Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The Khuldabad police registered a case late Tuesday evening against a man and his father following allegations of continuous sexual assault against the man's 23-year-old wife. While the father-in-law has been arrested, the husband remains at large.
Background of the Case
According to the victim's formal complaint, she was married on December 19 2019 and lived with her husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and three minor children. Her husband works at a local hotel. The ordeal reportedly began a year ago when her father-in-law began behaving inappropriately. Despite her initial resistance, he allegedly used threats to silence her and repeatedly assaulted her while her husband was away on night shifts.
Complicity and Negligence
The victim's attempt to seek help within the family met with disturbing reactions. When she informed her mother-in-law, she allegedly tried to suppress the matter to avoid a scandal.
The husband, instead of protecting his wife, reportedly dismissed the abuse, saying, "My father is looking after you; so what if he does this?" He allegedly forced her to comply with his father's demands.
Four months ago, the husband cut off communication with the victim and left home to live with another woman. Following his departure, the frequency of the abuse intensified.
Breaking the silence
The victim, who gave birth to a daughter just a month ago, had initially remained silent out of fear of social stigma and concern for her father’s health, as he suffers from a heart condition. However, after moving to her parents' home 15 days ago, she found the courage to disclose the trauma to her mother and brother.
The situation reached a breaking point on April 14 when the in-laws arrived at her parents' house to take her back. The father-in-law reportedly remarked, "Even if my son isn't there, I take care of her," which prompted the victim to reveal the full extent of the abuse to her family.
Legal Action
The family immediately approached the Khuldabad Police Station. Based on the victim's complaint and statement the accused father-in-law and the husband were booked on Tuesday evening under various sections of the law. The father-in-law was arrested on Tuesday night and produced in the court on Wednesday. He has been remanded to police custody until April 18. The police are currently conducting a search to apprehend the absconding husband.