When 22-year-old Salma from Mumbra married Amjad Shaikh from Kolhapur in May 2006, she had no idea hers would be a marriage of convenience for her husband.
Salma Shaikh says he had sexual relations with male servant; in-laws ask her to keep mum
MUMBAI: When 22-year-old Salma from Mumbra married Amjad Shaikh from Kolhapur in May 2006, she had no idea hers would be a marriage of convenience for her husband. Barely a few days into the marriage, she was shocked to discover her husband was homosexual and that he shared sexual relations with a male servant Rafique, 35, who worked in their house. Feeling cheated, Salma has now filed a case against her husband and in-laws in the Mumbra police.
“After marriage, Amjad established sexual relations with me only for a week, that too unwillingly. Then he started avoiding me,” Salma told DNA. “A few days later, I found that Amjad was close to Rafique. I brushed it aside as friendship. Later, I caught them in the act several times, and discovered that the two had sexual relations. He refused to eat meals from my hands and demanded Rafique’s involvement in everyday chores,” said Salma.
When Salma informed her in-laws, they harassed her, pressuring her not to disclose the matter to anyone. “They would demand more dowry,” she said.
“Rafique has been with the family for a more than a decade. Amjad and his family own many businesses in and around Kolhapur. They are influential, so they threatened to kill me and my parents if I spoke about the issue to anyone,” she added.
Salma came to her parental house in February 2007. She has been demanding divorce, along with her belongings and jewellery, ever since but her in laws have refused. Salma also filed a complaint with the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, Kolhapur division last year, to which Amjad did not respond.
“Salma has been deceived by her in-laws. We want justice for her now, why did Amjad marry her when he was not going to give her the place of his wife and satisfy her sexually. He should be severly punished for that,” Khurshid Bano, Salma’s mother said.
A case has been registered against Amjad under sections of dowry harassment and cheating. Under special directives of Supreme Court, Salma can register a case in Mumbra.
“Action will be taken against the accused soon,” said Arun Sonde, senior inspector, Mumbra police station.
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