A shocking incident of domestic violence has come to light in Mumbai, where a history sheeter allegedly tortured his wife by forcing her to sit in the murga position (squatting with hands behind ears) for several hours. The accused also threatened to throw acid on her if she reported the matter to the police.
Incident Details
The victim, a 32-year-old woman, lodged a complaint at the local police station on Tuesday, stating that her husband, identified as Ravi Shinde (45), a history sheeter with multiple criminal cases, subjected her to extreme physical and mental abuse. According to the complaint, the incident took place on May 28, 2026, when Shinde returned home drunk and began arguing with his wife over a trivial matter.
He then forced her to assume the murga position and made her sit like that for nearly four hours. When she tried to stand up, he kicked her and threatened to disfigure her face with acid if she dared to complain. The victim sustained severe pain in her legs and back due to the prolonged position.
Police Action
Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 498A (husband or relative of husband subjecting a woman to cruelty), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty). The accused was arrested on Wednesday and produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody until June 2.
Senior Inspector Sunil Pawar of the investigating station said, "The accused has a criminal record and has been involved in cases of assault and theft. We are investigating the matter thoroughly and will ensure strict action is taken against him."
Victim's Ordeal
The victim, who has been married for eight years, revealed that this was not the first instance of torture. She alleged that her husband had been physically and mentally abusing her for years, but she endured it due to fear of social stigma. However, the acid threat compelled her to approach the police.
In her statement, she said, "He often beats me up over petty issues. This time, he forced me to sit in the murga position for hours and threatened to throw acid on my face. I was terrified and decided to file a complaint."
Community Response
Women's rights activists have condemned the incident and demanded stricter punishment for repeat offenders. Advocate Priya Sharma, who works with domestic violence survivors, said, "The use of the murga position as a form of torture shows the perverse mindset of the abuser. The police must ensure that history sheeters are closely monitored and repeat offenders face harsher penalties."
The incident has also sparked a debate on the effectiveness of the legal system in protecting women from habitual offenders. Many have called for a dedicated database of history sheeters involved in domestic violence cases to prevent such atrocities.
Legal Proceedings
The police are currently gathering evidence, including medical reports of the victim and statements from neighbors who heard the commotion. The accused has been booked under non-bailable sections, and the prosecution is expected to seek maximum punishment.
The court has directed the police to file a chargesheet within 60 days. Meanwhile, the victim has been provided with counseling and temporary shelter by a local NGO.
