Delhi dowry death: Family cries 'planned murder'; husband arrested, sister booked

New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) Delhi Police on Monday arrested the husband and booked his sister in connection with the death of a 28-year-old newlywed woman after allegedly falling from the third floor of a building in Lodhi Colony, officials said. The accused has been identified as Arastu Sikka and his sister, Augustika. The victim has been identified as Akriti. The mother of the victim, Anusay Sutar, alleged that her daughter was assaulted for an additional dowry of Rs 20 lakh, tortured for her demand to resume her job, and forced to have a child. "My daughter was very strong. This is not suicide. This is a pre-planned murder," the mother said. Initial investigation showed injuries on Akriti's left arm and thigh, but it is not yet clear if these injuries were the result of the fall or the alleged assault. According to the family, Arastu met Akriti through his sister Augustika, who is the victim's school friend. The couple had dated for two years before getting married. The victim's family said that before marriage, Akriti had clearly told her in-laws that she would continue her job even after marriage because she wanted to support her family. "But Arastu's behaviour completely changed after marriage. When my daughter tried to return to her job, she was harassed many times," the mother alleged in her complaint. She further said Arastu also questioned her character and assaulted her with a belt based on suspicion of an affair. One day, after an argument, Akriti went to Augustika's residence, but the accused chased her there and attempted to assault her, the complainant said. When the victim told her mother about the incident, Augustika allegedly said not to interfere in "their family matters". Augustika allegedly told the complainant that "Akriti had been brought into the family to perform household chores and cook for her husband, and that there had been no formal agreement permitting her to continue her job." The complainant further said that on July 3, she telephoned Arastu's father, requesting him to intervene in the couple's domestic dispute. Although they lived in the same house, he allegedly claimed to be unaware of his son's conduct. She alleged that when Arastu's father tried to speak to his son, the latter abused him and blamed Akriti for the dispute. Akriti, a resident of Pushp Vihar, had resumed her job as a sales executive at a private company in Chhatarpur on July 1 and had also thrown a small party for her April 24 marriage at the office, her brother, Deepu, told PTI. The police have accessed the Google search history of Akriti, who had allegedly searched "how to die easily" in May, sources said. The brother of the victim also alleged that she had been subjected to continuous harassment and abuse by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands after her marriage. "They warned her that if she disclosed anything to me. I would either be harmed or lose my job," he claimed. "She got married just two months ago. Since then, her husband and in-laws had been torturing her for dowry. She was mentally harassed regularly," he told PTI. Deepu alleged that the incident was being projected as a case of suicide to shield those responsible. The deceased was found critically injured after the alleged fall from the NDMC residential complex in Palika Kunj on Saturday. She was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where doctors declared her dead. The mother also alleged that on the night of the incident, Augustika allegedly called the complainant, accusing her of hiding Akriti at her parental home. Arastu also allegedly accused the family of concealing her whereabouts, claimed she had eloped with someone else, and reprimanded the complainant for informing his father about the alleged assault, the complaint stated. The family said they learned about Akriti's death around 10 pm on July 4 after a police officer from Lodhi Colony police station answered her mobile phone and asked them to come to the police station. However, her family and relatives said that they have no idea how she reached the residential complex. The police are examining CCTV footage from the Palika Kunj Apartments to see if anyone accompanied Akriti or whether she had arrived there alone. "We are trying to ascertain why the woman chose to visit that area. Her mobile phone records, call detail records, and other digital evidence are being analysed to establish her movements and contacts before the incident. The police said the death occurred within seven years of marriage, following which mandatory inquest proceedings were conducted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). The police said the investigation is continuing and all angles are being examined. An FIR under sections 80(2) (dowry death), 85 (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS against Arastu and his sister Augustika. PTI BM APL APL