This is an issue that many May face and hence I thought worth sharing:

Tryst with Mumbai Police

Our domestic help has been subject to several incidents of violence at her in-laws place. In the Two years since she has served us there have been numerous instances of her getting physically abused by her husband and his family. But two days back it went into a territory not thought of.

We got a call from police station with her on the call saying my family is police custody and she needs monetary help. I first thought it's some sort of prank as off late her punctuality has taken a back seat. When we got the call again is when I felt the matter is serious. I reached the police station and found her with her side of the family, the husband and his relatives weren't there. I tried to strike a dialogue with the SHO however he took an offence to the fact that I am not Marathi speaking.

Anyways when I persisted he asked me to wait, which I did. Later other policemen came to me every now and then asking for the bond money, to which I said first explain the crime. Their consistent response was talk to the SHO. I again got up to speak to the SHO, and let him know of the part of domestic violence that I have known as an employer. Almost shouting at me he started calling woman a mad person!

I said boss the charges against her brother and father are questionable as they don't stay in Mumbai and if at all it would have been an act of self defence. His take was these people had been called as per a plan to beat up the husband!

This continued for sometime and at last I resorted to technique we know, pay up!!!