Surat: A 30-year-old woman was allegedly raped repeatedly by her husband’s friend in the Lalgate police station jurisdiction, after he threatened to kill her two daughters and blackmailed her using explicit photographs.Police have booked the accused, Nazim Shaikh, for rape and criminal intimidation. According to the complaint, the victim married in 2008 in West Bengal. Her husband, a goldsmith, worked in Surat. Three months ago, the woman moved to Surat with their two daughters, aged six and four to join her husband, who used to stay with Shaikh. After her arrival, the family rented a room in Lalgate while Shaikh shifted to another rented premises. Shaikh allegedly told the couple he disliked outside food and offered to pay for home-cooked meals, which they agreed to as the income would help meet rent expenses. Shaikh began visiting the victim’s home for meals. Taking advantage of her husband’s absence one day, he allegedly professed his love, groped her and raped her after threatening to kill her daughters. A few days later, he allegedly returned, threatened to reveal the assault to her husband and raped her again, this time taking nude photographs to blackmail her into repeated sexual assault. When the victim’s behaviour changed, her husband questioned her, after which she told him about the rape. The couple approached a community leader in Surat and later filed a complaint with police.
