What began as a routine missing persons complaint in north Gujarat’s Palanpur soon unraveled into a disturbing case of alleged human trafficking, sexual assault, and betrayal within a marriage, reports Times of India.
A 26-year-old woman was allegedly sold by her husband for ₹50,000 and repeatedly raped over several days before being rescued by police. The case led to the arrest of six people, including her husband, to whom she had been married for 12 years. According to investigators, the husband allegedly wanted to “get rid of her” because he no longer liked her and had plans to bring another woman into his home.
Husband Allegedly Conspired With Friends to Sell Wife
Police said the accused husband, aged 30, allegedly conspired with two of his friends to dispose of his wife.
“The woman and the main accused were married for 12 years. He grew tired of her and disliked her. The victim also claimed that he wanted to bring another woman home and used to torture her. For this reason alone, he conspired with his friends to sell her,” R K Patel, inspector at Palanpur West police station, told TOI.
According to investigators, the plan was not only to sell her but also to ensure she was forcibly handed over under the guise of marriage arrangements.
False Missing Complaint Filed to Mislead Police
To cover up the crime, the husband filed a missing persons complaint on May 11 at Palanpur West police station, claiming his wife had left home a day earlier without informing anyone. Since the woman did not use a mobile phone, police grew suspicious and questioned him in detail. He later fled when he realized investigators were unconvinced.
Soon after, his father filed a separate missing complaint for him, alleging that the husband was being threatened by his in-laws. However, inconsistencies in both statements prompted police to dig deeper using technical surveillance and human intelligence.
Rape Allegations and Forced Transfer to Tharad
Investigators said two of the husband’s friends took the woman in a rickshaw to a flat under false pretenses on May 10, where one of them allegedly raped her twice.
Police further said the woman was later handed over to a family in a village near Tharad, with a deal allegedly fixed at ₹1.5 lakh—₹50,000 paid in advance and the remaining amount to be paid later. She was then taken to Tharad, where one accused allegedly confined her in his house and repeatedly raped her for nearly a week.
Rescue Operation and Evidence Collected
The woman was rescued on May 21 after police built the case using surveillance inputs and intelligence leads. “We have collected all the evidence, including CCTV footage, call detail records, and call recordings. We also counselled the woman before she formally lodged a complaint against the accused,” Patel said.
Police arrested six people in total, including the husband and members of the Tharad-based family involved in the alleged deal.
Previous Pattern of Deception Revealed
During the investigation, police also found that the husband had a past history of similar behaviour. He allegedly trapped and eloped with two married women earlier, both of whom were later reported missing.
Authorities also said the accused stole the victim’s gold earring worth around ₹15,000 and sold it in Deesa. The investigation is ongoing.
