A distressing pattern of violence and despair has emerged in recent years, shedding light on the vulnerability of women in live-in relationships. The latest incident, which occurred in Hyderabad, has gripped the city with sorrow and raised urgent questions about the safety and well-being of individuals in such arrangements.
34-year-old Aditi Bharadwaj, a dedicated IT professional residing in Hyderabad, found herself entangled in a tumultuous relationship with Mohammad Ahmed Ali, a local resident. The couple lived together on the 5th floor of Happy Homes Fortune apartments in Attapur.
Shockingly, it has come to light that Ahmed Ali compelled Aditi to embrace Islam, renaming her Aziya Fatima upon their union.
Under the guise of a promised marriage, Ahmed Ali engaged in a physical relationship with Aditi, resulting in her pregnancy. However, when the time for marriage arrived, he callously abandoned her in favour of another woman from his community. The betrayal inflicted deep wounds on Aditi, plunging her into a state of profound anguish and depression.
Tragically, Aditi’s anguish culminated in her untimely demise on January 28, when she chose to end her life, according to reports. The stark reality of her situation, coupled with the betrayal by her live-in partner, pushed her to the brink of despair.
Speaking to Organiser, Nagaraju, Sub-Inspector of Attapur Police Station, on January 31, said, “Two days before her suicide, she went to the hospital for unspecified health concerns, and she discovered that her pregnancy had some medical complications.”
Following her tragic demise, Sagar, Aditi’s brother, filed a complaint with the police, who are now awaiting post-mortem reports for more information. Based on Sagar’s complaint, the police have filed a basic suicide case report with no mention of Ali’s name in the case.
Nagaraju stated that they have not yet arrested anyone in this case, but they are awaiting postmortem reports to proceed further.
Organiser contacted Nagaraju on February 1, he said that following the postmortem report, they have added Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the IPC in the FIR and taken Mohammad Ali into police custody. As of now, he has been booked by the police.
Due to the Western liberal and non-socio-accountable lifestyle, the youth are getting into live-in relationships, which are always complex, particularly when the partners are from different religions and beliefs.
The heart-wrenching loss of Aditi Bharadwaj underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and safeguards for individuals in live-in relationships. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the risks faced by vulnerable individuals within these arrangements and highlights the imperative for enhanced support systems to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
There is a spate of cases that Organiser has covered in the past that follow a similar pattern; some of them are listed here:
In January this year, Organiser reported a case from Madhya Pradesh where a controversial ‘Love Jihad’ case dubbed ‘Live-in Jihad’ stirred up debate. Shruti Tiwari, 22, and Mubarak Khan, 42, signed an affidavit for a live-in relationship, sparking protests. The pact prohibits Shruti from filing a complaint if their relationship sours and mandates an Islamic wedding for marriage. The family alleged manipulation by Mubarak to convert Shruti to Islam. The affidavit and a photo of the couple in a burqa went viral. The couple express their intent to live together and agree to a nikah if they marry, pledging an amicable separation without legal action or property claims.
We reported another case from Ghaziabad, where an interfaith relationship turned tragic as Hindu woman Pinki Gupta was found dead under mysterious circumstances on August 31. Her family accused Sakib Khan, allegedly in a live-in relationship with her, prompting his arrest on abetment to suicide charges. Police are also probing a potential murder angle based on the family’s statement. Pinki’s brother claimed she was a victim of grooming and love jihad, citing suspicious Instagram posts and a suicide note. The case, involving Sakib’s marital status, unfolds like a mystery.
In another tragic incident, a Hindu woman, Sonam Sharma, lost her life under mysterious circumstances in Hapur district, Uttar Pradesh, while in a relationship with Rahul alias Mohsin. Mohsin faces charges of abetment to suicide. This case adds to the pattern where Muslim men pose as Hindus to lure Hindu women for conversion, commonly termed ‘Love Jihad’ by the media.
Another interfaith relationship ended tragically in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri, with the Hindu partner feeling cheated and desperate. A Hindu woman approached the Superintendent of Police office with her son, stating that her live-in partner, Mohammad Tipu, had abandoned her after eight years together, now that she has a child. The police are investigating her complaint. Previously, she had filed an FIR against Tipu for rape, but he settled the case outside of court after issuing repeated death threats.
On January 8, Shoaib Shaikh, 24, was arrested for allegedly murdering his Sikh girlfriend, Amit Kaur, 35, in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. They met on a dating app three months prior. Shaikh strangled Amit on her birthday at a lodge in Turbhi due to suspicions of infidelity. He calmly left and returned home. The police discovered Amit’s body later.
