A 24-year-old woman died under suspicious circumstances in Greater Noida’s Jalpura village, barely over a year after her marriage, triggering allegations of dowry harassment and murder from her family. Police have arrested her husband and father-in-law and launched an investigation into the case.
The incident has once again put the spotlight on alleged dowry-related abuse in Uttar Pradesh, with the victim’s family accusing her in-laws of subjecting her to sustained mental and physical torture since the wedding. While police said the preliminary probe points towards suicide, the family has alleged that she was assaulted and thrown from the rooftop to make it appear accidental.
The deceased, identified as Deepika, was married to Hrithik, a resident of Jalpura village, around 14 months ago. According to police, information about the incident reached Ecotech-3 police station late Sunday night after the woman reportedly fell from the rooftop of her in-laws’ house.
“Last night, information was received in the Ecotech-3 police station stating that a woman in the village of Jalpura who had been married just one and a half years ago, had died after jumping from a rooftop,” DCP Central Noida Shailendra Kumar Singh said.
He added that police teams immediately reached the spot and initiated legal proceedings, including preparation of the inquest report and post-mortem examination.
Family alleges dowry harassment and assault
Deepika’s father, Sanjay, alleged that tensions over dowry had persisted since the marriage and claimed he had visited her in-laws’ house shortly before the incident to settle the dispute.
“Just yesterday, I went to their house and spoke with them. But half an hour after I left, I received a call from Manoj, who informed me that my daughter, Deepika, had fallen,” he told ANI.
According to him, the family initially believed she had suffered an accidental injury.
“I asked him, ‘Did she fall down the stairs? Did she fall in the bathroom?’ He replied, ‘She has fallen from the roof, and we are currently taking her to Sharda Hospital.’ When we arrived at the hospital and saw her, we found her dead,” he alleged.
The victim’s uncle, Vishesh Nagar, also claimed Deepika’s body bore multiple injury marks.
“There are marks of physical assault all over her body; there is also a deep wound likely inflicted by a blade, a screwdriver, or something similar,” he alleged, claiming she was beaten before being thrown from the terrace.
The family further alleged that substantial dowry, including a Fortuner SUV, had been given during the marriage, but demands for more continued.
Husband and father-in-law arrested
Police said a case was registered on the basis of a written complaint filed by the woman’s family.
“Based on a written complaint submitted by the deceased’s family members, a case has been registered under relevant sections of the law,” DCP Singh said.
The officer confirmed that Deepika’s husband, Hrithik, and her father-in-law, Manoj, have been arrested. Further evidence is being collected, and the post-mortem report is awaited.
Police officials said all angles, including the allegations of dowry harassment and foul play, are being examined as part of the investigation.