Mumbai: Top hotelier’s family gets 31-year-old daughter-in-law booked for theft

The mother-in-law said her daughter-in-law and her family were instigated by her aunt to commit the alleged theft. Representation pic

Over a year after a woman accused her husband, the son of a top city hotelier, of sexual abuse and harassment, the Khar police have now booked the 31-year-old and her family members for allegedly stealing jewellery worth Rs 18 lakh from her marital home.

The mother-in-law of the woman had approached the Bandra Metropolitan Magistrate court, which ordered the registration of a case. No arrests have been made yet.

Last July, the woman, a physiotherapist, filed a complaint with the Khar police alleging that her husband had sexually abused her and she had suffered harassment at the hands of her in-law in her 7 years of marriage. She said her husband was a porn addict and streamed live footage of her when she was asleep. She also claimed that her husband demanded pictures of her sister and made inquiries about her mother in a predatory manner. The accused was arrested on July 17 on the charge of domestic violence, unnatural sex and sexual assault.

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Her 50-year-old mother-in-law said the charges against her son were made up. "The complaint against my son was made as he didn't give money to his wife and her aunt. On June 21, 2021, when our family was going to Lavasa, my daughter-in-law excused herself on the pretext of her sister's wedding and stayed back. The next day, under the instigation of her aunt, she came with her parents and sister to our place and took away gold and diamond ornaments worth R18.16 lakh," she said.

The mother-in-law said the police took action against her son before they could file a case. "With the help of her aunt, who is an influential activist from Khar-Linking Road having contacts with the local police, politicians and higher authorities, they managed to get my son booked under stringent sections and got him arrested. But the local police did not take any action on my complaint. Finally, we had to go to the court for justice," she added.

Following her complaint on September 12, 2022, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, 9th court, Bandra, went through documents and other details and ordered the registration of an FIR. The Khar police then booked the daughter-in-law, her parents, sister and aunt under charges, including theft, cheating and house trespass.

"My son was booked and arrested as we caught their theft. His arrest defamed the entire family. When we tried to file a complaint, we didn't get any police support and we had to go to the court," said the mother-in-law.

Mohan Mane, senior inspector of Khar police station, told mid-day, "After the court order, we immediately filed an FIR. The investigation is on and the accused will be summoned for inquiry."

The daughter-in-law didn't respond to calls and messages from mid-day.

Rs 18l
Value of jewellery that the daughter-in-law allegedly stole