Madhya Pradesh HC: Marital Sex Not Unnatural, Quashes IPC 377 Charge

• Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that sexual acts between spouses, regardless of form, cannot be considered a crime under unnatural sexual acts (IPC Section 377).
• Justice Milind Ramesh Phadke issued the order while hearing a husband's plea to quash charges filed by his wife.
• The wife accused her husband of physical abuse, forced sexual acts, and dowry harassment, leading to charges under IPC 377 and 498A.
• The court cited the 'marital rape exception' in IPC Section 375, stating that sexual acts by a husband with his non-minor wife do not constitute rape.
• While the IPC 377 charge was quashed, the investigation into dowry harassment (498A) and assault charges against the husband and in-laws will continue due to sufficient evidence.