Helpline to the rescue of men framed in rape cases

Paritran counsels males falsely accused of sexual offences

 A love break-up almost ruined the life of a Delhi IIT graduate. The girl lodged a rape case against him with the police after learning that he was getting married.

The IITian was on the verge of a complete breakdown when help arrived. His ordeal has not ended yet but the only solace for him is that he has the helping hand of Paritran, a group which assists those who are framed in heinous crimes like rape and molestation. Though his career didn’t grow, he has been saved from utter ignominy. He now works as a clerk in a newspaper office.

Started by 20 youth in 2013 in Bengaluru, Paritran has now 71 counsellors across the country. It has also set up a helpline (08882498498). The group has offered assistance to many high-profile people, including models, singers, film actors and software engineers.
Chandra Shekhar Agrawal, who works for a multinational and is a founder member of the group, said there was a systematic attempt to destroy the social fabric and many youth were unknowingly falling prey to that.

“Instead of contributing to the GDP, many youth are fighting false cases,” said Agrawal, pointing out that false cases of rape and molestation are being increasingly filed when pre-marital sex, live-in relationship and marriages go awry.

Women then decide to take revenge on their partners. Criminal law in India has been drafted in such a manner that it unduly favours women whereas men do not have any say, he suggested.

The society at large assumes that women do not lie, especially when they complain about offences of a sexual nature. “Tragically, law-enforcement agencies have a similar belief. Since sexual offences are generally a matter of shame and a social taboo, the agencies take the accusations at face value,” he said.

In the aftermath of the Nirbhaya case, a new creed of litigants has cropped up, which resorts to false accusations. “The situation is terrifying,” Agrawal said and quoted the observation of a Delhi judge that Delhi is a rape capital because of false cases.

Paritran’s helpline centre has become so popular that it has received 37,000 calls since it was set up in 2013. Most of the calls seeking counselling were from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh followed by Karnataka.

Regional languages

The group now aims to open its chapters in all states in regional languages. It has also floated an online petition to build a legal consensus throughout the nation to make rape and molestation laws gender-neutral, and demand a provision of compulsory punishment for women who lodge false rape cases. Paritran also aims to reach out to lawmakers, seeking provisions to curb the misuse and abuse of sexual assault laws.

Chandra Shekhar Agrawal, founder member Paritran: Instead of contributing to the GDP, many youth are fighting false cases.