- By Chetna Shree
- Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
While hearing a bail plea of a man accused of rape on a false promise of marriage, the Supreme Court on Monday remarked that a man and a woman are total strangers before marriage, and caution must be exercised while indulging in pre-marital physical relationships.
A bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathana and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan heard the bail plea of a man who is accused of engaging in a physical relationship with a woman on the promise of marriage, despite already being married at the time, and then marrying another woman.
While hearing the case, Justice Nagarathana remarked that caution must be exercised in indulging in physical relationships before marriage. "It’s consensual. We may be old-fashioned but a boy and girl before marriage are total strangers. They should be circumspect in indulging in physical relationships before marriage. Whatever may be the thick and thin of their relationship, we fail to understand how they can be indulging in physical relationship before marriage. Maybe we are old- fashioned but you must be very careful, nobody should believe anybody before marriage," she observed.
The counsel, representing the woman, stated that the two had met on a matrimonial website in 2022, after which the accused allegedly engaged in physical relations with her in Delhi and Dubai on a false promise of marriage.
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The complaint further alleged that the man recorded intimate videos without her consent and threatened to circulate them. She later came to know that the man had married another woman in January 2024 in Punjab, Live Law reported. Justice Nagarathana questioned the woman why she had chosen to travel to Dubai before marriage.
"She should not have gone before marriage if she was so strict about it. We will send them to mediation. These are not cases which are to be tried and convicted when there is a consensual relationship,” the bench said.
The court suggested that the accused’s counsel explore the possibility of a settlement or pay some compensation to the woman. The matter has been listed for Wednesday for further hearing.