New Delhi : The Delhi High Court has granted bail to a 28-year-old junior resident doctor at AIIMS, accused of raping a woman under the pretext of marriage, observing that the two were prima facie in a “consensual live-in relationship.”
Justice Shalinder Kaur, in her May 30 order, said the case involved a “complex factual matrix” and noted that the complainant—a 39-year-old educated woman—had filed similar FIRs against others in the past and was also facing a case of extortion.
Despite her claims of sexual assault in December 2024, the woman reportedly continued to live with the doctor and his family and delayed informing the police. The court observed that WhatsApp chats, photographs, and travel plans indicated mutual affection and cohabitation.
While the prosecution alleged false promises of marriage, the doctor’s counsel maintained that no such promise was made. The court stated, “Being a mature, educated, and previously married woman, the prosecutrix must be deemed to understand how marriage rituals work.”
The doctor, who holds a permanent post at AIIMS and has no criminal history, was found to have cooperated with the investigation. A chargesheet has been filed, and the trial is expected to take time.
The court ordered the doctor’s release on a personal bond of ₹50,000 with two sureties.
