

NEW DELHI: Even if both parties "settle the issue" outside court, rape allegations can't be compromised, the Delhi high court has said.

On Wednesday, HC dismissed a man's plea seeking quashing of an FIR lodged against him for allegedly raping a girl on the pretext of marriage.

Justice R K Gauba declined the plea made by the accused, a Delhi resident, who submitted that since he and the woman have settled the issue, the FIR against him and the subsequent criminal proceedings pending before a trial court must be ended.

However, HC saw no merit in the plea and dismissed the case after the accused failed to turn up.

According to police, the case was lodged against the man on May 16 after the girl alleged that the accused, who was known to her since 2010, had raped her. "In 2011, the accused had forced the complainant to be in a relationship with him. He had then allured her by professing his love and established physical relations with her. In 2014, the complainant came to know that the accused was married. However, the accused told her that he will leave his wife and continued his relations with her," the FIR read.

However, the accused argued in his plea that the complainant was aware from the beginning that he is married and has children. On May 15, the complainant and the accused had a fight on a petty issue upon which she lodged the complaint against him under "compelling circumstances", the plea added.

On its part, the Delhi Police opposed any relief to the accused pointing out that the plea is premature and deserves to be dismissed.

Seeking an end to criminal proceedings, the accused claimed that, "the complainant is not interested to pursue the matter, therefore, no useful purpose will be served with the proceedings".

The plea also stated that the complainant has written a letter to the Delhi Police commissioner twice regarding the false complaint due to compelling circumstances.

