Don't celebrate V-Day, observe it as False Rape Case Day: Men's rights activists

Men's rights activists are urging men to be wary of women who file false cases of sexual abuse after facing rejection in a relationship. On February 14 when people would be celebrating Valentine's Day, the activists would be urging men to instead observe it as "False Rape Case Day". Not only men's rights activists, women's groups are also working to spread awareness of men abuse laws.

Adnan Husaini (name changed), a resident of Thane and a businessman, met a girl on Valentine's Day two years ago and instantly fell in love. After six months of relationship, the girl approached the Naupada police to file a case of sexual abuse. Later it came to light that the complaint was triggered by Husaini's refusal to meet her demand for money to start her own business.

"She filed a rape case against me after I refused to give her money and subsequently changed my mind to marry her. I was jailed for no fault of mine. I faced the trial and finally got acquittal in the case after my innocence was proved. However, the whole case ruined my reputation. I even faced problems in getting married," said Husaini, adding: "I have learnt the lesson that today men can be easily victimised as women have the power to send us to jail."

All women are not abusive. A women's group called Mashaal (Mothers and Sisters of Husbands Against Abuse Law) that has been fighting for the rights of men has joined the campaign to spread awareness of the misuse of law by women.

Woman men's rights activist Manjulata Goyal, whose son was booked under IPC section 377 (unnatural sex) and several other sections of sexual abuse, said: "My son, a software engineer, was booked and was arrested by the Navghar police after my daughter-in-law complained against him. The case is going on despite she having no evidence against my son. We have been evicted from our own house. This is against the spirit of the law, which is meant to protect women, and not allow them to extort money from men. That is why we are spreading awareness among men."

Founder of Vaastav Foundation, Amit Deshpande said, "We are not against love but certainly against women who indulge in such wrongdoings just to extort money by victimising men. We have cases where women have faced rejection and gone straight to police stations to complain of rape or molestation. This has led to immediate arrest of men. Youths should be more careful as their reputation may get tarnished despite they being innocent."