Delhi Dowry Death: A 28-year-old woman, identified as Akriti Sutar, died after allegedly falling from the third floor of an NDMC residential complex in south Delhi’s Lodhi Colony area on Saturday, with her family claiming she had confided being physically assaulted and threatened by her husband in the days before her death. Her husband, Arastu Sikka, has been arrested and a case registered under sections governing dowry deaths. The case has drawn comparisons with the recent death of Twisha Sharma, another alleged dowry-related incident that sparked widespread public outrage. While the two cases are separate and remain under investigation, both have intensified the national conversation around dowry-related crimes.
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A Marriage That Turned Troubled
Akriti, who worked as a sales executive with a private firm in Chhatarpur, had married Sikka on April 24 after being in a relationship with him for eight years. The couple lived in Pushp Vihar, nearly 10 kilometres from where her body was found. Her family said she had gone to the office on Saturday after being on leave, hosted a small gathering for colleagues, and spoke cheerfully to her mother around 6 pm, giving no indication of distress before the incident.
Family Alleges Assault and Threats Over Dowry
Her relatives allege that Akriti had confided to her mother in the preceding days that her husband had physically assaulted her with a belt and threatened her life amid escalating dowry demands reportedly amounting to Rs 20 lakh. The family said the couple had a serious argument just two days before her death and rejected the possibility of suicide, describing Akriti as mentally strong.
The Night She Went Missing
According to her uncle, Mananjay Sutar, the family received a call from Sikka around 8 pm saying Akriti was missing, and were informed roughly 90 minutes later that a woman’s body had been found at Palika Kunj. She was rushed to AIIMS, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Investigation Underway
Delhi Dowry Death: Delhi Police have registered an FIR and arrested Sikka, though officials say they are examining the case from all angles, including the discrepancy between the couple’s residence and the location where she was found. Investigators are reviewing her phone records and questioning family members as the probe continues.
