A disturbing case has emerged from Gujarat’s Morbi district, where a man allegedly allowed his landlord and the landlord’s relative to repeatedly sexually assault his wife and 13-year-old daughter after he failed to pay Rs 2,000 monthly rent, according to a report in the Times of India.
According to police, the complaint was filed on May 1 by the victims’ mother and grandmother at the Morbi City A Division Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act.
Investigators said the family had moved to Morbi around six months ago for work and had rented a house for Rs 2,000 per month. As the tenant’s business reportedly suffered losses and rent dues piled up, the landlord allegedly exploited the situation. Police claim the husband consented to the abuse, following which the landlord repeatedly raped the minor girl, who was 13 years and 7 months old at the time, as well as her mother.
Authorities said the assaults allegedly took place at the rented home, the landlord’s residence and another location in Tankara. The landlord’s relative is also accused of raping the woman.
Police have arrested the tenant husband and the landlord, while efforts are underway to trace other relatives accused of helping in the crime. Officials said medical examinations of both accused and victims, and panchnama of the crime scene have been done.
On Thursday, the 55-year-old landlord was presented in court and taken into one-day custodial interrogation. Following the completion of his remand period, the landlord was placed in judicial custody.
Morbi City A Division police inspector Y B Jadeja informed TOI that the tenant husband was apprehended earlier and is currently incarcerated. The landlord has also been sent to jail.
