Wife of Convicted Electrician Stands by Husband Despite Rape Conviction
An electrician convicted of raping a 75-year-old woman during a solar panel installation at her Sydney home has prompted a strong defense from his wife. Amol Vijay Dhumal, 45, originally from India, received a five-year prison sentence for the April 2024 assault in Mount Colah, north-western Sydney.
The victim recounted in court how Dhumal claimed his wife never engaged in sex with him before grabbing her and assaulting her in the lounge room. She cried out, ‘You’ve got to be kidding,’ during the attack. A jury in the NSW District Court convicted him of rape in September, supported by DNA evidence from semen found in her underwear. Prosecutors argued he used force to hold her down and lift her legs.
Wife’s Defiant Statement on Husband’s Innocence
Gouri Dhumal, raising twin boys alone—including one with severe autism—insists her husband is innocent. ‘I know my husband is innocent so I don’t want to talk about it,’ she stated firmly. She emphasized her need for privacy amid stress, noting, ‘There is no one around us that is helping. I’m in a stressful situation because there is no help from any community.’
Dhumal had arrived at the victim’s home with two colleagues to install solar panels, then returned alone two days later to address a power issue. He claimed the encounter was consensual, but the jury rejected this defense.
Family Challenges and Court Arguments
The couple, who met 13 years ago, faces significant hurdles with their children. One twin has Level 3 Autism Spectrum Disorder, requiring substantial ongoing support, while the other deals with a speech delay needing consistent therapy. In bail applications, Dhumal’s legal team highlighted his role in caregiving, arguing that his absence could harm the children’s emotional well-being and progress.
In a character reference to Judge Craig Everson SC dated December 3, Gouri described her husband as ‘respectful, responsible, hardworking and kind.’ Aware of the sexual assault charge, she called him a ‘loyal and caring husband’ who fulfills marital duties with ‘sincerity, respect, and commitment.’ She praised his fatherly dedication, noting his patience with their autistic son.
Gouri attended the sentencing and reiterated, ‘My husband is loving and respectful.’ A psychological report revealed the couple communicates by phone two to three times daily. Dhumal expressed appreciation for friends’ support and plans to appeal the conviction, potentially to the Supreme Court, to return home as the family’s primary provider.
Victim’s Lasting Trauma
The now 76-year-old victim detailed profound impacts in a 1,549-word statement. Too shaken to attend sentencing, she described her life as ‘not living, but only existing,’ feeling imprisoned in her own home despite Dhumal’s incarceration. She lives in constant fear and has withdrawn from relatives, friends, church, and community activities to avoid breakdowns.
Only her son knows of the assault; she shielded her grandchildren to protect their young minds and promote multiculturalism in their lives. She wrote of suicidal thoughts, questioning her existence and wishing not to wake up. The attack shattered her sense of safety and purpose.
Dhumal becomes eligible for parole in April 2030. He has filed an appeal and remains in custody pending resolution.
