New Delhi: Days after a 28-year-old woman allegedly fell from a building in the Capital’s Lodhi Colony area, the Delhi Police Monday arrested her husband for what it suspects to be a dowry death. The deceased has been identified as Akriti, who worked as a sales executive in Chhatarpur. The husband has been identified as Arastu Sikka.
The kin of the deceased have alleged that husband’s family would make demands for dowry, including an air conditioner, gold and Rs 20 lakh in cash, and that he would harass her for not bringing anything from her home upon marriage.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said that the woman, a resident of Pushp Vihar, was found injured after an alleged fall at the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) Flats in Palika Kunj on 4 July, which comes under Lodhi Colony jurisdiction. The woman was later declared brought dead at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
The police said the woman was married on 24 April this year, and that they have initiated proceedings under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate has been informed for inquest proceedings.
The DCP further said that after due formalities, a case under relevant sections of dowry death was registered at the Lodhi Colony Police Station on 5 July. “Her husband Arastu Sikka has been arrested in the matter,” he said. No evidence of foul play has surfaced so far and prima facie, the case appears to be of a suicide, the police said.
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‘Dowry harassment, domestic violence’
Akriti’s relatives told ThePrint that the husband and wife had known each other for some time through common friends, and that it was a love marriage. “Our daughter was killed in just 72 days of this marriage,” one female relative said.
The family has claimed Akriti was murdered by Sikka and his parents, and that she was mentally and physically tortured.
The relative said that Akriti’s husband would frequently assault her, sometimes with a belt, taunting her for “not bringing anything from her home” after marriage.
“Most of what Akriti’s family had was spent while her father was seeking treatment for cancer, and eventually he passed away. Her mother is a housewife, and she managed to get Akriti married by taking loans from other family members and neighbours. She is still repaying those loans,” she said.
The family spent close to Rs 8 lakh on Akriti’s wedding. Her younger brother was dependent on her too. To help her mother out, Akriti had started working, but her husband pressured her constantly to quit the job.
“This family never misbehaved when we took her rishta (proposal) to them. They were okay with Akriti doing her job. They were extremely sweet. We also assumed our daughter was in good hands. That she would be safe,” the relative said.
But, she added, things changed after marriage. “Every day demands were made for AC, gold, and even Rs 20 lakh.”
She said Akriti was assaulted for not picking up calls, and her moral character was doubted.
On the morning of 4 July, Akriti called her to say she was leaving for work. Her phone was switched off after that.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a police officer said that while investigation in the case was underway, the deceased’s phone has been verified, and her WhatsApp chats and Google search history looked at.
Even as the family alleges abuse and dowry pressure, the officer said, her digital history points to a possible suicide case. The officer said, “Last week, Akriti had searched on Google whether a fall from the second floor would cause death.” Other searches, the officer said, were about “how to die easily”. The phone is being investigated further.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)