Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Police have arrested a bank officer in connection with the suicide of a 26-year-old woman who allegedly took the extreme step due to dowry harassment. The incident took place in Mahadevpuram Colony under the Shivpur police station area.
Woman Died by Suicide on February 27
The victim, Kajal (26), was found hanging at her home on February 27. According to police, she had been facing harassment related to dowry from her husband and in-laws. She was married just 15 months ago.
She wrote, “My parents raised me with love and care, but I did not get that love in my in-laws’ house. I am my father’s princess.”
FIR Filed Earlier Against In-Laws
Just 18 days before her death, on February 9, Kajal had already filed an FIR against six members of her in-laws’ family, including her husband. In the complaint, she accused them of dowry harassment, physical assault, and forcing her out of the house.
During the investigation, police recovered a suicide note from the scene. In the note, Kajal reportedly wrote that her parents had raised her with great love, but she did not receive the same love and care at her in-laws’ house.
She told police that her marriage with Nitesh Kumar Singh had taken place on November 16, 2024. She alleged that her in-laws spent around ₹80 lakh on the wedding, and initially, everything was fine. However, soon after, demands for a car began, and she was regularly beaten and threatened over it.
In her complaint, Kajal named her husband Nitesh Kumar Singh, brother-in-law Vivek Kumar Singh, Abhishek Kumar Singh, sister-in-law Priya Singh, Anchal Singh, and mother-in-law Kankalta Singh as responsible for harassment. She reiterated these allegations in her suicide note, writing that on February 7, she was verbally abused, beaten, and thrown out of the house. Mental harassment had pushed her to take her life.
📊 Dowry Crime Statistics in India (NCRB Data)
Total Reported Cases (2023):
According to NCRB data released in late 2025 (covering 2023 statistics), there were 15,489 cases registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act in 2023. This is a 14% increase compared to 13,479 cases in 2022.
Dowry Deaths (2023):
More than 6,100 women lost their lives due to dowry-related violence in 2023, which means an average of over 20 deaths per day.
Total Incidents:
Dowry was cited as the motive in 833 murder cases, apart from thousands of harassment and abuse cases reported across the country.
Rising Trend:
Dowry-related crimes have shown a steady rise in recent years. Between 2017 and 2022, more than 35,000 cases were registered, indicating that dowry remains a serious social problem.
Regional Hotspots (2023):
Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of cases with 7,151 incidents, followed by Bihar with 3,665 cases.
Arrests (2023):
A total of 27,154 people were arrested under the Dowry Prohibition Act, including 22,316 men and 4,838 women.
Conviction rates for dowry-related crimes remain relatively low, usually between 11% and 17%, mainly due to lack of evidence and delays in court trials.
Underreporting:
Experts believe many dowry crimes are never reported. In 2022, 15 states and Union Territories reported zero cases under the Dowry Prohibition Act, suggesting gaps in reporting and implementation.
Case Registered for Dowry Death
After the incident, Kajal’s father Neeraj Rai filed a complaint with the police. Based on his complaint, the police registered a case on February 27 against 11 people, including her husband, under charges related to dowry death.
After filing a police complaint, Kajal was allegedly confined on the third floor of her in-laws’ home. She was not allowed to talk to anyone.
Her uncle, Ambuj Rai, said the family tried calling her repeatedly from noon, but she did not answer. They then went to her in-laws’ house. The door was locked from inside, prompting them to call police at 112.
Police broke open the door and found Kajal hanging. Her in-laws had fled. The forensic team and police sent her body for post-mortem.
Husband Arrested After Being on the Run
The accused husband, Nitesh Kumar Singh, works as an Assistant Manager at Bank of India in Maldahia. After the incident, he and his family members were reportedly absconding. A police team from Shivpur police station tracked him down and arrested him from Phulwaria on Friday. After his arrest, the accused was produced before a court, which ordered that he be sent to judicial custody.
Station House Officer Ajit Kumar Verma said that police teams are continuing their efforts to locate and arrest the other accused persons involved in the case.
