Legal Aid

Dear Client,
An aggrieved woman can file multiple cases against a person who cheated her with false promises of marriage if she can prove those allegations in Court. Chapter-V of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 criminalises acts such as rape, voyeurism, stalking and insulting the modesty of a woman. It also criminalises sexual intercourse with a woman by deceitful means or making false promises. So, a victim of sexual and physical abuse has the following legal remedies to access justice under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) that provides for criminal prosecution of the perpetrator. A victim can file an FIR under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (corresponding to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which defines rape), at the local police station and once an FIR is lodged, the police starts investigation into the alleged sexual intercourse obtained through deceitful means. She can file a complaint/FIR against the perpetrator under Section 74 of BNS (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 75 of BNS(Sexual harassment) at the local police station. It is crucial to report the incident of abuse or harassment to the police as soon as possible. You should try to gather evidence of the abuse, such as medical reports, photographs, or witness statements and seek support from friends, family, or support organizations/NGOs. Apart from this, you can complain to the Chairperson, National Commission for Women, and State Commission for Women, who are empowered to investigate complaints related to issues faced by women in distress by sending an email to ncw@nic.in or filing an online complaint on their official website. If required, seek legal advice from an experienced Advocate to understand your rights and remedies available to fight back for justice.