Blue Corner notice against Kerala man over assault on wife days after wedding
A blue corner notice has been issued against a man in Kerala for allegedly assaulting and attempting to murder his wife, just days after their marriage.
Police suspect that the accused, Rahul P Gopal, a resident of Kozhikode district, might have fled to Germany where he currently works, sources said.
The notice, which is a request for assistance in locating the accused, has been sent to Interpol through the Ministry of External Affairs for issuance, officials added.
Earlier, the police had issued a lookout notice against Rahul.
An FIR was registered against Rahul based on his wife’s complaint, who alleged that she was brutally assaulted and that he attempted to kill her following an argument over dowry. This allegedly happened barely a week after their wedding on May 5.
However, the in-laws of the bride have denied the allegation that they had demanded dowry. Rahul’s mother claimed that her daughter-in-law was refusing to stay in the matrimonial home which led to an argument and subsequent fight between the couple, reported news agency PTI.
“We never demanded dowry as we do not require it,” the woman had said.
The woman sustained injuries on her face, head, and other body parts. Rahul allegedly tried to strangle her using the cable of a mobile phone charger, accusing her of infidelity, the complaint stated.
The woman’s family charged that the accused demanded dowry and beat her.
The victim also alleged that there were lapses on the part of the local police and that officials tried to settle the matter. After a preliminary investigation found that the Station House Officer (SHO) delayed the arrest of the accused, helping him allegedly leave the country, the SHO was suspended and the probe was handed over to a new team.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested Rahul’s friend Rajesh. According to police sources, Rajesh helped Rahul flee to Germany.
The Kerala Women’s Commission and the State Human Rights Commission are also looking into the matter and have sought reports from the investigative team.