The victim was forced to have sex with her husband Lakhvir Singh, 28 and do nearly round-the-clock household labour, police said.
She was routinely referred to as "b----" by her husband, uncle and aunt; and slapped and choked.
Her life was threatened, the Marion County Superior Court in Indianapolis was told. The victim barely ate and had to sleep on the floor without covers.
Last week, a jury found Singh guilty of criminal deviate conduct, domestic battery, rape, sexual battery and strangulation. He was found not guilty of another charge: promotion of human trafficking.
His sentencing is scheduled for Friday, and he faces six to 20 years in prison for the most serious charges.
"I want the maximum punishment and justice to be served," the victim told The Indianapolis Star. "I don't want this to happen to any other girl. My voice can finally be heard."
Singh's lawyer Jack Crawford, however, said the woman made up the allegations to get out of a marriage she didn't like and to secure a visa for victims of human trafficking.
"She was in a marriage where she did some things she didn't want to do and tried to get out of it," Crawford said. "The blame here lies with the parents for forcing them both into a marriage they did not want.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
