Anil, a property dealer from West Delhi, was last week honourably acquitted by a Delhi court in a rape case lodged by his sister-in-law following a long-pending monetary dispute.

Even as the court acquitted him honourably, Anil says his “honour can never be restored”. “My life and my face in the society can never be the same. Only I know how I am alive. Accusation of rape is a punishment in itself, even if false,” he says.

This and many similar cases show a vast shift from the times when it was a common ground that no women would make false allegation of rape given the social stigma attached to it.

The fillip in false rape cases has left the courts pondering if the man falsely accused of rape be considered a ‘victim of crime’ or should he be termed a ‘rape case survivor’ and compensated for the agony of trial and loss of face in society.

Rajesh Vakharia of Save India Family, an organisation fighting against abuse of pro-women laws, says: “Most of the rape cases are filed only to extort money. In many cases, the police itself suggest the parties to compromise.”

Today, more and more false cases are being made for reasons as impulsive as these: Anil, the father of three minor children, was implicated by his sister-in-law following a monetary dispute between him and her husband. He faced trial for two years and was behind bars for four months. The court directed that action be taken against the woman and her husband for making false accusations.

Anil’s advocate, Shashi Shankar, says incidents like these are on the rise where women by themselves or in collusion with their family members are levelling such false allegations. “It is good to see that the court has directed action against the woman for giving false evidence.”

In 2013, a fast track court acquitted an 80-year-old falsely accused of rape by his domestic help. Same year, the courts ordered acquittal in many such cases, saying they appeared to be “living example” of placement agency’s maids levelling false allegations of rape “out of vengeance” over non-payment of salary or any trivial complaint.

“There are no laws, policies or rules to regulate the placement agencies which supply maids and servants. Considering the crying need of the day, it is required that some regulatory law or policy is made by the government and police so that there can be a check on placement agencies and police verification of maids and servants who are to be employed in private houses is done before they take up employment,” the courts noted.

A Punjabi Bagh-based businessman was acquitted in a rape case after the fast track court was told by the alleged minor rape victim that she had been tutored by the NGO named Shakti Vahini which had rescued her.

To this, advocate Nitin Ahlawat says: “False rape cases have touched a high. It is too much. The case reflects how NGOs work.”

While the businessman was acquitted in the rape case, Ravi Kant, Shakti Vahini president, says RTI replies have revealed that the accused had been funding the movement of the investigating officer in this case. The case is now pending before the Delhi High Court and the NGO is sure of proving its innocence based on the evidence it has gathered. He also says in case of compromise between the parties, NGOs get the blame.

“Unfortunately, the criminal justice system does not allow NGOs to represent the case. It is the state which goes to court. We have no locus,” he says.

Another set among these are where minor girls elope with their lovers. When caught by the police, a case of kidnapping and rape is lodged against the boy. The girls allege rape due to family pressure.

Additional Sessions Judge Nivedita Anil Sharma, who is presiding over a fast-track court, recently questioned the veracity of rape cases when she said in her judgment: should an acquitted accused, who has been acquitted honourably, be addressed as a rape case survivor just like a rape victim is termed a ‘rape survivor’.

In another case, Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau, mulled if victims of crime are only those who have suffered some physical injury at the hands of the offender as a direct result of crime or does it also include those falsely accused of rape or those who were wrongly arrested?