New Delhi: Just two months after her marriage, a 28-year-old woman was found dead at a residential complex in Delhi’s Lodhi Colony, officials said on Monday, adding that the deceased’s family has strongly alleged that she was murdered following days of dowry-related harassment by her in-laws.
The deceased, identified as Akriti Sutar, had married Arastu Sikka on April 24, barely 72 days before her death on Saturday. While preliminary findings suggest she may have fallen from a building, her family has strongly alleged that she was murdered.
Akriti went to the office on Saturday after days of leave. Rejecting the possibility of suicide, Akriti’s family said her actions throughout the day reflected no signs of emotional distress. They stated that she had attended office and even organised a small gathering for her colleagues, describing her as cheerful and in good spirits.
According to family members, Akriti also spoke to her mother at around 6 p.m. on Saturday. During the conversation, she reportedly mentioned the office gathering and said she was heading home. Her relatives said she sounded completely normal and gave no indication that anything was wrong.
Her uncle, Mananjay Sutar, said the family received a phone call from Akriti’s husband, Arastu Sikka, at around 8 p.m., informing them that she was missing. About an hour and a half later, police contacted the family to inform them that the body of a woman had been found at Palika Kunj in Lodhi Colony.
According to NDTV, Akriti, who worked as a sales executive with a private firm in Chhatarpur, lived in Pushp Vihar. Her body was discovered on the ground inside a residential society in Lodhi Colony, around 10 kilometres from her home. Police suspect that she fell from the building, but the exact circumstances surrounding her death are yet to be established.
Her younger brother, Amay Sutar, dismissed the possibility of suicide, saying Akriti was mentally strong and would never have taken such a step.
The family has further alleged that Akriti had been subjected to persistent harassment over dowry since her marriage. They claimed that her husband and his relatives had been demanding Rs 20 lakh and had repeatedly threatened and mistreated her.
They also alleged that Arastu had threatened to kill her on several occasions and that the couple had a serious argument just two days before the incident.
Akriti and Arastu had been in a relationship for eight years before marrying in April. According to the family, Arastu is currently unemployed.
Police said the case is under investigation and that all possible angles, including the allegations made by the family, are being examined.
