LI Network
Published on: 15 August 2023 at 17:11 IST
The Karnataka High Court has taken a decisive stance against the misuse of legal processes, quashing two parallel criminal proceedings lodged by the same complainant against the petitioner.
The court’s decision comes as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between legitimate legal actions and potential abuses of the law, especially in cases involving social media relationships.
The two First Information Reports (FIRs) in question were registered by the complainant against the accused-petitioner on allegations of engaging in physical relationships with her under the false pretext of marriage.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, presiding over the matter, deemed it a classic example where the complainant initially sought relationships through social media platforms but later registered criminal cases on identical allegations.
The court’s verdict underscores the danger of permitting such actions to continue, labeling it as an absolute abuse of the process of law.
Both complaints lodged by the woman against the petitioner stemmed from the same underlying cause.
The petitioner argued that the complainant had a history of enticing individuals on social media and engaging in physical relationships with them.
To substantiate this claim, an incident involving one Dhanush in 2014 was highlighted.
The complainant was alleged to have been in a physical relationship with Dhanush, whom she subsequently accused of various wrongdoings.
The court inferred that the complaint demonstrated a pattern of seeking relationships on social media and then registering crimes based on the same allegations.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna emphasized the emotional gravity of such actions, stating, “The admission of a child, whether in school or in a college/University, is a moment the parent and the child cherish forever. It is a feeling of togetherness as well as support by the mere presence with each other.”
The court’s decision was in line with the principles established in various cases, including Mandar Deepak Pawar v. State of Maharashtra.
The court underscored the significance of intervening when consensual relationships were being falsely manipulated to lead to criminal charges, highlighting the potential for an abuse of the legal system.
