Mumbai: Woman Accuses Husband and In-Laws of Harassment and Triple Talaq via Video Call
Mumbai, 4th January 2025: A woman has accused her husband and in-laws of harassment related to dowry demands and being divorced through triple talaq via a video call. A case has been filed under the Muslim Women (Protection of Marriage Rights) Bill and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Mumbai police have registered a case against a man based in the United Kingdom (UK) and his parents for allegedly harassing his wife over dowry and divorcing her via triple talaq on a video call.
The victim, a Seawoods resident, complained to the NRI Sagar Police, leading to charges under relevant sections of the Muslim Women (Protection of Marriage Rights) Bill and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the victim, her marriage to Aaqib Bhatiwala in 2022, conducted under Muslim customs, started peacefully. However, the situation deteriorated after she moved into her in-laws’ home in Wadala. The harassment intensified during a trip to the UK with her husband and in-laws.
The woman claimed that after a domestic dispute, her husband confiscated her jewellery and sent her back to India, severing all communication. She later received a triple talaq divorce during a video call. Upon her return to the UK, she was allegedly denied entry to her husband’s home.
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter based on her complaint. Triple Talaq, an Islamic divorce practice where a husband can divorce his wife by saying ‘Talaq’ three times, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in August 2017. In 2019, Parliament passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, making triple talaq a criminal offence punishable by up to three years in prison.
