Forced sex, kicked while pregnant: Woman alleges years of abuse by husband, in-laws

A married woman in Gujarat has filed a police complaint accusing her husband and in-laws of years of physical, mental and sexual abuse, including forcing her to watch pornographic videos, pressuring her into sexual acts against her will, and threatening her when she sought help.

The complaint, lodged at Ahmedabad Women's Police Station, names her husband, mother-in-law and brother-in-law. Police have registered a case and begun a legal investigation into the allegations.

According to the complaint, the woman married in 2011, but claims her ordeal began within just 15 days of the wedding. She alleged that her husband's family concealed the fact that he had been married earlier and had a child from that marriage.

She told police that her mother-in-law and brother-in-law soon began taunting her over dowry. Even during pregnancy, she was allegedly made to carry out strenuous household work instead of being allowed adequate rest.

ALLEGATIONS OF FORCED SEX AND VIOLENCE

The woman alleged that her husband frequently returned home late at night, attended parties and forced her into sexual relations against her wishes.

According to the complaint, even when she was unwell, he allegedly pressured her to take medicines intended to increase sexual desire and forced her to have sex. She claimed she was assaulted whenever she resisted.

The woman further alleged that her husband showed her pornographic videos and pressured her to engage in sexual acts similar to those depicted in the material.

CLAIMS OF ABORTION PRESSURE DURING PREGNANCY

The complaint also contains allegations that when she became pregnant again, her husband pressured her to undergo an abortion and threatened to divorce her if she refused.

Unable to bear the alleged abuse, she moved to her parents' home. However, she claimed her husband followed her there, assaulted her and forcibly took her back to the matrimonial home.

She also accused her mother-in-law and brother-in-law of repeatedly telling her: "Our son does not like you. We are keeping you only because of society. You have ruined our home. You should take a divorce and leave."

AFFAIR ALLEGATIONS AND FRESH DISPUTES

The woman alleged that she once caught her husband speaking to young women from other countries through video calls late at night. According to her complaint, he later showed her explicit videos involving those women and pressured her to engage in similar acts.

She claimed that even after the birth of their third daughter, the behaviour of her husband and in-laws did not change.

When she informed her mother-in-law about her husband's alleged affair, a dispute followed and she was allegedly thrown out of the house. After spending five months at her parents' home, she returned, but alleged that the pressure and abuse continued.

DEATH THREATS ALLEGED

According to the complaint, the husband later began living separately while the woman and her three daughters were shifted to another house.

The woman further alleged that she was threatened when she considered approaching the authorities.

She claimed her husband told her: "If you file any application or complaint against us, we will kill you. You cannot do anything to me. The police are under my control and, because of my connections, all policemen know me."

Despite the alleged threats, the woman approached the police and lodged a formal complaint.

Police have registered a case against the husband and his family members and have launched an investigation into the allegations.