IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 3181 OF 2023 Amol Bhagwan Nehul, Age 23 years, Occ.: Education, R/o. Javkhede Dumala, Tisgaon, Tal. Pathardi, Dist. Ahemadnagar. …..Petitioner Vs.

1. The State of Maharashtra Through Police Inspector, Karad Taluka Police Station, Taluka-Karad, District-Satara (Copy to be served on Public Prosecutor, Bombay High Court).

2. ABC, R/o.: Kale, Taluka-Karad, District-Satara, (Copy of Respondent No. 2 to be served through Karad Taluka Police Station). …..Respondents Mr. Abhang Suryawanshi i/b Mr. Narayan Rokade for the Petitioner.

Smt. Anamika Malhotra, Addl.P.P. for Respondent No. 1-State.

Mr. Mahindra Deshmukh for Respondent No. 2.

CORAM : A. S. GADKARI AND DR. NEELA GOKHALE, JJ.

RESERVED ON : 24th JUNE 2024 PRONOUNCED ON : 28th JUNE 2024 JUDGMENT ( P er Dr. Neela Gokhale, J. ) :-

1) Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. With the consent of all parties, the Petition is heard finally.

2) The Petitioner seeks quashing and setting aside of C. R. No.

490 of 2023 dated 31st July 2023 registered at Karad Taluka Police Station, Satara, for the offense punishable under Sections 376, 376(2)(n), 377, 504 & 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (“I.P.C.”). During pendency of the Petition, charge-sheet was filed by the Police officials on 26th September 2023 in the proceedings in R.C.C. No. 378 of 2023 pending before the Additional Sessions Judge at Karad. The Petitioner was given liberty to amend the Petition to challenge the proceedings which accordingly are also now assailed.

3) Mr. Abhang Suryawanshi, learned counsel appears for the Petitioner. Mr. Mahindra Deshmukh, learned counsel appears for the Respondent No. 2 and Smt. Anamika Malhotra, learned Addl. P.P. represents the State. Perused entire record produced before us.

4) It is the case of Respondent No. 2 (“Complainant”) that, she has obtained Khulanama from her husband as per the practices of Muslim Religion. Her parents expired in 2021 during the Corona Pandemic. She resides with her four-year-old son viz. Abraham at Kale, Taluka-Karad, District-Satara. Since 25th May 2022, the Petitioner came to live on rent next door to the Complainant along with three friends. The Complainant became acquainted with him as her neighbor. They started chatting with each other on mobile phone and gradually their relationship became intimate. The Petitioner declared his love for her and promised to marry her. He demanded that, they should indulge in sexual relationship however, the Complainant consistently refused for the same.

4.1) It is the case of Complainant that, in July 2022, the Petitioner came to her house and threatened her that, if she refused to marry him, he would commit suicide. Ignoring her resistance and consistent refusal, he forced her for sexual relationship and raped her. Thereafter on 21st September 2022 during celebration of the Petitioner’s birthday, in Rajyog Lounge, Varunji Phata, Airport Karad, he again forcibly raped her.

4.2) It is also stated in the First Information Report (“F.I.R.”) that, the Petitioner borrowed money from the Complainant from time to time and has not repaid the same. Even in January 2023, he called her to meet him at Pushkar Lounge, Ogalewadi, Karad. The Complainant then demanded that, he marry her and reveal their relationship to his family members. The Petitioner told her that, he will marry her after he gets a job and once again raped her despite her resistance.

4.3) The Complainant has also made a specific allegation that the Petitioner forced her to indulge in unnatural sex with him. Thereafter the Petitioner distanced himself from the Complainant and started avoiding her. When she asked his parents and relatives regarding their marriage, they abused her and told her that, she belonged to a different caste and hence, there was no question of marriage between the parties. The family members of Petitioner then abused and beat her. The Petitioner also joined his relati