Rajkot, April 18 – A 38-year-old widow in Rajkot has filed a serious complaint of sexual harassment against her father-in-law, a practicing doctor, sending shockwaves through the city. As per media report, the FIR was registered at Gandhigram-2 Police Station, where the woman alleged that her father-in-law molested her multiple times—first during a religious trip to Chitrakoot and later at home—despite her repeated resistance.
The woman, whose husband passed away two-and-a-half years ago, had been living with her son at her in-laws' residence. According to her statement, the initial incident occurred on May 19, 2024, when she accompanied her in-laws and son on a pilgrimage to Chitrakoot. The family stayed in a single room, and the father-in-law allegedly took advantage of the situation when the elderly mother-in-law, under the influence of sleeping medication, rested on a separate mattress. The widow claimed that her father-in-law slipped into her bedding and began touching her inappropriately. Upon realizing what was happening, she was terrified and confronted him.
In her complaint, she mentioned that the next morning, when she informed her mother-in-law about the incident, instead of support, she received a bizarre and disturbing response. Her mother-in-law allegedly claimed that the father-in-law was possessed by the spirit of her late husband and had done nothing wrong. Furthermore, she was threatened with financial deprivation if she spoke about it again.
The woman said she stayed silent initially out of fear and societal pressure. However, on March 24, 2025, during a visit by her sister and brother-in-law, a similar incident occurred when the accused visited their home and repeated his behavior. This time, the woman mustered the courage to alert her family. The next day, she informed her parents and lodged a police complaint, despite alleged threats from her in-laws.
The complaint also mentions that the father-in-law and his family tried to intimidate her, leveraging their influence and social standing. They allegedly warned her of defamation and claimed they were untouchable due to their connections.
Following her complaint, Gandhigram-2 police issued a legal notice to the accused and have begun investigating the matter. The case has sparked outrage in the community, raising serious questions about the abuse of trust and power within families, especially when the survivor is left to fend for herself amid stigma and fear.
