Delhi Woman Found Dead Two Months After Marriage; Family Alleges Dowry Harassment

July 6, 2026

New Delhi: A 28-year-old woman was found dead at a residential complex in Delhi’s Lodhi Colony just over two months after her marriage, with her family alleging that she was murdered following persistent dowry-related harassment by her in-laws.

The deceased, 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, police said the exact circumstances are yet to be established.

Family Rejects Suicide Theory

According to her family, Akriti had returned to work on Saturday after taking leave for a few days. They said she attended office, organised a small gathering for colleagues and appeared cheerful throughout the day.

Family members said Akriti spoke to her mother around 6 p.m., mentioning the office gathering and informing her that she was heading home. They insisted she showed no signs of emotional distress.

Her uncle, Mananjay Sutar, said the family received a call from Akriti’s husband around 8 p.m., claiming she was missing. About 90 minutes later, police informed them that a woman’s body had been found at Palika Kunj in Lodhi Colony.

According to reports, Akriti, who worked as a sales executive with a private company in Chhatarpur, lived in Pushp Vihar. Her body was found inside a residential society nearly 10 kilometres from her home.

Her younger brother, Amay Sutar, rejected the possibility of suicide, saying she was mentally strong and would never have taken such a step.

Dowry Harassment Alleged

The family alleged that Akriti had been subjected to continuous harassment over dowry since her marriage.

They claimed her husband and his relatives had demanded Rs 20 lakh and repeatedly threatened and mistreated her. The family also alleged that Arastu had threatened to kill her on several occasions and that the couple had a serious argument two days before the incident.

Akriti and Arastu had reportedly been in a relationship for eight years before getting married in April. According to the family, Arastu is currently unemployed.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and that all possible angles, including the family’s allegations of dowry harassment and murder, are being examined.