Madhya Pradesh Man Allegedly ‘Sells’ Wife to Settle Gambling Debt; Rape Case Registered

By The Sampadak Express

In a deeply disturbing case from Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, a man allegedly “sold” his wife to a friend for ₹50,000 to settle a gambling debt. The friend later allegedly raped the woman, prompting her to file a police complaint.

The incident came to light after the woman, who resides in Indore, approached the women’s police station. Considering the gravity of the allegations, police registered a ‘zero FIR’ to enable immediate legal action regardless of jurisdiction. The case has since been transferred to the Kanwan police station in Dhar district for further investigation.

According to the police, the woman’s husband resident of the Kanwan police station area, about 35 km from the Dhar district headquarters is a habitual gambler. The woman claimed that his addiction led to mounting debts, ultimately resulting in this shocking act.“

In her statement, the woman alleged that her husband, unable to repay a ₹50,000 debt, forced her into a physical relationship with the man who had loaned him the money,” said Kanwan police station in-charge Abhay Neema.

The accused husband and his friend are currently absconding. A search operation has been launched to trace both individuals.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Dhar, Geetesh Kumar Garg, confirmed the development and stated, “The investigation is underway. The victim’s formal statement will be recorded in Indore as per legal procedure.”

The case has sparked widespread public outrage and reignited discussions around gender-based violence, debt-related exploitation, and harmful patriarchal customs that continue to persist in parts of rural India.