MUMBAI, JUNE 15: Film director Inder Kumar, producer Anil Sharma along with four members of their family have been charged with harassment, physical torture and making repeated monetary demands by Sharma's wife Keerty.The complaint, filed by Keerty at the Oshiwara police station, names Sharma, his mother Sarla, his brother advocate Bharat Bhushan, sister-in-law Prema, sister Bina Kumar and her husband Inder Kumar.According to the complaint, Keerty married Anil on March 10, 1997, at Hotel Centaur according to Vedic rites and the costs incurred were borne by her family. After marriage, she resided at Yamunanagar, Andheri (West), along with her in-laws. Keerty also alleges that her in-laws demanded money from her from the time she was married but was unable to meet their demands.However, the demands continued and she was constantly tortured physically and on many occasions was kept hungry for days. On one occasion, she was told by her in-laws that she should bring Rs 20 lakh if she wished to live ahappily married life.The complaint says one day Keerty was forced to consume Dettol by her in-laws and was admitted to Cooper Hospital. A police case was registered but the police could not make any progress in their investigations as Keerty's brother did not furnish adequate information since he did not want to jeopardise his sister's future. Keerty then returned to her in-laws' residence and the torture continued. On October 8, 1997, she was thrown out.According to her complaint, Keerty's clothes, ornaments worth Rs 6.73 lakh given as part of `streedhan' were taken away by her in-laws. A complaint was registered and the police conducted a search on Sharma's residence and seized the ornaments valued at Rs 66,790.Later police searched the Bharat Bhushan's residence and seized `streedhan' ornaments valued at Rs 10,600. Police said a number of non-cognizable complaints were also filed against the Sharmas at the Oshiwara police station by members of Keerty's family including her mother. Anil Sharma,Indra Kumar along with the remaining family members then applied for anticipatory bail at the Sessions Court where they have refuted Keerty's allegations. Oshiwara police in its report say they have not received any cooperation from the persons accused in the case and so far have yet to record their statements since they are unavailable. Hence, they have asked for custody of the accused.Additional Sessions Judge A M Thipsay, while adjourning the matter to June 26.
