Supreme Court rules consensual intimacy not rape when relationship later deteriorates

The <b>Supreme Court</b> on Monday clarified that <b>physical intimacy</b> cannot be branded <b>rape</b> when a consensual relationship later sours, citing existing criminal law definitions. The judgment highlights a persistent legal gray zone, leaving victims and accused tangled in contradictory lower‑court rulings. Critics say it ignores power‑imbalance concerns and may legitimize dubious consent claims, feeding public distrust. Legal experts say the ruling will shape future consent debates, but ordinary citizens worry about justice gaps on the ground.