Mumbai PhD Student Charged with Sexual Abuse Under False Marriage Promise in US Case

A Mumbai resident pursuing his PhD in the United States has been charged with sexually abusing a 31-year-old woman under false marriage promises, officials revealed on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old accused from Lower Parel in central Mumbai allegedly victimized the woman, who is also from Mahim in Mumbai and studying in the US.

According to authorities, the accused's father holds a senior position at a private banking institution.

The alleged incidents occurred over a five-month period between January 1 and June 12 at a luxury hotel in Bandra, Mumbai, and continued in the United States.

"The case emerged when the victim recently filed a complaint at Bandra police station against the accused individual," an official stated.

The FIR indicates that the accused, a PhD student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), initially met the victim through a marriage proposal contact. After several meetings, he requested she book a hotel room in Bandra to discuss "important life matters," where he subsequently sexually abused her.

The abuse continued when both were in the United States, according to officials.

As detailed in the FIR, when the victim discovered the accused communicating with other women about marriage plans, she confronted him. This led to a violent altercation during which he physically assaulted her. He also threatened to publicize compromising photos of her and set her on fire.

After confiding in her mother and gathering courage, the victim approached Mumbai Police with her complaint.

Based on her statement, authorities have registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including section 69 (sexual intercourse by deceitful means), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 351(2) (criminal intimidation).

Officials confirmed the case has been registered and investigations are ongoing.