Man convicted of raping minor acquitted after marriage
In a rare move, the Supreme Court of India has set aside a man's 10-year rape conviction after he married the woman involved, who was a minor at the time of their relationship.
The original sentence from a Jeypore trial court included rigorous jail time and fines under both IPC and POCSO laws.
Acquittal not absolute
The acquittal isn't absolute: the court made it clear that if the husband deserts his wife or fails to keep things cordial, all legal proceedings could start again.
The couple married in December 2019; their marriage was solemnized with the intervention of elders and they have reportedly lived peacefully since.
The judges described the relief as 'exceptional' and conditional, highlighting how personal circumstances can matter in tough legal cases like this.