Teekli (Gurgaon), Nov. 18: A widow in her early twenties has accused her in-laws of fraud for marrying their HIV+ son to her despite having knowledge of his medical condition.

She has now demanded that her medical expenditure be borne by her in-laws.

On April 17, 2006, twenty three-year-old Aarti (name changed), a resident of Teekli in Gurgaon, married Sujit (name changed). But her husband never kept on well since first day of their marriage.

Repeated queries from her parents about the reason behind Sujit's health never yielded any results. His father often evaded such questions about his son. Besides, Aarti was disallowed to talk to her parents even over phone, the complaint stated.

According to Aarti, her in-laws would keep round the clock vigil on her movements lest she should reveal the truth to anyone about her husband. Once the husband tried to tell his wife regarding his diseases, her in-laws prevented it.

"He hid his illness from me. Every time I tried to ask him, his parents intervened and ignored the matter. He became impotent and then my in-laws pleaded before me not to leave him. Soon, they cut off my all contacts with my parents. My husband's health deteriorated with each passing day, " said Aarti.

On April 21, 2007, Aarti's husband died at the age of 27. But he left behind Aarti suffering with HIV+.

Aarti's father, a retired army personnel, in his complaint to police has claimed possessing proof to support his accusation that his son-in-law Sujit died as an HIV+ patient.

For Aarti, getting a proper medical treatment has become the toughest challenge of life. She contends that her in-laws should bear the cost of her treatment for HIV, as her own parents cannot afford it.

"I want justice now. I want my in-laws to bear my expenses since I have been their responsibility after marriage, " Aarti said.

Police are investigating the case and need to verify the copy of the medical report that Aarti's father claimed to have in possession bespeaking that Sujit was an HIV+ at the time of death.

Authorities at the local Chirag Hospital admitted that after complaining for high fever both--Sujit and Aarti-- underwent tests and were found to be HIV+. The couple was referred to All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), for further treatment.

"We admitted him (Sujit) after the complaints of high fever. On seeing his condition, we decided to conduct some tests. After the check-ups were made, his reports confirmed HIV positive. We, thereafter, referred him to AIIMS. Both Sujit and his wife were tested positive, " said Dr. Kohli, a senior physician at the Chirag Hospital, Gurgaon.

The father also added that when he confronted the boy's father, he was assured that the family would take care of the widowed daughter-in-law. However, two months later that Sujit's family disowned their widowed daughter-in-law.

The police have now registered a case of breach of trust and cheating against the boy's father at Sadar Police Station and are investigating the matter.

According to Aarti's father, it was an arrange-marriage, and Sujit's family had told them that he was working with a mobile service provider. (ANI)