On February 23, 26- year-old Sabah Majid Pathan had approached the Powai police with a complaint that her husband and in-laws had driven her out of their home as her parents were unable to fulfill their dowry demands. After inquiring into the issue, the Powai police booked retired ACP Anwar Pathan and six members of his family for dowry harassment, criminal intimidation and forcible abortion.

In May 2007, Sabah Pathan, a 26-year-old research professional, was married to Pathan’s son Majid, an MBA graduate, who works for a consultancy firm. After retiring from the police force in 2001, Pathan and his elder son Zakir had opened a security agency.

“A few months after the marriage, the family members urged her to get Rs 10 lakh from her parents. Sabah’s father, who works in the BEST, had managed to get Rs one lakh and handed it over. But it didn’t satisfy their demands. They used to make Sabah do all the household chores. In December 2007, they also forced her to get an abortion done and in November told her to leave the house. They asked her not to return, if she cannot get the money,” said Police Inspector (Crime) Bharat Deshmukh.

Sabah Pathan had shifted to her parents’ house in Powai and eventually in February lodged a complaint with the police.