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Girlfriend Not a Relative: High Court Refuses to Prosecute Husband's Lover for Cruelty.
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News18•24-09-2026, 23:06
Girlfriend Not a Relative: High Court Refuses to Prosecute Husband's Lover for Cruelty.
- •The Karnataka High Court refused to prosecute a husband's lover for cruelty.
- •The court clarified that a husband's lover is not a relative, thus the law of cruelty cannot be applied to her.
- •A wife had filed a case of cruelty, assault, criminal intimidation, and charges under the Dowry Prohibition Act against her husband and his female friend.
- •Justice M. Nagaprasanna cited an old Supreme Court judgment stating that a married man's lover cannot be considered his relative.
- •The High Court quashed all criminal proceedings against the girlfriend as no direct connection to dowry demand or harassment was proven.
Key Questions Answered
The Karnataka High Court ruled that under the law, a husband's lover is not considered a relative, and therefore the legal provisions regarding matrimonial cruelty cannot be applied to her.
The wife filed a criminal case alleging cruelty, assault, criminal intimidation under Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and violations under the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna cited a previous Supreme Court judgment clarifying that a lover cannot be classified as a relative, noting there was no proof linking the girlfriend to dowry demands or harassment.
