Amid rising concerns over domestic abuse and dowry-related harassment against married females, another shocker has emerged from Maharashtra’s Kalyan on Wednesday, where a woman has accused her husband and her in-laws of physical and mental torment, the police said. According to police, the woman alleged that she was forcibly tonsured, was assaulted during pregnancy and was also deprived of adequate food.
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The complainant woman, identified as Afsana, is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Ulhasnagar after she managed to escape from her husband’s home and sought refuge with her sister. Upon receipt of the information, police have registered a case against five of her husband’s kin and have launched a probe.
Harassment begins soon after marriage
Afsana said in her complaint that she hails from Ulhasnagar and married Sameer Ansari, a resident of Kalyan, in November 2025.
Her family claimed that before marriage, they had clearly informed Ansari’s family of their financial limitations and their inability to provide dowry. However, they alleged that shortly after the alliance, Afsana began facing pressure and abuse over demands for money and other items.
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Afsana alleged that the demands soon escalated into persistent harassment and abuse at the hands of her husband and in-laws.
Woman assaulted during pregnancy, hot water poured on her
Afsana highlighted in her complaint that her ordeal continued throughout her pregnancy. She alleged that she was frequently denied sufficient food and was repeatedly assaulted by Sameer, as well as her mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law.
Adding to the allegations, she said that hot water was poured on her hands, leaving her with burn injuries. Moreover, she was denied money for basic day-to-day expenses.
Afsana faces forced tonsuring on pretext of treating lice
One of the most disturbing allegations levelled by Afsana dates back to June 7, 2026. She alleged that her in-laws forcibly got her tonsured, claiming that she had lice. According to her, Sameer, his mother, sister and aunt were involved in the act.
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Adding to her ordeal, she claimed that post-tonsure, she was confined to a room for nearly a week and was subjected to additional harassment, leaving her traumatised and distressed. Eventually, she managed to break free from the confinement and reached her sister’s house, where she informed her kin about the long-standing abuse.
She was later admitted to the Central Hospital in Ulhasnagar, where she is under medical care.
Cops register case, probe underway
Baliram Pardeshi, senior police inspector attached to Mahatma Phule Station said the cops visited the hospital after receiving information and recorded Afsana’s statement.
He added that police have registered a case against the accused under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and further probe is in progress.