Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: A man has been accused of handing his own wife over to others in exchange for a mere ₹50,000 because he disliked her. The incident took place within the jurisdiction of the Palanpur West Police Station in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat. This horrific crime came to light during the course of a police investigation. The police have arrested a total of seven individuals, including the husband. The accused has been identified as Nikesh Patel, a resident of the Ganeshpura area. On May 19, he visited the Palanpur West Police Station and filed a missing person report regarding his wife. He presented himself to the police as a concerned and anxious husband; however, as the investigation progressed, numerous inconsistencies began to surface in his statements.
The investigation was initiated under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent Jignesh Gamit. Under intense interrogation, Nikesh eventually broke down. He confessed to the police that, driven by his aversion toward his wife, he had conspired with his friends to sell her off. Investigators claim that the entire transaction had been meticulously planned in advance.
Acting swiftly, the police launched a rescue operation and successfully recovered the young woman from a specific location. Upon her rescue, the victim recounted her harrowing ordeal to the police. She alleged that she had been held captive and subjected to repeated sexual assault and gang rape. Furthermore, she claimed that her husband had stripped her of all her gold jewelry, which he subsequently sold.
The police stated that, in addition to Nikesh Patel, several others—including Sanjay Thakor, Ashok Thakor, and Sachin Darbar—were involved in this crime. The investigation revealed that the young woman had been lured out of her home under the pretext of going on a trip. She was then taken to a secluded location and handed over to the other individuals involved.
Based on the victim's statement, the police have registered a case under various sections of the law, including those pertaining to human trafficking, gang rape, robbery, and criminal conspiracy. Seven accused individuals have already been arrested and are currently undergoing interrogation. All seven remain in judicial custody.
The revelation of this incident has caused a massive sensation across Gujarat. Even the investigators were left stunned by the fact that the victim had fallen prey to such horrific betrayal and abuse at the hands of her own husband. The police have stated that they are currently investigating whether anyone else is involved in this criminal ring.