Pantheerankavu dowry case: Police file charge sheet, Rahul and five others named accused

Kozhikode: In a latest development, police have filed a charge sheet in the Pantheerankavu dowry/domestic violence case and named five accused. The woman’s husband Rahul P Gopal is the first accused, his mother and sister are the second and third, his friend Rajesh is the fourth and civil police officer Sarath Lal is the fifth accused.

The charge sheet was filed in Judicial First Class Magistrate III. The charges of attempted murder, molestation and domestic violence were outlined. Rahul’s mother and sister were charged with domestic violence. Rajesh and the policeman were charged with helping Rahul escape. The charge sheet was submitted on the 60th day after filing the FIR in the case.

Rahul and the victim got married on May 5 at the Guruvayur Temple. Within a week, the girl filed a complaint after her parents came to know about the torture she was subjected to by Rahul and his family. The case was widely debated amidst which Rahul reportedly left for Germany. 

Taking a u-turn a few weeks later, the victim shared a video denying her earlier statement about being a victim of domestic violence at her husband's house. Her family tried to contact her even before the video surfaced but her phone was switched off. 

It was also learnt that she had taken leave from her job in Thiruvananthapuram but had not reached the hostel where she stayed.

After a group of relatives went to Thiruvananthapuram to investigate, they reported her as missing. Her father alleged that she may have been kidnapped and threatened by her husband Rahul's family.

In response, the woman posted a second video stating that she had not been kidnapped and was not forced to change her statement.