Under Section 69 of the BNS, 2023, sexual intercourse by a man with a woman on the pretext of a false promise of marriage, where such promise is not fulfilled, is punishable. What is the maximum imprisonment prescribed? 

Section 69 of the BNS, 2023 introduces a specific provision addressing sexual intercourse by a person who, by deceitful means or by making a promise to marry a woman without any intention of fulfilling the same, has sexual intercourse with that woman which does not amount to rape. The offence is punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and also with fine. This provision codifies and clarifies what was previously a judicially evolved concept under the IPC, where courts struggled with the distinction between a false promise made at the inception with no intention to fulfill (which vitiated consent) and a subsequent breach of a genuine promise (which did not). By creating this standalone offence, the BNS provides clarity and a specific penal framework for this category of sexual exploitation.