A sessions court in Mumbai has refused bail to a 28-year-old senior software developer, arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting a woman based on a false promise of marriage. The court highlighted the need to protect the complainant, who has faced pressure from the accused's friends and relatives to withdraw the case.
Court Cites Seriousness of Offence and Witness Pressure
Judge Shilpa S Todkar, while rejecting the bail application on Friday, stated the offence is of a serious nature and directed against the woman. The judge noted that the investigation is currently in progress and the chargesheet is yet to be filed, making the accused ineligible for bail at this stage. The court took serious note of the allegations that the accused's associates have been pressurising the woman to take back the case following his arrest.
Details of the Allegations and the FIR
The accused was arrested based on an FIR registered at the Kurar police station. According to the prosecution, the man befriended the woman while staying as a paying guest at her residence. The woman, who has been living separately from her husband for seven years and has a nine-year-old daughter, alleged that the accused gained her trust by promising to marry her once her pending divorce proceedings were finalised.
The FIR states that when the woman informed the accused that her divorce was nearing completion and requested he tell his family about their marriage plans, he began avoiding her. On the night of December 7, 2025, the accused refused to marry her. After an overnight dispute, he allegedly threatened to implicate her in a false case and called the police. When the police arrived the next morning, the woman reported the breach of promise, leading to the registration of the FIR.
Defence Arguments and Prosecution's Opposition
The defence lawyer argued that the relationship was a consensual extramarital affair between two educated adults. He contended that the woman was pressurising the man to marry her, and it was the accused who had called the police and lodged online complaints when the situation deteriorated. The accused also claimed the woman tampered with his mobile phone to delete chat records and pleaded for bail, stating he is a permanent resident of Mumbai with no criminal record.
However, the prosecution and the woman strongly opposed the bail plea. The woman filed an affidavit detailing the pressure from the accused's circle. The investigating officer raised concerns that the accused might tamper with evidence if released before the chargesheet is filed.
Judge Todkar noted the allegations that intimacy occurred at hotels and guest houses in Malad, Jogeshwari, Nasik, and Ujjain based on the assurance of marriage. The judge observed that the accused was fully aware of the woman's marital status and pending divorce when he made the promise.
"On perusal of the FIR, it appears that there are allegations against the applicant that under the pretext of false promise of marriage, the applicant has sexual intercourse with the informant several times and thereafter refused to marry her," the judge said in the order.
