Allahabad High Court Stays Arrest of Cricketer Yash Dayal in Sexual Exploitation Case

Prayagraj, July 15, 2025: The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday stayed the arrest of cricketer Yash Dayal in connection with an FIR accusing him of sexually exploiting a woman under the pretext of marriage.

The bench of Justices Siddhartha Varma and Anil Kumar passed the interim order while hearing Dayal’s plea challenging the FIR registered against him on July 6 at Indirapuram police station in Ghaziabad district. Dayal, 27, currently plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The FIR has been lodged under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means.

During the hearing, Dayal’s counsel argued that no false promise of marriage was ever made, and the complainant had been in a consensual relationship with him for five years. The lawyer alleged the FIR was filed with an ulterior motive, coinciding with Dayal’s rising cricket career and aimed at making “onerous and arbitrary demands.”

The counsel also contended that the FIR lacks specific allegations indicating sexual intercourse obtained through deceitful means.

However, the additional government advocate countered that the complainant’s statements indicated Dayal had introduced her to his family and maintained a physical relationship for years under the false promise of marriage, which demonstrates deception.

After considering both sides, the court noted, “From the FIR, it is apparent that the relationship between the parties continued for a span of five years. At this stage, it is difficult to ascertain whether there was any promise of marriage or if there was any such promise, it was a false one from the very beginning with an intention to obtain sexual consent. The matter requires consideration.”

The bench directed that Dayal shall not be arrested till the next date of listing or until the submission of the police report, whichever is earlier.

According to the complainant, she met Dayal around five years ago and claims he repeatedly postponed marrying her, eventually discovering he was allegedly involved with other women. The complaint was initially filed via the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s online grievance portal on June 21.

Dayal’s petition seeks not only protection from arrest but also the quashing of the FIR. The matter will be taken up for further hearing on the next date of listing.