Southall Black Sisters (SBS) have welcomed a historic conviction in the case of Gurwinder Kaur, a survivor of prolonged domestic and religious abuse who died before seeing her abuser brought to justice.
On 29 April 2025, Ravi Yadav was found guilty of raping and financially abusing Gurwinder, his wife of over 20 years. SBS believes the ruling to be one of the first of its kind in the UK, where a rape conviction has been secured posthumously.
Yadav was sentenced yesterday (1 May 2025) at Isleworth Crown Court to 8 years for rape under Category 2B, with an additional 12 months to reflect aggravating factors.
A SBS spokesperson told EALING.NEWS: “Despite Gurwinder no longer being with us, today her husband, Ravi Yadav, was sentenced to 9 years in prison for raping her, as well as for the financial abuse and coercive control he subjected her to throughout their marriage. The fact that the justice system has recognised these harms posthumously is rare and powerful – and it marks a significant moment in how such cases are handled.”
They added: “Ms Recorder S. Wass KC delivered a firm and detailed sentencing. She spoke of Gurwinder as a “particularly vulnerable” woman who was subjected to coercion, fear and domestic servitude. She described how Ravi Yadav isolated and dominated her through years of financial control and emotional abuse.
Gurwinder was coerced into marriage at the age of 19, after Yadav threatened suicide. They married in 2004, and she was soon taken to live with his family in India. There, she endured dowry-related harassment, domestic servitude and religious discrimination as a Sikh woman in a Hindu household. The coercion, humiliation and control set the stage for a marriage marked by fear and subjugation.
In 2005, Gurwinder moved to the UK, hoping for a better life – but the abuse intensified. She faced years of physical, emotional and financial violence, including threats to take her children away. In 2020, Yadav raped her twice in a single night, leaving her traumatised. She bravely shared her story with SBS, and with their support, obtained legal protections before her death from cancer.
Although the Crown Prosecution Service initially declined to pursue charges following her death, sustained advocacy by SBS and community allies Dr Kulwant Singh, Pinder Kaur, and Suresh Grove led to the case being reopened. Her detailed testimony, alongside evidence from SBS, proved pivotal in securing a unanimous guilty verdict.
Shakila Taranum Maan of SBS said: “Her legacy is one of courage and hope… This conviction must serve as a turning point.”
 have welcomed a historic conviction in the case of Gurwinder Kaur, a survivor of prolonged domestic and religious abuse who died before seeing her abuser brought to justice.){kind=link}