When laws meant to protect are misused: Justice for Men
𪧠Introduction: Stories That Ended Too Soon
In April 2025, a techie was found dead under what the police stated as unnatural circumstances, was found dead at his residence in Bangalore, India. In January, the same year another techie, Atul Subhash, from the same city, died of suicide leaving behind a detailed suicide note and a video. âJustice for Menâ movements have raised their heads once again on social media following this latest incident.
So what was the common thread between these two incidents and thousands of other incidents, reported and unreported? All of them have been falsely implicated in harassment and domestic violence cases, and the victims had near zero chances of fighting it out, legally given the highly skewed laws in favor of women in these matters. Atul Subhash, in his long video chronicled his frustration and the harassment by his in laws and the police and the legal system. His words painted a chilling picture of a man pushed to the edgeânot by physical abuse, but by legal manipulation, emotional torment, and social silence.
What happens when the very laws designed to protect the vulnerable are used to destroy the innocent? Itâs time we talk about the other side of domestic abuseâthe one no one wants to admit exists.
âď¸ The Laws That Turn Against the Innocent
India has taken bold legal steps to protect women from domestic violence, dowry harassment, and marital cruelty. These are necessary, life-saving lawsâbut theyâre also open to abuse. These laws have enabled millions of women, suffering inhuman suffering under the highly patriarchal and dowry greedy societies like India, find justice and a decent shot at life . But laws can be abused and they have been abused, abundantly enough.
Most of these cases never make it to the main stream media, which has, in any case abandoned issues concerning the common man in favor of sensationalism and appeasing the powers that be. In most cases men suffer silently and endure harassment and turture, because they know that have no recourse legally. This is exactly what the various movements under the umbrella of â Justice for Menâ have been trying to address.
đ§¨
| Issue | Section / Act | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dowry Harassment | IPC 498A | Cruelty by husband or his relatives for dowry |
| Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 â Sections 3 & 4 | Penalty for giving/taking and demanding dowry | |
| Domestic Violence | Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 | Civil law protecting women from domestic abuse (physical, emotional, financial) |
| Child Custody | Guardian and Wards Act, 1890 | Governs guardianship and custody of minors |
| Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 | Specific to Hindus â outlines custodial rights | |
| Alimony & Maintenance | CrPC Section 125 | Maintenance for wife, children, and parents (irrespective of religion) |
| Hindu Marriage Act â Sections 24 & 25 | Temporary and permanent alimony for Hindus | |
| Muslim Women (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 | Maintenance rights for Muslim women | |
| Rape | IPC Sections 375 & 376 | Definition and punishment for rape |
| Molestation | IPC Section 354 | Assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty |
| Sexual Harassment | IPC Section 354A | Physical contact, demand for sexual favors, showing pornography, etc. |
| IPC Sections 354BâD | Disrobing, stalking, voyeurism | |
| POSH Act, 2013 | Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace â protection in workspaces |
I am no legal expert, and the above have been collated by me from publicly available sources
đ The Fallout: What Men Silently Endure: Justice for Men
Most abused men donât end up in shelters or hospitals. Their wounds are invisibleâemotional, financial, and social. âJustice for Menâ will remain a fancy slogan until clearly defined laws are put in place to protect the rights of men, guaranteed to every citizen of India under the Constitution, and which vanish the moment a woman files a complaint a man. A brief list of what men go through the moment a complaint is registered against them, in cases of complaints for monetary gain, only. We shall not discuss the genuine cases of harassment and violence against women, in this article.
Mental health breakdowns: Depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD.
Career destruction: False police cases destroy reputations and job prospects.
Family trauma: Even elderly parents and siblings are dragged into police complaints.
Isolation: Society doesnât recognize male victims. Theyâre told to âman upâ or âfight it out.â
đ Real Cases That Must Not Be Forgotten: Justice for Men
Deepak Sangwan (March 2021, Delhi): A 41-year-old financial consultant, Deepak allegedly shot himself after leaving a note accusing a woman and her father of filing a false rape case against him. He claimed they had taken âš2 lakh from him and, upon his demand for repayment, threatened him with false accusations. â
Sandeep (August 2022, Gurugram): A 30-year-old transporter, Sandeep, reportedly died by suicide after being implicated in an alleged false rape case. He had lent âš3 lakh to an individual who, instead of repaying, filed a rape complaint against him. A suicide note was found, blaming the accuserâs family for his death.
Vaibhav Awasthi (June 2024, Lucknow): A 28-year-old engineer, Vaibhav, ended his life after neighbors allegedly threatened to implicate him in a false rape case. His father reported ongoing harassment by the neighbors, leading to Vaibhavâs distress. âwww.ndtv.com
Manish (September 2023, Nagpur): A 38-year-old married man with three children, Manish reportedly died by suicide during a Facebook Live session. He alleged that a 19-year-old woman and her family were blackmailing him with false rape charges unless he paid âš5 lakh.
Sukharam Bhinchar (February 2024, Rajasthan): A 24-year-old Air Force officer, Sukharam, allegedly died by suicide after a friendâs wife filed a rape case against him. His family claimed he was being pressured to convert to another religion and was being blackmailed.
These are just a few of thousands of similar storiesâmost never reach the news.
đ§ What Needs to Change: Justice for Men
â Legal Reforms
Make Section 498A non-cognizableâno arrest without investigation.
Allow gender-neutral protection under DV Act.
Set up Family Welfare Committees before FIRs are filed.
Recognize emotional and legal abuse of men as legitimate grounds for relief.
đ Societal Change
Stop shaming men for speaking up.
Talk about male mental health.
Create shelters, helplines, and legal aid specifically for men in abusive relationships.
đ§ What You Can Do If Youâre a Man Facing Abuse: Justice for Men
If youâre falsely accused under 498A or domestic abuse laws, connect with legal professionals and menâs rights groups in India who specialize in these cases.
Document everything: Save chats, record incidents (if legal), note dates.
Talk to a lawyer: Donât wait till things explode.
Reach out to menâs rights groups like:
Save Indian Family
Menâs Welfare Trust
MyNation Foundation
Seek therapy: Emotional abuse leaves real scars.
Donât isolate yourself: Confide in at least one trusted friend or relative
𧥠Closing:
Letâs build a just system for everyone â where law-abiding men and women are protected not just by the letter of the law, but by the fairness of its application. In our pursuit of gender justice, let us not forget that justice must be gender-neutral. It must shelter the innocent, regardless of who they are.
False accusationsâwhether for domestic violence, dowry harassment, or sexual misconductâare not just legal weapons; they are moral failures that erode the very foundation of trust in our legal system. When the law becomes a tool for extortion or revenge, its nobility is lost. And while itâs vital to protect genuine victims, itâs equally critical to protect those falsely accused, whose lives can be destroyed without ever being proven guilty.
This is not a call for vengeance. Itâs a plea for balance.
While I do not usually write on social or legal issues, I felt the urgent need to address the growing concern of vulnerable men taking their own lives due to systemic gaps and misuse in our legal framework and justice to men whom it failed. My blog typically covers topics related to tech and lifestyle, but some issues deserve to be spoken about â not for controversy, but for compassion. If this post resonated with you, Iâd appreciate your thoughts in the comments. You may also want to explore some of my other article on how I stopped procrastination.
Let us strengthen due process, enforce penalties for malicious prosecution, and create support systems for all victims â including the silent ones who suffer in isolation because they are men.
Justice should never be a one-way street. It must stand tall, blindfolded, and fair â not tilted by gender, but guided by truth.
