Multiple courts have recently cancelled rape cases against men, citing that the acts in question were consensual. Here's a breakdown of some of those cases:

Supreme Court Cases

In May 2025, the Supreme Court overturned a rape case against a 25-year-old man, emphasizing that a consensual relationship that has soured is not grounds for initiating criminal proceedings. Justices BV Nagarathna and SC Sharma, composing the bench, stated that using the "criminal machinery of the state" is inappropriate when a relationship simply deteriorates. The court considered the man's young age and potential future, believing that he shouldn't face a trial for such allegations. The court also noted that there wasn't a false promise of marriage from the start, and the elements of offenses under Sections 376 (2)(n) or 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) weren't met.

In another case, the Supreme Court acquitted a man in a 23-year-old rape case after determining the act was consensual and the woman was above the age of consent at the time of the incident. The court also stated that the testimony of the girl did not inspire confidence.

In April 2025, the Supreme Court quashed a rape case against a former judge, noting a growing tendency to initiate criminal proceedings when relationships sour. The court clarified that not every consensual relationship with the possibility of marriage should be labeled as a false pretext for marriage if the relationship ends. Such cases are considered an abuse of the legal process.

Belapur Court Case

In September 2025, the Belapur Sessions Court acquitted a 28-year-old man who had been arrested for allegedly raping a woman under the guise of marriage. Additional Sessions Judge Makarand Mandawgade ruled that the relationship was consensual and that the prosecution didn't provide sufficient evidence. The court pointed out contradictions in the woman's testimony, noting that she was an adult who continued the relationship for years without objecting and delayed filing her complaint. The judge stated that the intimacy spanning over two years couldn't be classified as rape, and the refusal to marry didn't prove fraudulent intent from the beginning.

Surat Court Case

In August 2025, the Surat Sessions Court acquitted a man accused of rape, determining that a refusal to marry after consensual sexual relations doesn't constitute rape. The case originated in July 2022 when a BBA student accused an M. Tech student of engaging in repeated physical relations with her based on the promise of marriage, which he later refused. The defense successfully argued that no force was involved and that the case was a result of a breakup. The court noted that the complainant was an educated woman capable of making her own decisions and that she willingly continued the relationship despite caste differences. Evidence of an abortion was presented, and DNA reports didn't establish a link between the accused and the complainant. Medical testimony also indicated the complainant admitted to engaging in sexual relations with the accused multiple times.