In a significant development, the Karnataka High Court on Monday stayed the proceedings in a rape case against a 22-year-old Bengaluru resident, Sampras Anthony, who was accused by a woman he had met through the online dating app Bumble.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, while granting interim relief to the accused, remarked on the perils of dating apps, calling the case a “classic instance of the dangers of dating apps.”
“This case projects the classic instance of the dangers of dating apps. The petitioner and the complainant register themselves on Bumble, a dating app. Their meeting leads them to a room in OYO. The next day, the petitioner drops the complainant home. The very next day, the complainant goes to the police station and registers a crime of 376 of the IPC for the offence of rape,” the judge noted.
Consensual Acts and Allegations of Force
The Court highlighted that there were no allegations of forced sexual acts against the accused. “There is no allegation even of any forced sexual acts by the petitioner. They were, even according to the complainant, all consensual. But the contention is that such consent for the consensual acts was taken by force,” the Court observed.
The defense counsel argued that the relationship between the accused and the complainant was consensual, pointing out that the two had chatted online for some time in August before meeting in person. Their meeting led to a consensual physical relationship, the counsel submitted.
Inadequacies in the Chargesheet
The Court expressed concern over the investigation, noting that the Investigating Officer had filed the chargesheet “without any application of mind.” It also observed that crucial evidence, such as chats between the accused and the complainant, had not been included in the chargesheet. Furthermore, the Court found that the statements of witnesses were “verbatim identical,” raising questions about the integrity of the investigation.
Relief Granted
Based on these findings, the Court stayed further proceedings in the case and granted interim relief to the petitioner. Justice Nagaprasanna further commented that the accused was “caught in a web of crime” for the “mistake” of registering on a dating app.
This case serves as a cautionary tale about the potential complexities and consequences of relationships formed through dating apps, the Court implied in its observations.
The matter will be further examined as the investigation undergoes scrutiny for its procedural lapses.
