In what seems to be an instance of dowry death, a 35-year-old woman employee of Bank of America (BOA) died under suspicious circumstances at her house in Hyderabad on Sunday.
G Padmaja was found hanging from the ceiling at her residence at Sudarshan Nagar, Gachibowli.
Padmaja’s parent allege that she was being harassed for dowry by her husband Gireesh Narasimha, a software engineer at Tech Mahindra, and his family.
Padmaja did not leave behind a suicide note but sent an SMS to her husband informing him about her decision to commit suicide, according to The Times of India.
Padmaja sent an SMS to Gireesh saying that she is going to die. But Gireesh did not take her message seriously and went out to watch to the Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan. When Padmaja did not take his calls, Gireesh asked one of his relatives to check on his wife. The relative then informed Gireesh that Padmaja was found hanging, reported TOI.
Gireesh then reached home and took Padmaja to KIMS, where she was declared brought dead. He then informed Padmaja’s father.
Chandrakanth, Inspector of Gachibowli, told TNM that according to Gireesh, Padmaja allegedly hanged herself at their house when she was alone. He also claimed that she was suffering from depression.
Padmaja and Gireesh got married in 2016. Her parents allege that he had been harassing her for dowry.
“They had given around Rs 2 lakh cash and 18 tola gold during the wedding. However, the parents say that Gireesh had been harassing her to transfer a property she had in her name, to him,” Chandrakanth said.
At the time of their marriage Gireesh was given 1.8 acre of land along with cash and gold ornaments, reported TOI. However, Gireesh and his family demanded additional dowry.
Gireesh, who has a house in Sudharshan colony, wanted to construct two additional floors and was putting pressure on Padmaja to sell off the 1.8 acre land that was in her name. Padmaja was reluctant to sell the property and this was likely the reason she was being harassed by her husband and his family.
Her father Nageshwar Rao said she had told him over phone on Sunday that she would be coming to their house after washing clothes.
He later received a call from Gireesh, informing him that she was admitted to a hospital as she was bleeding from her nose and ears. By the time her parents reached the hospital, Padmaja was already declared dead. They said her body had injury marks.
Padmaja held an MBA in finance and was working in the backend support team at Bank of America, the police said.
A case of dowry death has been registered under section 304B of the IPC and the body has been sent for autopsy. The police said they are questioning her husband.
(With IANS inputs)