When the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (2023) replaced the IPC, Section 69 redefined the “false promise of marriage” offence into an intent-based provision — punishing deceit, not heartbreak. Based on 132 High Court judgments, this analysis traces how courts distinguish genuine relationships from deception, affirming that criminal law protects against fraud, not failed intimacy.

Bombay HC bail order in Rokde case spotlights misuse of POCSO in teen romances and calls for nuanced judicial and legislative reform.

Societal pressure can lead to deleting communication records, but doing so can severely impact defense in consensual relationship disputes.