In-laws seek court relief in torture case

Parents of a Dubai-based Indian have moved the Bombay high court seeking discharge in a domestic violence case filed by their daughter-in-law. The complainant (name withheld), who now resides in Mumbai, left Dubai after she was allegedly physically and mentally tortured for over 10 years by her husband.

The couple got married in 1996. The wife has alleged that her husband had an extra-marital affair and tortured her physically and mentally. She returned to India and filed a complaint in Mumbai last November. Her husband was detained in Bangalore in March this year, brought to Mumbai and then released on bail.

The in-laws, who reside in Bangalore, have sought discharge from the case stating that they do not stay in Dubai with their son, who works in the hospitality industry.
Complainant’s lawyer Anand Grover, however, argued that the in-laws were liable to be tried for common intention as the complainant was physically beaten up in Dubai while they were present in the house. By not reporting the assault to the police, they had committed an independent criminal offence.

The aggrieved wife has also filed a petition seeking to impound the husband’s passport to prevent him from leaving the country.

The high court on Wednesday directed that the Bangalore passport office, which had issued the husband’s passport, be made a party to the case. The case will be heard in two weeks.