Indian doctor 'tortured British wife for dowry'

Tarif Rehman, 32, was arrested on Friday in a dawn raid in Calcutta, hours before he was due to fly back to London.

The Indian-born medic is alleged to have assaulted his lawyer wife Sofia Ahmed, 29, and made death threats against her during a period of sustained domestic abuse.

Ms Ahmed, who was born in Britain, married Rehman in 2005, with the couple setting up home in Canterbury. Her father Wazir, a businessman who emigrated from India 40 years ago, is said to have funded his son-in-law's medical studies.

Rehman, who qualified from the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, received cash and jewellery from his wife's family in accordance with Indian dowry custom.

But Ms Ahmed alleges that her husband became increasingly abusive and subjected her to physical and mental "torture" during their marriage. She claims he demanded further dowry payments from her family.

According to a police statement, she left London on 26 December and flew to Calcutta to her family's home in the Ekbalpore district.

Her husband followed her there and assaulted her on 31 January, it is alleged. Ms Ahmed was admitted to hospital with chest and abdomen injuries and reported the matter to police.

She told officers her parents had tried to resolve the dispute by talking with Rehman several times, adding: "It did not work. He continued to beat me up. The moments I used to spend with him became a nightmarish experience.

"We used to stay together in an apartment. He threatened to kill me several times. I would always think that I might be murdered any moment. I had no option but to leave London."

Rehman was arrested at his brother's house on the same day he was booked to fly back to London via Delhi. He was due to appear at Alipore district court in Calcutta today.

An officer from Ekbalpore police station said: "After visiting his parents, Rehman went to Sofia's Ekbalpore home and allegedly assaulted her there. We took three days to conduct a preliminary investigation. The injury report given by a doctor confirmed that Sofia had been physically assaulted."

If convicted Rehman could face a three-year jail sentence.