The domestic violence case involving a 26-year-old woman who accused her husband and his family of assaulting her over dowry, which subsequently led the husband to flee the country, now has her claiming that she falsely implicated her husband under pressure from her family.
The woman hailing from Ernakulam, Kerala, publicly accused her husband and his family, who hail in Kozhikode's Panthirangaku of assaulting her over dowry, she has now retracted her statements in a video posted on a YouTube channel.
Her original complaint, lodged on May 12, alleged brutal torture at the hands of her husband, Rahul P Gopal, just a week after their wedding. She detailed harrowing experiences of physical violence, including being beaten, strangled, and threatened with death. These accusations sparked an investigation led by Feroke Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Saju K Abraham, who took charge of the case amidst claims of police negligence.
However, in the recent 18-minute video, the woman denies her earlier allegations, claiming they were coerced. She admits to being hit by Rahul but asserts that it happened only twice and was the result of a misunderstanding.
She contends that she exaggerated the violence to strengthen her case and now regrets making the "false allegation." The woman further alleges that it was her lawyer and family members who pressured her into making the dowry accusations.
The family's response to the woman’s retraction has been one of denial and concern. They expressed uncertainty about the authenticity of the video, questioning whether the woman made it voluntarily or under duress.
The family also revealed that she had been missing from her workplace in Thiruvananthapuram since June 3, a discovery made only on June 10. The family has filed a missing complaint with the Paravoor police and alerted the investigation team handling the domestic abuse case.
The woman in another video reaffirmed her retraction, asserting her safety, and accusing her family of issuing death threats. She claimed that pressure led her to stay away from everyone temporarily, allowing her to reveal the truth.
Crucially, the woman’s initial allegations were supported by medical evidence, with doctors confirming signs of physical assault.