Gujarat HC Pulls Up Police After Key Sexual Abuse Charge Against Husband Added A Year Late

The Gujarat High Court has pulled up local police for adding Section 377 of the IPC to a domestic abuse case a full year after a woman filed a complaint against her husband for demanding unnatural sex.

Justice bench questioned the investigating officer and the public prosecutor over the suspicious timing of the amendment. The court noted that the severe charge was brought into the case file only after the accused husband had already secured bail, sparking sharp criticism of police integrity.

Delayed Action Raises Collusion Concerns

The petitioner married two years ago and subsequently approached authorities alleging harassment and forced unnatural sexual demands by her husband and in-laws. According to her submission, investigating officers deliberately omitted Section 377 during initial proceedings to shield the accused.

When charge-framing proceedings began in court, the police submitted a sudden report stating the additional section had been incorporated. The High Court observed that investigators appeared to be working in tandem with the husband to derail the judicial process and mislead the court.

Court Demands Detailed Status Report

Expressing strong displeasure during the hearing, the bench demanded a comprehensive report detailing the exact timeline of the original complaint, the date Section 377 was added, and the hierarchy of officials who cleared the submission.

The judiciary emphasized that such delayed inclusions compromise the pursuit of justice and mirror a growing pattern of compromised police investigations across similar matrimonial disputes in the state.