Court quashes rape case after survivor withdraws complaint

The Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench has dismissed a rape and atrocities case against a businessman after the complainant withdrew her allegations. The 23-year-old postgraduate student cited a misunderstanding as the reason for her withdrawal. The court agreed that continuing the case would be a misuse of legal resources. The case began when the woman claimed that she and the 30-year-old businessman, whom she met on social media, developed a relationship. She alleged that he took her to a hotel in August 2023, where she became dizzy after drinking water and was then assaulted. After he stopped contacting her, she filed a complaint accusing him of coercion. During the court hearing, the woman submitted an affidavit explaining that the FIR was filed due to a misunderstanding. She stated that the matter had been settled amicably and that she felt no pressure to withdraw her complaint. The court noted that the complainant was an adult and that the relationship seemed consensual. The judges emphasized that continuing with the case would waste judicial time and resources, especially since the parties had reached an agreement. They also reflected on the complainant's previous behavior, including incidents where she caused disruptions at the court. Ultimately, the court dismissed the case and quashed the trial proceedings.