RTI filed by Men’s Rights Activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj and founder of Ekam Nyaay Foundation reveals that 43.6% of rape cases filed in Gurugram between 2020 and 2024 were related to “false promise of marriage”.

▪ The RTI response, showed a disturbing pattern of misuse under Section 376 IPC, where consensual relationships were later converted into rape allegations following a breakup or dispute.

▪ The RTI reply from Gurugram Police stated that a total of 955 rape cases were filed from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024. Of these, 417 cases were based specifically on the ground of "false promise of marriage."

▪ RTI reply further revealed that 236 of the total cases were cancelled as the allegations were found unsubstantiated during the investigation. However, legal action was initiated only in 96 false cases.

▪ Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, while highlighting the pattern of misuse, said “We are seeing a pattern where consensual relationships that later sour are weaponised as rape allegations under the false promise of marriage. This is not only an abuse of the law but is also harming genuine survivors and overburdening the justice system.”

▪ Recognising the growing concern, DGP, Haryana, issued a memo on June 19, 2024, addressed to all police commissioners and SPs across the state. The memo acknowledged the pattern of repeated false rape allegations and urged officers to take “necessary action against the complainants who have filed many false rape cases”.

▪ Supporting the concern, ACP Susheela, (Gurugram headquarters, crime against women), stated: “A decade ago, the situation was different, but now, laws are being misused blatantly due to which we have changed our investigation pattern in such kinds of cases. Social media leaves enough evidence to expose a truth.”

▪ Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj further stated, “We recently helped expose a woman in Gurugram who filed 9 rape complaints against different men within the span of a year.” She also mentioned a honeytrap case involving a police officer who was later arrested.