‘Affair does not mean yes to physical intimacy’

Observing that entering into a love affair cannot be presumed that the woman has given her consent for a physical relationship, a Delhi court has awarded a 10-year sentence to a man for sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman on the pretext of marrying her.

The man and woman were neighbours in Nabi Karim in Paharganj in central Delhi. One day, he took her to a hotel in Paharganj telling her that there was a birthday party for one of his friends. He booked a room there.

According to the complaint lodged by the victim with the local police, the man raped her there twice, brushing aside her objections. When she started crying, he calmed her down and assured her that he would talk to his mother about marrying her.

But her hopes were dashed, when the man told her later that he would not marry her.

Not only that, he also threatened to defame her if she dared to share the incident with her family.

Then she along with her mother went to the police station and lodged a complaint against the man, Rajiv Mourya.

Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja convicted Mourya solely on the basis of the victim’s evidence.