Seeking Time for Marriage to Settle in Career Does Not Amount to False Promise of Marriage: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has set aside the conviction of a man accused of cheating a woman under the pretext of marriage, ruling that a request to defer marriage to settle in a career cannot be termed as a “deceitful act” or a “false promise.”

In the case of Abdul Riyazudeen vs. The Inspector of Police (Crl.A.No.73 of 2018), the Single Bench of Justice M. Nirmal Kumar allowed the criminal appeal filed by the appellant, overturning the order of the Sessions Judge, Mahila Court, Chennai. The Trial Court had previously acquitted the appellant of rape charges (Section 376 IPC) but convicted him under Section 417 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for cheating, sentencing him to six months of simple imprisonment. The High Court held that the prosecution failed to establish the ingredients of chea