Madhya Pradesh woman raped, forced to marry accused: Police

A 20-year-old woman was allegedly abducted, raped and forced to marry the accused in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district, police said on Friday

Updated on: Dec 31, 2022, 03:50:33 IST

By Shruti Tomar, Bhopal/Shivpuri

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A 20-year-old woman was allegedly abducted, raped and forced to marry the accused in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district, police said on Friday.

So far, 10 people have been booked in the matter. They are absconding and efforts are on to trace them, police added.

In her complaint, police said, the survivor alleged that the accused, Rahul Karn, raped her in July 2019, made a video of the incident and blackmailed her against approaching the police.

The woman alleged that last month, the accused abducted her from her house and took her to Bhopal where he again raped her while his family members assaulted her. She said Karn even forcibly married her in a temple.

“The woman said she was raped by Karn in July 2019. Karn’s mother was ill and he called her to his house for help. When she reached there, Karn raped her. He also shot a video of the incident and blackmailed her,” Shivpuri superintendent of police (SP) Rajesh Chandel said.

“On November 4 this year, the woman said she was abducted from her house by Karn and his relatives Dinesh Kushwaha and Rakesh Kushwaha. Karn took her to Bhopal to his relative’s house where she was thrashed by his family members and raped by Karn,” he added.

ALSO READ: Madhya Pradesh HC expunges word ‘kind’ from rape case judgement

Another officer said the woman’s family did not file any missing complaint, assuming she voluntarily went with Karn.

“But after failing to get any information about her, they travelled to Bhopal to meet her. The woman then shared her ordeal;. She returned with her family to Shivpuri on Wednesday and filed a complaint on Thursday,” the officer said, seeking anonymity.

Based on the woman’s complaint, 10 people have been booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (since she was a minor in 2019) Act and various sections of Indian Penal Code, the officer said.

(with inputs from Ranjeet Gupta from Shivpuri)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.