A 23-year-old woman in Madhya Pradesh, identified as Khushboo Pipliya, has come forward with harrowing allegations of torture and abuse at the hands of her husband, Dilip Pipliya, purportedly stemming from dowry demands and dissatisfaction with her appearance. The incident, which took place in Khargone district, has sparked outrage and prompted a police investigation.
Khushboo, who married Dilip, a scrap dealer, in February 2025, claims that her husband was immediately critical of her appearance and expressed his unhappiness with the marriage. This soon escalated to demands for dowry, and ultimately, to brutal violence. On the night of August 24, 2025, Dilip, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, tied Khushboo up and subjected her to horrific torture. According to Khushboo's statement, he threatened her with an object resembling a gun before repeatedly burning her with a heated knife. In a particularly disturbing act, she alleges that he forced the hot knife into her mouth when she cried out in pain.
Khushboo sustained over 50 burn marks across her body, including her hands, back, torso, legs, and hips. She recounted that her husband called her "unwanted" as he inflicted the burns. Despite the severity of her injuries, Khushboo managed to escape in the early hours of the morning, seeking help from a cleaning staff member who lent her a mobile phone to contact her family. Her brother rushed to her rescue and took her to a hospital for treatment, where she is currently receiving medical care.
Khushboo's father, Lokesh Verma, has accused Dilip's family of harassing his daughter for dowry. He reported that individuals claiming to be from Dilip's family visited his home and threatened them if Khushboo did not return. Authorities have taken Khushboo's statement and are conducting investigations. Khargone SP Dharmaraj confirmed that a case has been registered under relevant sections for intentional harm, cruelty, and dowry harassment, assuring that strict action will be taken against all those involved.
Meanwhile, Dilip's family has denied the allegations, claiming that Khushboo's wounds were self-inflicted and that the dowry accusations are baseless. They maintain that Dilip loved Khushboo and married her willingly. Police are rigorously investigating these conflicting claims. The incident has drawn attention to the persistent issue of dowry-related violence and the intersection of misogyny, dowry demands, and appearance-based shaming that many young brides in India continue to face. This case closely follows another recent incident in Greater Noida, where a young woman was allegedly set ablaze by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands, further highlighting the urgent need for stricter laws and enforcement to protect women from domestic abuse.
