NRI in dock as wife files dowry case

A US-based Indian doctor has filed a criminal case against her husband, also a doctor in the US, for allegedly harassing her to sign divorce papers against her wishes or else pay $2.5 million.

A US-based Indian doctor has filed a criminal case against her husband, also a doctor in the US, for allegedly harassing her to sign divorce papers against her wishes or else pay $2.5 million. The complaint was filed at the Palam Vihar police station on Tuesday.

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Dr Shikha Sharma, a gynaecologist, was working with Dr Srikant Das, a paediatrician, at AIIMS.

The couple got married at Bhubaneswar (Orissa) in 2006. They later moved to the US for professional growth.

“Sharma’s family spent lakhs of rupees on the wedding. The Das family has been making dowry demands,” alleged Satpal Yadav, Sharma’s counsel.

“Das often demanded money from his wife. He used to ask her to payback his loans. He also took blank cheques signed by her stating he had to pay household expenses, but instead sent the money to his family in Orissa,” alleged Yadav.

A copy of the complaint has been sent to the US Embassy by the counsel. A reply is awaited, said the counsel.

Sharma, in an e-mail message, said, “He is harassing me for dowry and threatening that I either give him the amount or sign the divorce papers. I also want to save my marriage. He often throws household objects at me.”

Meanwhile, Dr Das could not be contacted for comments.