Delhi Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Man Accused of Rape by Sister-in-Law, Cites WhatsApp Chats as Evidence

A Delhi court has granted anticipatory bail to a man accused of raping his sister-in-law, with conditions imposed on his release. The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar Meena, made the decision after reviewing WhatsApp chats between the accused and the complainant, which revealed a cordial relationship between the two. The judge stated that the conversations presented in court contradicted the serious nature of the allegations.

The case was filed by the sister-in-law, accusing her brother-in-law of rape, unnatural sexual relations, and criminal betrayal, among other charges, under sections of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR had been lodged at Vikas Puri Police Station. However, the WhatsApp messages between the accused and the complainant suggested that their relationship had been amicable, leading to doubts about the veracity of the claims.

During the hearing, the court noted that while the accusations were of a grave nature, the evidence provided in the form of the chats showed no signs of hostility or distress. This raised questions about the timing and intent behind the allegations. It was particularly noted that the complainant had mentioned incidents of molestation occurring between September and November 2022 but had not filed a complaint at the time. This delay in reporting added to the complexity of the case.

Despite the serious charges, the court agreed to grant the accused anticipatory bail with specific conditions. The accused was warned not to intimidate the complainant or any of her family members and was instructed to cooperate fully with the investigation whenever required. In the event of his arrest, the accused would be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond of INR 25,000 and sureties of the same amount.

The court also observed that there were ongoing marital disputes between the complainant and the accused’s brother, which may have influenced the filing of the rape allegations. It was noted that no email or message had been sent to family members regarding the alleged incident, further complicating the matter.

This case has sparked debates on the role of digital evidence like WhatsApp chats in legal proceedings and the importance of context in sensitive allegations. The court’s decision has highlighted the need for a careful examination of all evidence before drawing conclusions in cases involving serious accusations.