Kerala High Court: hiding a live-in relationship and a child from a prospective bride is 'deceitful means' under Section 69 BNS
6 October 2026
Justice A. Badharudeen of the Kerala High Court held that a man who suppressed an existing live-in relationship and a three-year-old child born of it, while a marriage was being arranged, used 'deceitful means' within Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The case is Udayan v. X and Ors., reported as 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 553.
The prosecution invoked Section 69 BNS (sexual intercourse by deceitful means), Section 318(4) BNS (cheating) and Section 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the woman being from an SC/ST community.
The Court said the concealment amounted to deceit regardless of his contention that he was willing to marry her.
The appeal against the Special Court's refusal of anticipatory bail was dismissed and he was directed to surrender before the investigating officer.
In plain words
BNS Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — The penal code that replaced the Indian Penal Code.
Anticipatory bail Bail granted before arrest — An order protecting a person from arrest in a case yet to reach the stage of custody.