Justice M W Chandwani at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has quashed a criminal case against a 34-year-old man, ruling that a long-term consensual relationship that ends without marriage is not a crime. Justice Chandwani cleared Rajesh Narendra Kotangale of charges filed under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following a complaint by a woman after their relationship broke down. Court records showed the couple had been in a romantic relationship for nearly 10 years, from 2015 to 2025 and willingly spent time together at various hotels on multiple occasions.

 

The court noted that the woman engaged in the relationship over many years without objection, that there was no evidence of a fake promise made with bad intentions from the start and that adults entering romantic relationships must accept the reality that not all romances lead to marriage. Concluding that the police case was simply the result of a painful breakup rather than a criminal act, the High Court quashed the FIR, the chargesheet and the ongoing court proceedings. Adv Devendra V Mahajan represented the applicant, APP H D Futane for State and Adv Anushka J Garse for non-applicant no.2.