A Melbourne man accused of reducing his wife to a slave told her that one of his friends had killed his wife and "we can kill you as well", a court has heard.

The warning prompted the woman, who had recently moved to Melbourne from India, to flee to her neighbours' house to use their phone and call her family, according to court documents.

Her husband is facing a committal hearing in Melbourne Magistrates' Court charged with reducing a person to slavery. He cannot be named in order to protect his wife's identity.

The pair wedded in an arranged marriage in India and the woman moved to Melbourne to live with her new husband and brother-in-law in August 2015.

He is accused of mistreating her from the day she arrived, with police alleging he immediately instructed his wife to cook, clean and do the men's laundry despite her being exhausted from traveling.

The man is also accused of physically, verbally and sexually abusing his wife who allegedly survived on little more than bread and pickles.

One of the woman's sisters told police the woman said she did not have any money and was provided little food.

"They [her husband and brother-in-law] were eating from restaurants or Hungry Jacks," she said.

"She said that because she is vegetarian they were not bringing her home any vegetables, so she didn't have anything to eat."

The woman also told police that her sister was very scared of her husband.

"He told her one of his friends had killed his wife and threw her body in the bushes so no one could find her," she said.

"He said ... we can kill you as well."

Another of the woman's sisters told the hearing that her sister's husband wanted family in India to send money.

"In one message, he also said 'if you want food, ask your mum to send money'," she told the court.

"It's alright, we can send money, but it's not a good thing.

"If we send once, he will ask again."

The woman's sisters told the court they were concerned that she had no immediate family in Melbourne and no way of contacting people for help after her husband took her phone from her.

About six weeks after arriving in Australia, the woman sought help from her neighbours, who called the police, according to court documents.

The hearing before Magistrate Belinda Wallington continues.