A woman in Vadodara has filed a police complaint against her husband and four other members of her in-laws’ family, including her father-in-law, a retired Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). She has alleged dowry demands, physical and mental harassment, and repeated pressure from her husband’s family.
A woman named Nikita Fuljibhai Charpot filed the complaint at the Atladara police station in Vadodara. The allegations have been brought against her husband Ashish Pravin Godiya, her father-in-law Pravin Godiya, mother-in-law Ushaben, and two other people, Sheetal Prakash Vahonia and Prakash Vahonia.
The allegations are currently under investigation, and the complaint does not by itself establish the guilt of those named.
She alleges demands for house and property.
Nikita’s complaint says she married Ashish in November 2016. She claimed problems began after the marriage when her in-laws began to pressure her and her family over money and property.
She claimed her husband had asked that her family provide a bungalow or flat in Ahmedabad. When she refused to comply with Ashish's demands, she said Ashish assaulted her.
Also, the complaint was that the family made demands regarding the couple's living arrangements.
The headline-grabbing accusation is that Nikita suggested to the family that if she wanted to keep the bedroom, then the family should be provided with a separate house. The complaint portrays the dispute as part of larger property disputes and living arrangements.
Nikita has claimed that the repeated demands caused her significant mental stress.
Her husband made her leave the job.
Nikita, a graduate of MCA, also claimed she was forced to quit her job because of pressure from her husband and his family.
Her husband has repeatedly assaulted her during their arguments and pressured her over various issues, she said.
She also alleged that Ashish did not provide adequate support during her pregnancies.
The complaint also includes allegations regarding the treatment of her children. Nikita said her in-laws gave alcohol to her children, a charge that will also be explored during the investigation.
Allegations against retired ADGP father-in-law.
Nikita has made specific allegations against her father-in-law Pravin Godiya, who is a retired IPS officer and former ADGP.
According to the complaint, she discovered after her marriage that her father-in-law was in a relationship with two women and divided his time between their respective homes.
She has also alleged that her husband's connection to his father and the latter's former position in the police department was used to intimidate her.
Nikita claimed that Ashish would refer to his father's influence when she threatened to approach the police or take legal action.
These claims belong to the allegations in the complaint and have not yet been independently established.
She says she was repeatedly asked to leave.
Nikita also claimed that arguments with her husband frequently resulted in her being forced to leave the marital home.
According to her complaint, she later returned to her parents' home in Vadodara after repeated harassment and violence.
Her family had tried to intervene and resolve the dispute between the couple, her family said.
But Nikita finally approached the police and filed a formal complaint after those attempts were unsuccessful at resolving the situation.
Police register FIR and begin investigation.
The Atladara police have registered a case based on the woman's allegations.
Now investigators are expected to collect statements from the complainant, her husband, family members and others who may have information about the alleged incidents.
Police will also review any evidence of the allegations -- communications, financial transactions or other things that could be evidence of the sequence of events.
The investigation will determine whether the accusations made in the complaint are backed up by evidence, and a range of legal actions may be required.
The case details allegations of dowry and domestic abuse.
The case comes to light as an instance of dowry harassment and domestic abuse, especially when disputes are about property or money from a woman's family.
Dowry-related harassment is still a criminal matter in India, and allegations can lead to police investigation and legal proceedings.
At the same time, allegations in an FIR are not equivalent to a court finding. The accused members of the family will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations through the legal process.
For now, the Vadodara police are investigating the complaint filed by Nikita and the allegations against her husband, in-laws, and the retired police officer.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the marriage, the alleged property and dowry demands, and the claims of physical and mental harassment made by the woman.
