Gujarat High Court: Surat Lawyer Withdraws Plea to Quash Rape Case

The Gujarat High Court on September 17 allowed Surat-based advocate to withdraw his plea seeking the quashing of a rape case against him.Justice MK Thakker disposed off the petition after the accused-lawyer sought permission to withdraw it. "This Court has not gone into the merits of the matter," the judge clarified.Justice MK ThakkerThe lawyer is accused of establishing sexual relationship with a woman advocate after giving her a false promise of marriage.The accused had also sought anticipatory bail before the trial court in connection with the FIR. However, sources told Bar and Bench that the trial court had rejected this plea.The case arose from an eight-year-long relationship between the two advocates. According to the complainant, the relationship began in 2018 and allegedly continued until she learnt about the advocate's (petitioner's) marriage to another woman in March 2026. The complainant denied that their relationship was simply consensual as portrayed by the accused. She alleged that the accused had concealed his Muslim identity when they first met in 2018 and had introduced himself as “Rohan."She further submitted that he had performed what she described as a “symbolic marriage” with her at her office in August 2018 by applying sindoor to her forehead and making her wear a mangalsutra. She further alleged that he continued to assure her of marriage over the following years and established physical relations with her on that assurance.According to her, these assu