JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN — In a rare and controversial legal case, a Jaipur court has ordered Pratap Nagar Police to register a criminal case against a woman Air Force officer and her parents for allegedly demanding a dowry of ₹5 crore and a luxury car from her husband. The case, which many online are calling an instance of “reverse dowry,” is garnering significant traction on social media, especially among men’s rights groups.
Husband Alleges Extortion, Emotional Blackmail After Marriage
The case stems from a complaint filed by a Merchant Navy officer residing in Jagatpura, Jaipur. As per the complaint filed through Advocate Sandesh Khandelwal, the couple was married on February 10, 2022. The accused, a senior officer in the Indian Air Force, had previously been widowed in 2014 when her first husband, also an Air Force officer, died in a plane crash.
According to the complainant, the relationship began to deteriorate shortly after the marriage, especially during the officer’s posting in Chennai. The husband alleges that her behavior became increasingly hostile, and tensions escalated when she was transferred to Jaipur.
Following the transfer, the complainant claims that the woman’s family began pressuring him to purchase a BMW, allegedly citing her senior rank in the Air Force as justification. Matters worsened after the birth of their child on June 26, 2023, and by mutual agreement, the couple began living separately.
₹5 Crore Demand and Threats to Deny Child Access: Husband’s Allegations
The complaint further alleges that on March 19, 2025, the officer and her father demanded ₹5 crore and a BMW car as dowry. The complainant claims he was threatened with restricted access to his child if he failed to comply. The alleged extortion attempt, as described by the complainant, was the final trigger for him to approach the court.
Taking cognizance of the allegations, Presiding Officer Khetpal Singh Charan has ordered that a case be registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, which criminalizes the demand for dowry and stipulates imprisonment of six months to two years and/or a fine of up to ₹10,000.
The court has also directed the police to submit a comprehensive investigation report on the matter.
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Social Media Reacts: ‘Reverse Dowry’ Sparks Debate
The incident has sparked a fierce debate on social media, with many users — including men’s rights activists such as @ShoneeKapoor on X (formerly Twitter) — highlighting the case as an example of how dowry laws can sometimes be manipulated. The term “reverse dowry” is now trending in online discussions, pointing to the growing public interest in gender-neutral scrutiny of such laws.
While the case is still under investigation, legal experts have noted its potential to become a precedent-setting matter in India’s judicial system. The incident also underscores the need for balanced legal reforms that address misuse and uphold genuine victims’ rights — regardless of gender.