The Delhi High Court emphasized that false allegations of rape must be addressed with strict action.
The Delhi High Court recently raised serious concern over the increasing trend of filing false sexual offence complaints and the damaging ripple effects they cause in society. Justice Girish Kathpalia, while hearing a bail plea, noted that such cases must be dealt with strictly—not only because they harm the falsely accused, but also because they cast doubt on genuine survivors’ stories.
“This is yet another case reflecting a troubling pattern,” the Court remarked, granting bail to a film director who had been accused of rape by an aspiring actor. The woman later admitted that the allegations were false, explaining that she was provoked to file the complaint by the director’s rivals. She also acknowledged that she had been in a consensual relationship with him for five years.
Initially, the director’s anticipatory bail was denied, leading to his arrest in March. When a Sessions Court also rejected his regular bail plea, he approached the High Court. During the investigation, the complainant retracted her claims and submitted an affidavit confirming the relationship had been consensual and the accusations fabricated.
Taking this into account, the Court granted the director bail. The police informed the Court that steps had been initiated to register a case against the complainant and others involved in the alleged conspiracy to file a false case.
The film director was represented by Senior Advocate Amit Chadha, along with advocates Hirein Sharma, Aamir Chaudhary, Hayas Singh, Sarthak Sethi, and Sakshi Yadav.
