The Bombay High Court recently noted that it was a sad reality of Indian society that women facing grave domestic violence often strive to remain in their marriages, even at great personal risk [Anil Lokhande & Anr v. State of Maharashtra].
Justice Madhav J Jamdar made the observation while rejecting the anticipatory bail pleas of two persons accused of inflicting severe cruelty and dowry-related harassment on their daughter-in-law.
The Court refused to grant pre-arrest bail to Anil Kisan Lokhande and his wife. Lokhande is a politically connected sugar baron who belonged to Eknath Shinde Shiv Sena faction and now is likely to contest from the NCP faction that was led by late Ajit Pawar.
While denying relief to the Lokhandes, the Court noted that their daughter-in-law's decision to continue her marriage despite brutal treatment from her marital family could not be used to brand the criminal case as false or exaggerated.
“This is a case where in spite of facing grave and serious harassment, abuses, assaults and even the burns as also serious threat to the life, the complainant wanted to save her marriage,” the Court observed.
It added,
“The same is a sad reality of Indian society, where many victims of domestic violence in spite of facing grave threat to their life continue the matrimonial relationship as due to the orthodox atmosphere, they face social stigma if they separate from husband’s family or take divorce.”
Sad reality of Indian society... many victims of domestic violence in spite of facing grave threat continue the matrimonial relationship...Bombay High Court
The first information report (FIR) in this case was registered on December 5, 2025 at Vimantal Police Station, Pune, in which allegations of marital cruelty were levelled against the complainant woman's husband and her in-laws.
The complaint stated that the marriage took place on August 22, 2023, and that the complainant’s family spent about ₹2 crore and gave 55 tolas (550 grams) of gold, 2 kilograms of silver and a Fortuner car. However, it is alleged that the woman's husband and his family made repeated demands for more gold and money to repay a loan of ₹2 crore.
The complainant made allegations of continuous physical and mental torture, including forced miscarriage by administering pills during pregnancy, unnatural sex with threats to publicise videos, and inappropriate touching by the father-in-law.
The Court also noted WhatsApp messages sent by the complainant to her parents’ family group, saying "your daughter is very strong" and that she wanted to remain alive for them.
The judge observed that this showed the emotional trauma which the complainant was facing due to constant abuses, assault, demands which she was subjected to.
The Court also noted that despite the FIR being lodged on December 5, 2025, and the rejection of the accused's anticipatory bail by an Additional Sessions Judge on December 15, 2025, the accused had not been arrested and were allegedly absconding.
The judge held that anticipatory bail is an exceptional remedy and that their custodial interrogation was necessary in view of the serious allegations and risk of influencing witnesses.
The High Court, therefore, rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by Anil Lokhande and his wife.
Senior advocate Girish Kulkarni appeared as amicus curiae in the case.
Senior advocate Rajiv Chavan with advocates Sonam Pandey, Rahul Thakur, Akshay Kumar, Sachin Gade and Asmi Desai appeared for the accused in-laws.
Additional public prosecutor RV Newton appeared for the State.
Advocate Surbhi Agrawal appeared for the complainant.
[Read order]