A 28-year-old newly married woman was found dead under suspicious circumstances in South Delhi's Lodhi Colony, and her family has alleged dowry harassment and murder. Police have registered the case and said that all possible angles are being investigated and magisterial proceedings have also been initiated.
The woman, Aakriti, was a resident of Pushp Vihar and had been married for just over two months. According to police, they were informed on Saturday that a woman had fallen from the rooftop of a residential building at NDMC Flats, Palika Kunj, in Lodhi Colony area.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital and doctors declared her dead.
Aakriti married on April 24 this year and worked as a sales executive at a private company in Chhatarpur. Police are investigating the cause of her death, sources said.
Family Alleges Dowry Harassment
The victim’s family has vehemently rejected the idea of suicide, claiming that Aakriti had been continuously harassed by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands.
Her younger brother claimed she was murdered and that efforts were being made to portray the incident as a suicide.
"She was the eldest child in our family and a very responsible person. She could never take such a step. This was a pre-planned murder," he claimed.
The family also said Aakriti was subjected to harassment since her marriage and that they wanted to bring severe legal action against those responsible.
Family and friends of the victim say the victim was harassed.
A close friend of the deceased also alleged that Aakriti's husband had physically assaulted and harassed her over dowry demands.
Aakriti, according to her friend, was mentally strong and had no reason to take her own life.
"She could never commit suicide. She was being mistreated after marriage," said one friend who has since said that she would like a thorough and impartial investigation.
Last Known Movements Under Scanner
The woman’s final movements have become a central focus of the investigation.
Aakriti resumed work on July 1 after her wedding, her family said. She usually traveled by bus to Pushp Vihar bus stand, where her husband would pick her up on a motorcycle.
She had planned a post-marriage event for her colleagues at her workplace on Friday. She informed her mother before leaving the office that she was heading to Saket Metro station.
However, nearly two hours later, the family received information that she had been found critically injured at Palika Kunj in Lodhi Colony.
When asked how she reached an area with which she allegedly had no known connection, the family claimed that she was killed elsewhere before her body was dumped at the spot to make it appear as a case of suicide.
Police Investigation Underway
All aspects of the case are being investigated and no conclusion has been reached at this stage, Delhi Police said. They’re conducting magisterial proceedings and have been collecting forensic evidence, examining CCTV footage and collecting statements of family members and other relevant witnesses.
The case has drawn attention because of mounting concerns about deaths of alleged dowry-related people in India. In recent months, the deaths of Twisha Sharma in Bhopal and Deepika Nagar in Greater Noida also made the conversation about crimes against women and allegations of dowry harassment a lot more serious.
As such, the investigation is ongoing and appropriate legal action will be taken based on the evidence collected, the police said.
