Head shaved, starved, abused: Maharashtra woman alleges torture over dowry demands

A woman from Kalyan has alleged her husband and in-laws shaved her head, confined her and abused her over dowry demands. Police have booked five relatives and launched an investigation after her hospital admission.

In Short

• Woman in Kalyan alleges dowry abuse by husband and in-laws
• Abuse included assault during pregnancy, starvation and burns
• Victim's brother appeals for government intervention, strict action

A woman in Maharashtra's Kalyan has accused her husband and in-laws of forcibly shaving her head and subjecting her to months of physical and mental abuse after her family failed to meet alleged dowry demands. The woman, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ulhasnagar, has also alleged that she was assaulted during pregnancy, denied adequate food and burned with hot water. Police have registered a case against five members of her husband's family and launched an investigation.

According to the complaint, Afsana, a resident of Ulhasnagar, married Sameer Ansari, a resident of Kalyan's Waldhuni area, in November 2025. Her family alleged that they had informed the groom's family before the marriage about their financial constraints and inability to provide dowry. Despite this, the woman's relatives claimed that soon after the wedding, she began facing pressure over demands for money and other items.

Afsana alleged that the harassment continued even during her pregnancy. She claimed that she was often denied adequate food and was repeatedly assaulted by her husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law. She further alleged that hot water was poured on her hands, causing burn injuries. According to the complaint, she was also denied money for basic day-to-day needs.

The woman alleged that on June 7, her in-laws forcibly shaved her head under the pretext that she had lice. She claimed that her husband, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and aunt-in-law were involved in the act. Afterward, she was allegedly confined to a room for nearly a week and subjected to further harassment.

According to the complaint, Afsana eventually managed to escape from her husband's home and reached her sister's residence, where she informed her family about the alleged abuse. Her relatives then admitted her to Ulhasnagar's Central Hospital, where she remains under treatment.

The victim's brother has appealed to the Maharashtra government and Chief Minister for intervention and strict action against the accused. The incident has triggered outrage among local residents.

Senior Police Inspector Baliram Pardeshi of Mahatma Phule Police Station said police received information that the woman had been admitted to the hospital, following which a team was sent to record her statement.

"According to the complaint, the husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law and aunt-in-law had been demanding money and other items since the marriage. On June 7, the woman's hair was cut after she was told it could otherwise cause breathing problems for the child. Following the incident, she became mentally distressed," Pardeshi said.

Based on the complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and further investigation is underway.

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