’My neta pa-in-law tortured me’

Estranged daughter-in-law accuses Congress leader Alijaan Sheikh and his family of harassment and threats

'My neta pa-in-law tortured me'

Estranged daughter-in-law accuses Congress leader Alijaan Sheikh and his family of harassment and threats

Former Bandra corporator Alijaan Sheikh has been accused of torture and harassment by his estranged daughter-in-law.

Qamarjahan Sheikh (24) has also accused four other members of the Congress leader's family, including his wife Bano, two sons and one-daughter-in-law.

The FIR, which was filed at the Khar police station on October 26, comes two years after her divorce.

The complaint (a copy of which is available with MiD DAY) says Sheikh's son Tabrez (36), and Qamarjahan were married for eight months before she was "divorced" and sent back to her widowed mother's house in Bandra.
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She has been living there along with her two younger sisters since then.

The threats

Qamarjahan alleged that about a month after the divorce Tabrez decided he wanted to patch up with her. But she kept refusing his advances.
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"Then, about a month ago, he started visiting my home at odd hours and threatening my family and me.

On one occasion he threatened to strip and beat me in public and ruin my sisters' lives. He has my passport, voter ID and academic certificates.

I need help from the police to retrieve them," alleged Qamarjahan, producing a copy of her divorce papers issued by a maulvi.

She alleged that Tabrez was acting in connivance with his family and accused Sheikh of threatening her whenever he met her after the divorce.

Past incidents

The FIR mentions incidents that happened before her divorce too. Qamarjahan has accused Sheikh of using abusive language.

She claimed she had been tortured mentally and even "roughed up" a few times during the marriage because her in-laws didn't approve of her.

Tabrez and Qamarjahan had a love marriage. However, she didn't file a police complaint then, as she wanted to move on after the divorce.

Investigating officer A P L Muley said investigations were on against the accused under IPC sections 498 (a), which deals with cruelty, and section 406, which deals withu00a0 criminal breach of trust.
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If convicted, the charges attract fines and imprisonment up to three years.

The Other Side

Congress leader Alijaan Sheikh rubbished the allegations stating that the only fault his son had committed was marrying a girl from a poor background and bestowing her with love and expensive gifts, which includedu00a0 jewellery, foreign trips and cash.

Tabrez, who is in construction business, also refuted the charges.

He claimed they were still married, and his wife was in possession of family jewellery worth Rs 15 lakh. He said he had also spent Rs 18 lakh on the flat where Kamarjahan and her family now reside.

"The FIR is aimed at maligning my family," he added.

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