Meerut model alleges 10-year exploitation on marriage pretext, conversion pressure

MEERUT: A Meerut-based model has accused a man of subjecting her to nearly a decade of physical, emotional and financial exploitation under the pretext of marriage, alleging that he later pressured her to convert to his religion and threatened to leak her private photographs and videos when she resisted. According to the complaint, the woman met the accused, both resident of Sardhana, around 2015 while she was pursuing modelling assignments in Mumbai. She alleged that the man initially offered to help her build a career in the modelling industry and promised to marry her, leading to a long-term relationship. The complainant claimed that the accused maintained the relationship for almost 10 years while repeatedly assuring her of marriage. During this period, she alleged, he took large sums of money from her on various pretexts and exploited her financially. The woman further alleged that when she began pressing him to fulfil his promise of marriage, he started insisting that she convert to his religion. She claimed that she was assaulted after objecting to the demand and was warned against approaching the police. According to her complaint, the accused threatened to make her private photographs and videos public if she pursued legal action. She also alleged that he took nearly Rs 50 lakh from her over the years and forced her to undergo three abortions during their relationship. Confirming the complaint, SP (Rural) Abhijeet Kumar said police received an application from a woman in her twenties at Sardhana police station on Monday. "The woman stated that she had gone to Mumbai for modelling work in 2015, where she came into contact with a man from her native area. She has alleged that he entered into a relationship with her on the promise of marriage and also took money from her," Kumar said to news agency PTI. He added that a case was being registered under relevant sections and that further legal action would follow. On the allegation of religious conversion pressure, the officer said the claim was being examined as part of the investigation. "Preliminary inquiry suggests that the two lived together in Mumbai for a considerable period. The woman has now returned to Meerut and submitted a complaint. Every aspect of the case is being investigated thoroughly," Kumar said. (With PTI inputs)