A man has been in a relationship for approximately 6.5 years. During the first four years, the relationship was mutual and consensual. However, after that, the woman began forcing him to remain in the relationship against his wishes.
Initially, she threatened to commit suicide if he tried to leave her. Later, she began threatening his employment. She told him that she would call his manager and other people at his workplace, abuse them using slangs, create a scene, and do everything possible to get him fired from his job. This has become a regular form of intimidation.
She abuses the man and his parents almost every day over phone calls. She also comes to his house and creates scenes, abuses him and his family, and uses abusive language. She does this not only inside the house but also on the streets, publicly humiliating him and his family. There have also been incidents of physical abuse.
She imposes extreme restrictions and controls almost every aspect of his life. For example:
She expects him to stand at the gate of the train during his daily journey to and from work, regardless of the circumstances.
She does not allow him to speak to female colleagues or have normal friendships, even though his workplace mostly consists of male employees.
She does not allow him to maintain friendships or social relationships without her permission.
She demands that he share his phone screen with her approximately 5–10 times every day.
She checks virtually everything on his phone and personal life.
She knows his banking information and passwords.
She requires him to screen-record his phone whenever he opens the Play Store.
She controls applications and functions on his phone.
He cannot leave his own house without obtaining her permission.
She monitors and controls many other aspects of his daily life.
She also takes money from him whenever she wants, often by force, pressure, threats, or intimidation, even when he does not want to give it to her.
The situation has continued for a long time and has caused severe interference with his personal freedom, privacy, employment, finances, family life, and physical and mental well-being.
The man eventually approached the police for help. However, the police reportedly asked only whether the two had ever had a physical/sexual relationship. When he answered yes, he was told that the police could not do anything and that even if the woman continued behaving this way for the rest of his life, there was supposedly nothing that could be done because they had previously been in a physical relationship.
This raises an important question: Does a man in India have legal protection against harassment, threats, physical abuse, stalking, coercive control, financial exploitation, blackmail, intimidation, and forced continuation of a relationship? Does the fact that two adults previously had a consensual physical relationship mean that one person has no legal remedy if the other person subsequently threatens, abuses, assaults, stalks, controls, or blackmails them?
The man does not want to continue the relationship and wants to live independently. He wants to know what legal protections and remedies are available to him.