Man booked for allegedly raping woman on false promise of marriage, survivor claims he concealed existing marriage

A 21-year-old woman from the Makarba area of Ahmedabad has accused a man of repeatedly sexually exploiting her on the false promise of marriage and concealing the fact that he was already married, said a Sarkhej police official.

As per the complaint, the survivor, a resident of Makarba, became acquainted with the accused, identified as Vijay Jayarambhai Bavaliya, around a year ago. The accused was known to her family and frequently visited their home to meet her elder brother.

The woman stated that their acquaintance gradually developed into a romantic relationship and they remained in regular contact both in person and over the phone. Several months later, the accused allegedly proposed marriage to her and repeatedly assured her of marrying her.

The complainant alleged that about six to seven months ago, the accused began pressuring her to enter into a physical relationship. She initially refused, but he allegedly convinced her by reiterating his promise that they would soon be married. Trusting his assurances, she consented to the relationship.

However, the woman has alleged that the accused subsequently continued to visit her residence when family members were absent and repeatedly forced her into sexual relations. She claimed that despite her objections, he had sexual intercourse with her on several occasions by invoking the promise of marriage.

On February 7, the accused again visited her home and allegedly had sexual relations with her despite her refusal. Subsequently, when she missed her menstrual cycle in March 2026, she informed the accused. The woman alleged that he provided her with a pregnancy test kit, which indicated that she was pregnant.

The accused initially reassured her and continued to promise marriage. However, as time passed, he allegedly began avoiding the issue and offering excuses. The complainant stated that when she later visited his residence, she discovered that he was already married and had a child.

The woman alleged that when confronted, the accused refused to marry her and instead urged her to terminate the pregnancy. She subsequently informed her mother and aunt about the matter, following which the family approached the police.

Based on the complaint, Sarkhej police have registered a case against Vijay Jayarambhai Bavaliya under Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with rape under specified circumstances and sexual intercourse obtained through deceitful means, including a false promise of marriage.

Police officials said the investigation has been initiated and statements of the complainant, her family members and other relevant witnesses will be recorded as part of the probe. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.

Later evening, the accused has been arrested in the case.