The accused Suhail, a resident of Karthikappally taluk in Alappuzha district, is currently in the middle of a multidimensional fight in court, involving new Indian criminal codes and specific provisions protecting matrimonial rights.
Background
The couple began marriage on September 18, 2016, according to customary Muslim religious customs. The couple’s relationship started off relatively well, but soon became strained because of the husband’s alleged greed and erratic behavior in the marriage, according to the police report. The complainant alleged that not long after the wedding Suhail started asking for a higher dowry.
When his demands were refused, he allegedly started to plan domestic disputes and later forced the woman to leave and live separately in the Muvattupuzha neighborhood. In the first days of separation, the victim found shelter in a host of hostels and rooms for rent, deprived of the safety of her own matrimonial residence.
The Night of the Offense
The episode reached a breaking point on May 21, 2025. Following their contact, the victim said about 9:00 pm Suhail allegedly called her and subjected her to an obscene verbal tirade. He issued threats of extreme severity: he would kill any of her family members. The call was followed by an SMS, in which he allegedly typed “Talaq” three times and, reportedly, divorced her in this way.
Legal Charges and Framework
The Muvattupuzha police have raised a range of heavy-handed laws, in response to the magnitude of the bullying and the illegality of the divorce:
Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). It refers to physical harm and mental torture that the victim said was suffered.
Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 (Sections 3 & 4): The Islamic laws have made provision since the historic 2019 legislation that "talaq-e-biddat" (instant triple talaq) given in any form by a husband or his relatives shall be void. Section 4 prescribes detention and fine for those who break the rule of law.
| Charge Category | Law Applied | Implication |
| Domestic Cruelty | Section 85 BNS | Addresses the long-term mental and physical abuse. |
| Illegal Divorce | Sections 3 & 4 of 2019 Act | Renders the SMS divorce legally invalid and punishable. |
| Criminal Intimidation | Relevant BNS Provisions | Addresses the death threats made toward the family. |
Current Status of Investigation
She has expressed that the trauma and constant harassment have left her in a state of chronic mental anguish. She complained officially that her husband was always subjecting her to physical and mental torture, "My husband kept making sure my body hurt and tortured me."
The Kerala police confirmed that the investigation is in its active phase and are currently cross-verifying electronic evidence, including SMS logs and audio recordings of calls, for more determination about the case against Suhail. Even with the abolition of instant Triple Talaq in place now, attempts to circumvent this legislation through digital means come with stiff legal consequences in the 2020s.
