Ahmedabad student reports husband, in-laws to police over physical, mental torture

A 26-year-old woman has alleged that she was subjected to sustained physical and mental abuse by her husband and members of his family. She lodged a formal complaint with the Mahila police, which has begun an investigation.

A complaint was registered on November 12 by Mehak Soni (26), a student who lives in Vejalpur. She has accused her husband Adhiyat Kandaryabhai Soni, and his family of repeated insults, assaults and threats since early in their marriage. As per the FIR, Mehak says the alleged ill-treatment began after February 18, 2024 and continued intermittently thereafter.

After Mehak moved into her in-laws’ home, she was repeatedly humiliated by her sister-in-law and denied access to household tasks. When she objected, she alleges, her husband sided with his family and physically assaulted her. She further alleges that relatives taunted her about not belonging to the family and later demanded that she obtain a divorce.

The FIR also recounts a series of more disturbing incidents that the complainant says took place after a stay in Udaipur and a subsequent return to Ahmedabad. Mehak alleges that on several occasions she was forced to attend a tantric ritual without her consent, was prevented from speaking to her parents on phone. Moreover, family members attempted to control and intimidate her by threatening, beating and stripping her. She says she was tracked through her phone while on a pilgrimage to Mumbai, and that attempts at reconciliation with her husband failed.

“Till today we have not reconciled,” the complainant is reported to have told police, adding that she feared for her safety and sought a legal probe into the conduct of her husband, mother-in-law Chetnaben and sister-in-law Aditi.

Police official at Mahia station confirmed that the case is under investigation, but declined to give further details, saying the matter was sensitive and the probe was ongoing.