BENGALURU: A 26-year-old woman was rushed to Victoria Hospital on early Sunday after she allegedly consumed kerosene in a bid to end her life, after she was forced to sleep with her father-in-law by her husband and in-laws in Cottonpet police station limits. Police said the victim, identified as Durga, in her statement said that her father-in-law Melukote Raju, 55, who owns buildings in Bakshi Garden, had forced her to sleep with him. Her husband Ramesh, a labourer, along with mother-in-law and two other family members didn’t raise objection and supported the father-in-law.
Cottonpet police have booked a case against Melukote Raju, Ramesh and three other family members under sections 498 A, 354 B (attempt to molest), 504, 506 and 307 (attempt to murder) under IPC. According to the police, the incident took place on Saturday night around 11.30 pm. Durga had married Ramesh around eight years ago and the couple has a 7-year-old son. However, the couple decided to part ways around three years ago.
Father-in-law Melukote Raju
While Durga went to her maternal family, Ramesh who was unemployed was living with his family. Investigations revealed that both the families had decided to amicably dissolve the marriage without approaching court. And for that they had met thrice earlier. Durga had demanded some amount of money and the Ramesh’s family had refused.
“Ramesh decided to give a last try and went to meet Durga at her mother Seetha’s house and convinced to come to his house for settlement. Around 15 days ago, Durga agreed and went to Ramesh's house. But, situation turned ugly when Durga allegedly demanded one of the houses owned by her father-in-law, Melukote Raju as compensation. On Saturday night, Melkote Raju and Ramesh allegedly misbehaved with Durga and Raju even asked her to sleep with him,” said a senior police officer.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Durga grabbed a kerosene can and poured on her saree before drinking it. The news of Durga attempting suicide reached her mother’s house and immediately rushed to check on her and shifted her to Victoria hospital where she is declared out of danger. The Cottonpet police were informed and registered a complaint based on Durga's statement. It is a family dispute and we have detained Raju and Ramesh, who are being questioned, the police added. Cottonpet police have registered a case.
