Court upholds case against Indian who duped Maltese woman of $56,000

A High Court in India on Friday rejected the plea to quash the rape case against a man who allegedly developed a sexual relationship with a Maltese woman and duped her of $56,000 on the pretext of marrying her.

Devender Ram Ratwara had sought the overturning of the case on the ground that he had an illegitimate relationship with the complainant and no criminal court can intervene to keep an illicit relationship alive, The Times of India reported.

Mr Ratwara's lawyer claimed that the difference between him and the complainant was a natural breakup of an illegitimate relationship.

"Since she was married and desired to have an extramarital affair, the woman presented gifts to my client," Mr Ratwara's lawyer was quoted as saying.

But when Justice Chopra asked Mr Ratwara's lawyer whether he would return the gifts, he replied that presents were not meant to be returned. At this, Justice Chopra observed that the practice of cheating foreigners through the Internet has become rampant.

Justice Chopra rejected Mr Ratwara's plea on the grounds that the record showed the accused had received foreign currency for setting up a gymnasium.

He further referred to the statement of the complainant that the man had duped her into sexual relationship, which was preceded by a promise to marry.

The Maltese woman had filed a writ before the High Court in India to press rape charges against the man who, she claims, deceived her into sleeping with him.

The woman stated in her complaint that she got to know about the accused while the two used to chat on the Internet in June, 2001. After chatting with each other for four months, Mr Ratwara reportedly proposed to marry her.

When she expressed her wish to visit India, Mr Ratwara asked the woman to wait and requested her instead to finance his trip to Malta, according to The Times of India.

Mr Ratwara pretended to be under family pressure to start a gymnasium. Since the woman wanted to marry him, she sent $56,000 to his account in a private bank.