In a deeply disturbing incident from Palanpur in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, Nikesh Patel(30) sold his wife (26) for ₹50,000 after growing tired of her following 12 years of marriage.
Patel, in collusion with his friends, lured the woman away from home under false pretences. She was first taken to a flat where she was raped, and later handed over to a family near Tharad as part of a larger trafficking deal worth ₹1.5 lakh, with ₹50,000 paid as an advance. During her captivity, the woman was confined, repeatedly sexually assaulted for nearly 10 days, and robbed of her gold earrings worth around ₹15,000.
The matter came to light on May 11 when Nikesh Patel himself filed a missing person complaint at Palanpur West police station in an attempt to cover his tracks. However, inconsistencies in his statements and those of his father raised police suspicions. Investigators launched a probe using technical surveillance, call records, and CCTV footage. After intense efforts, the police rescued the woman after 10days from her captors near Tharad. She was counselled and then formally lodged a complaint against the accused.
Six to seven people have been arrested so far, including Nikesh Patel, his associates Sanjay Thakor, Ashok Thakor, Sachin Thakor, and members of the family that purchased the woman. Police investigations have revealed that the husband had a history of similar deceptive behaviour, including eloping with women in the past. The accused have been booked under stringent sections of human trafficking, gang rape, robbery, criminal conspiracy.
