Rakhi Sawant has been making headlines for the longest time now. It all began with the queen of entertainment announcing her wedding with Adil Khan Durrani. Rakhi and Adil's lovely pictures and videos were all over social media and their fans, who lovingly call them 'Radil' showered them with immense love. In between, Sawant lost her mother who was battling cancer.
Post her mother's demise, Sawant spoke to the media and accused her husband of cheating on her with another woman. However, a day later, she came forth and shared that everything is back in place with Adil Khan leaving behind his alleged affair.
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But just after a day, Sawant levelled some serious allegations against husband Adil for alleged domestic violence. While showing marks of violence on her body to the media, she shared that her husband has been beating her for days now. She further admitted filing a complaint against him. Post her complaint, Adil Khan Durrani was allegedly arrested in Mumbai.
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Rakhi Sawant's domestic violence complaint has once again sparked debate over the abuse women are subjected to across the country.
Domestic violence cases are quite common in the country and Sawant's case is no different.
While women like Sawant get an opportunity to come forward and share their story of abuse, many don't even realise if they are being subjected to it. And there are those who could never gather the courage to speak their side of the story.
What Is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is any form of violence, including mental, physical or sexual in a domestic setting. Domestic violence is when the victim is abused by another member of her family. Though widely women are subjected to violence by a male member of her family, there have been cases in the past where men too suffered from domestic violence. However, in India, the law only protects the women under IPC 498A.
Forms Of Domestic Violence
- Physical violence
- Sexual assault
- Honor killing
- Dowry-related abuse and deaths
- Emotional abuse
Right Against Domestic Violence
According to Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005, "any act, omission or commission or conduct of the respondent shall constitute domestic violence in case it:
- harms or injures or endangers the health, safety, life, limb or well-being, whether mental or physical, of the aggrieved person or tends to do so and includes causing physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse and economic abuse; or
- harasses, harms, injures or endangers the aggrieved person with a view to coerce her or any other person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any dowry or other property or valuable security; or
- has the effect of threatening the aggrieved person or any person related to her by any conduct mentioned in clause (a) or clause (b); or otherwise injures or causes harm, whether physical or mental, to the aggrieved person.”
In case a woman is subjected to domestic abuse, she can report it under the Domestic Violence Act. She can reach the nearest police station and file a complaint. The woman can also file a complaint directly with the magistrate to get protection orders under the Domestic Violence Act. The court is required to announce a hearing within three days of the complaint. Further, the court passes a protection order. Another complaint can be filed under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code for matrimonial cruelty. According to the law, the punishment for domestic violence in India is imprisonment for up to three years and a fine. The victim or any relative of the victim can file a complaint on their behalf.
Domestic violence cases are on a constant rise in the country and there seems no silver lining. Unawareness of domestic violence laws and rights is a major factor contributing to the increase of cases of abuse in the country. Educating yourself, and making others aware about domestic violence can help curb this crime.