Most rape cases linked to elopement, marriage promises: Police data

Mysuru: Data from Mysuru City police indicate that about 86% rape cases reported in the city between 2021 and 2025 were linked to elopement and promises of marriage.The figures point to a pattern, in which most reported cases are a result of intimate relationships where consent, commitment, and expectations of marriage became central. Cases associated with elopement or alleged promises of marriage often involve relationships that began consensually, but later broke off.
Complaints may be filed when one party claims they were induced into a sexual relationship on the assurance of marriage, and the other party later refuses to marry. Such situations can lead to criminal allegations, family pressure, and social conflict, particularly when relationships cross caste, community, or economic lines, or when families oppose the match, police explained.Data suggests that these relationship-driven complaints take a major share of the reported cases. Commissioner Seema Latkar said that as per the analysis, cases of crime against women reported in 2025, across all categories—rape, dowry death, and molestation—dropped sharply.Mysuru city police data reveal that in the last five years, about 61 rape cases were reported, of which 21 were related to elopement and 32 were promises of marriage, while two cases were found to be fake reports.