Court finds consensual relationship, dismisses FIR citing lack of evidence for blackmailing and coercion.
Chandigarh, March 20, 2026 - In a significant ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed an FIR against Anil Sharma, a skating coach accused of rape and blackmail by the husband of a woman he allegedly had a relationship with. The court found that the relationship between Sharma and the woman, Dr. Mona Khanna, was consensual, and there was insufficient evidence to support claims of blackmail or coercion.
The case was brought to court by Mohit Khanna, the husband of Dr. Mona Khanna, who alleged that Sharma had developed a friendship with his wife through their children's skating classes, which later turned into a physical relationship under duress. He claimed Sharma had blackmailed his wife into maintaining the relationship and had forced her to undergo an abortion without his knowledge.
However, upon reviewing the evidence, Justice N.S. Shekhawat found that Dr. Mona Khanna, a qualified dentist and a major with two grown-up children, engaged in a consensual relationship with Sharma. The court noted that no incriminating evidence was found in the medical or digital records to support the blackmail claims. Furthermore, Dr. Mona had refused an internal medical examination, and the evidence presented, including hotel records, suggested a consensual relationship.
The judgment emphasized that for the allegations of rape under Section 376(2) of the Indian Penal Code to hold, there needed to be proof of non-consensual acts. The court cited previous Supreme Court judgments, stating that consent obtained under a misconception of fact must be directly linked to the deceit, which was not the case here. The court noted the lack of evidence for blackmail, including any audio or video recordings, and highlighted that the prosecutrix had not mentioned any coercion that directly led to the physical relationship.
Justice Shekhawat concluded that the charges of rape were unfounded as the prosecutrix had engaged in the relationship knowingly and willingly. The court ordered the FIR and all consequential proceedings to be quashed, providing relief to Anil Sharma.
Bottom Line:
Petition under Section 482 CrPC to quash FIR under Section 376(2) IPC - Allegation of rape and blackmailing - Prosecutrix being a major and educated individual with grown-up children - No evidence of blackmailing found during investigation - Consensual physical relationship inferred - Ingredients of offence under Section 375 IPC not established - FIR and consequential proceedings quashed.
Statutory provision(s): Section 482 CrPC, Section 376(2) IPC, Section 375 IPC, Section 90 IPC
Anil Sharma v. State of U.T., Chandigarh (Punjab And Haryana) : Law Finder Doc id # 2874433
