The Karnataka High Court has stayed criminal proceedings against a man accused of engaging in a sexual relationship on an alleged promise of marriage, observing that the material before the Court did not disclose the ingredients of an offence under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim order in Thufail Ahmed v. State.
The case arose from a relationship that began in December 2025. The complainant alleged that the petitioner stopped responding to her calls and messages after telling her that he had travelled to Chennai because his father was undergoing medical treatment.
She allegedly became suspicious of his explanation and asked him to join a video call. The petitioner declined the calls and subsequently blocked her.
The woman then lodged a complaint alleging offences under Sections 69 and 115 of the BNS. Police subsequently filed a chargesheet against the petitioner.
During the hearing, Advocate Syed Anwar, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the complaint had been filed because of trust issues between the former partners.
The High Court examined the allegations concerning the petitioner’s conduct after the relationship came under strain. The Court noted that the principal allegation was that the petitioner had “seen-zoned” the complainant and subsequently “ghosted” her.
The Court found that, apart from these allegations, there was nothing on record that could constitute the necessary ingredients of an offence under Section 69 of the BNS.
The High Court therefore ordered a stay on further criminal proceedings against the petitioner until the next date of hearing.
The interim order does not amount to a final determination of the allegations or the merits of the case.
Case: Thufail Ahmed v. State
Court: Karnataka High Court
Judge: Justice M. Nagaprasanna
Provision: Section 69, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Order: Further criminal proceedings stayed
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