MP Man ‘Sells’ Wife To Friend For Rs 50,000 To Settle Gambling Debt, Woman Lodges Rape Complaint

A case has emerged from Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, where a man allegedly "sold" his wife to a friend in exchange for ₹50,000 to settle a gambling debt. The friend later raped the woman, police said on Tuesday.

The woman, who lived in Indore, filed a complaint at the women's police station. Given the seriousness of the offence, authorities registered a 'zero' FIR—allowing for immediate action regardless of jurisdiction and transferred the case to the Kanwan police station in Dhar district for further investigation.

According to police, the woman’s husband is a resident of the Kanwan police station area, located about 35 km from the Dhar district headquarters. The accused husband is reportedly a habitual gambler, and the woman alleged that his mounting debt led to the shocking incident.

Kanwan police station in-charge Abhay Neema said, “The woman alleged that her husband was a gambler, and his debt kept increasing because of the habit.”

Neema added, “The woman, in her complaint, alleged that her debt-ridden husband forced her to have physical relations with one of his friends who had loaned him money.”

A search operation has been launched for both men, who are currently absconding. According to the complaint, when the husband was unable to repay the money he owed, he struck a deal with his friend and forced his wife into a physical relationship as repayment.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Dhar, Geetesh Kumar Garg, said, “The matter is being investigated. The victim's statement will be recorded in Indore.”

The case has triggered public outrage and raised serious concerns over rising gender-based violence and exploitation in the name of debt and social customs in some rural areas of India.

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