Man rapes biz partner's wife, tries to kill self

MUMBAI: A diamond trader allegedly raped his business partner's 26-year-old wife in a Grant Road Hotel while the victim's husband had gone out to meet his business contacts. The matter came to light after the victim attempted suicide and a complaint was registered. However, the accused also attempted suicide when his anticipatory bail was rejected by a city sessions court.
According to police sources, the victim, Rashmi Shah (name changed), wife of a diamond trader from Naroda in Ahmedabad, had come to Mumbai on June 1 along with her husband and his business partner.
"The two men wanted to start a new business in trading pearls. Rashmi had come along with them as she wanted to see Mumbai. Rashmi and her husband stayed in a hotel room while her husband's business partner, Dhirubhai Patel, also stayed in a different room at the same hotel," said a police officer.
One day, Patel told Rashmi's husband that he should meet some business contacts and sign some deals as early as possible. "Rashmi's husband agreed and left to meet the business contacts," said deputy commissioner of police Anil Kumbhare.
"When Rashmi alone in the hotel room, Patel visited her and on the pretext of talking to her, raped her in the hotel room," police officials said.
A traumatised Rashmi could not even confide in her husband and refused to speak to anyone for a few days. "On June 12, they returned to Ahmedabad. The same day, Rashmi consumed poison," said Kumbhare. The Naroda police registered a case of attempted suicide and began its investigation. They found a suicide note in which she had described her trauma. "A case of rape was lodged in Ahmedabad, but Patel managed to flee. As the crime had taken place in Mumbai, the case papers were sent to D B Marg police, which launched a manhunt for Patel," said an officer.
Meanwhile, Patel applied for anticipatory bail in a city sessions court but on Wednesday, his plea was rejected. "Patel then turned up at the police station after consuming pesticide. He was taken to BYL Nair Hospital," said an officer. The police will take Patel's custody once he was discharged from the hospital.