New Delhi [India], May 31 (HBTV): The Delhi High Court has granted bail to film director Sanoj Kumar Mishra in a rape case after the prosecutrix submitted an affidavit stating she was in a consensual relationship with Mishra and filed the complaint under external influence.

Justice Girish Kathpalia granted bail on Friday after considering the prosecutrix’s statement that she and Mishra had lived together and engaged in physical relations with mutual consent. She further stated that the complaint was filed under the influence of some of Mishra's rivals.

‘Considering the above circumstances, I find no reason to deprive liberty to the accused/applicant any further,’ Justice Kathpalia said in the order.

The court directed that Mishra be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond of INR 10,000 with one surety of the same amount to the satisfaction of the trial court, area magistrate, or duty magistrate.

While passing the order, the High Court observed that this case reflected a worrying trend of false sexual offence allegations.

‘Every false complaint of sexual offences not just causes immense damage to the person accused of the offence but also creates cynicism and distrust across society, which leads to even the genuine victims of sexual offences suffering, as society starts suspecting her truthful complaint also to be false. Such false complaints have to be dealt with sternly,’ the court noted.

Mishra, a film director who had previously offered a role to Mahakumbh fame actress Monalisa, was arrested by Delhi Police in March 2025. His anticipatory and regular bail pleas were earlier rejected by lower courts.

During the High Court proceedings, Mishra’s counsels, Advocate Amit Chaddha and Advocate Aamir Chaudhary, contended that the complainant had been in a live-in relationship with Mishra for years in Mumbai, and that the alleged incident occurred in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, making Delhi an improper jurisdiction.

The prosecutrix, in her affidavit and subsequent statement recorded on May 21, 2025, reiterated that no rape or other offence had been committed by Mishra, and that their five-year relationship was entirely consensual. She admitted that the complaint had been filed on provocation by others and expressed no objection to Mishra being granted bail.

The SHO of Nabi Karim police station informed the court that steps have been initiated to register an FIR against the complainant and others involved in conspiring to lodge the false complaint. The SHO also stated that a supplementary chargesheet would be filed in the case.

The High Court directed that a copy of the order be sent to the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police to ensure appropriate legal action is taken.

Earlier, on May 28, the High Court had asked the complainant to confirm the veracity of the allegations. Following her statement and the affidavit indicating a compromise, the High Court proceeded to grant bail.

(ANI)