Section 375 Apr 2026

Beyond the Headlines: Why Every Indian Needs to Understand Section 375

But the core battle remains the same:

Remember the 2019 case of the man who pretended to be a "God" to assault his daughter-in-law? The court convicted him under this clause. However, a lower court created a massive uproar when it ruled that a man who lied about his ability to provide a visa did not commit rape because the physical act was consensual (the infamous 2019 Karnataka High Court ruling). Section 375

It’s not just a number. It’s the legal spine of sexual assault justice in India.

Read the law. Know your rights. And until the marital rape exception is struck down, fight for those who are still invisible under this code. Beyond the Headlines: Why Every Indian Needs to

That is a dangerous misconception.

"Sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age, is not rape." It’s not just a number

Yes, you read that correctly. If you are a married woman over the age of 15 (originally 18, but the law literally says 15—showing its age), the law historically does not recognize forced sex by your husband as rape.

The public raged: "Is lying about a visa not fraud?"

While there are ongoing landmark petitions in the Supreme Court to strike down this exception, it remains a glaring blind spot. As of today, marital rape is a criminal offense in India. This single exception has sparked more debate than almost any other part of the IPC. What the Media Gets Wrong You often see headlines screaming about the "loopholes" in Section 375. The most common misunderstanding revolves around "consent obtained by fraud."

In a country where dating apps are ubiquitous, where live-in relationships are common, and where "stealthing" (removing a condom without consent) is becoming a legal issue, the principles of Section 375 are more relevant than ever. Consent is not a one-time stamp. It is an enthusiastic, continuous, and revocable "yes." Don't let the legal number intimidate you. Section 375 is simply society's formal agreement on one fundamental truth: Your body belongs to you.