justice Nagarathna said, "If she was so adamant about marriage, she shouldn't have done this before marriage. We will send them to mediation. These are not cases where a consensual relationship deserves prosecution and conviction."

Accused of rape on the pretext of marriage

In her complaint, the woman alleged that the man persuaded her to travel to Dubai, where he had physical relations with her under false promises of marriage, recorded intimate videos without her consent, and threatened to circulate them. She later learned that he had married another woman in Punjab in January 2024.

The accused reached the Supreme Court for bail

His bail plea was rejected by both the lower court and the Delhi High Court. The High Court said the promise of marriage appeared to be false from the outset, especially since he was already married and had remarried in January 2024. The man has now approached the Supreme Court for bail.

Justice Nagarathna suggested that the accused consider paying compensation to the woman to resolve the matter, while the bench also asked her lawyer to explore the possibility of a settlement. The case will be heard on Wednesday to hear the positions of both parties.