Tiruppur dowry death: police investigation reveals husband, in-laws subjected newly-wed to cruelty

The investigation by the police into the recent death by suicide of newly-wed woman A. Rithanya, 27, due to alleged dowry harassment in Tiruppur found that she had been subjected to cruelty by her husband E. Kavinkumar, 28, and his family members.

A statement from the Tiruppur District (Rural) Police on Tuesday stated that harassment by Kavinkumar and his family members was revealed in the investigation conducted by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Avinashi.

The police stated that A. Rithanya, daughter of R.G. Annadurai, 53, a real estate dealer from Kaikattipudur in Tiruppur, and Kavinkumar of Pazhangarai near Avinashi got married on April 11 this year. Rithanya’s parents took her home two weeks after the marriage due to differences of opinion between the couple. After pacifying the couple, her parents sent her back to her husband’s residence some days later. However, Rithanya returned home on June 22 and told her parents that she would go back to her husband’s house after staying for some days, said the police.

According to the police, Rithanya left her residence in a car around 9.30 a.m. on June 28, telling her mother that she was going to a temple. After being alerted that Rithanya was found unconscious inside the car, with froth all over her face, at Chettipudur around 1 p.m., her parents rushed to the spot and took her to the Government Hospital at Avinashi. However, doctors declared her dead on arrival.

The Cheyur police registered a case under Section 194 (3) (suicide by a woman within seven years of her marriage) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita based on a complaint lodged by the woman’s father. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiruppur, launched an inquiry into the incident.

An audio note, which Rithanya sent to her father over WhatsApp before her death, stated that Kavinkumar and his parents Eswaramoorthy and Chithradevi harassed her mentally and physically and they were the reason for her death, the police said.

The police have arrested Kavinkumar and Eswaramoorthy for offences under Sections 85 (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is on.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).