Varanasi: A 25-year-old woman in Varanasi has alleged that her husband’s family concealed his HIV status before their 2024 marriage and later subjected her to assault, alleged dowry harassment and threats. Police registered an FIR on October 3 and have begun an investigation.

According to the complaint, the woman’s marriage was finalised in 2024 after discussions between both families and checks of the groom’s family background and horoscope.

She alleged that her family spent around ₹20 lakh on the wedding, gifts and related ceremonies.

A few months after the marriage, she said her husband’s health deteriorated. According to her complaint, she later discovered that he had been receiving treatment for HIV before the marriage and that this information had not been disclosed to her family.

Allegations of assault and dowry harassment

The woman alleged that after she questioned the family about the matter, her in-laws assaulted and threatened her and pressured her family to provide an additional ₹5 lakh as dowry.

She claimed that her father subsequently paid ₹2 lakh but that the alleged harassment continued. She has also made an allegation of attempted rape against her father-in-law.

The complaint further alleges that members of her in-laws’ family recorded objectionable videos of her and threatened to circulate them and harm her.

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FIR registered after complaint to senior officials

The woman said she left her matrimonial home and returned to her parents in Varanasi.

She claimed that she initially approached Manduadih police on September 10 but that an FIR was not registered at that time. She subsequently approached senior government officials, following which the case was registered on October 3.

Manduadih police station in-charge Digambar Upadhyaya said an investigation has been initiated.

Police registered the case under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections relating to assault, privacy violations, cruelty by a husband or relatives, causing hurt, spreading a life-threatening infection or disease, cheating and criminal intimidation.

A provision of the Dowry Prohibition Act has also been invoked.

The allegations cover several distinct issues, including alleged concealment of a pre-existing medical condition, domestic violence, dowry demands, sexual violence, alleged recording and threats involving private material, and alleged criminal intimidation.

At this stage, the allegations are contained in the woman's complaint and are subject to police investigation. The FIR itself does not establish guilt. Any further action will depend on the evidence collected during the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.