ABHAY S. OKA, J.

1) A First Information Report (the impugned FIR) was registered against the appellant at the instance of the second respondent for the offences punishable under Sections 376(2), 377, 504, 506 of the Indian Penal Code (for short, ‘IPC’) and various clauses of Section 3 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989.

FACTUAL ASPECTS

2) The impugned FIR was registered based on the second respondent's complaint dated 23rd February 2018 filed with Sadar Police Station, Nagpur. The said complaint disclosed Digitally signed by ASHISH KONDLE Date: 2024.01.30 16:30:04 IST Reason:

Signature Not Verified that the appellant and second respondent got acquainted with each other in the year 2011. The second respondent was, at the relevant time, employed in a beauty parlour. The appellant used to visit the same parlour to undergo a hair-cutting course.

The second respondent’s case is that in June 2011, the appellant proposed her. She agreed, and after that, they started meeting. The allegation made by the second respondent is that an effort was made in the year 2011 by the appellant to maintain a physical relationship with her,