Delhi: A 21-year-old pregnant woman in Delhi committed suicide allegedly after she was harassed over dowry.
Payal got married to Pawan on November 21, 2009 with traditional fanfare. The groom's side was gifted essential home appliances along with jewellery at the time of the marriage.
"Around 11.30 am on Monday, the family members of Pawan told us that Payal fell down from the stairs and was admitted to St. Stephen's Hospital. We first thought there might be some problem related to her pregnancy. But when we reached the hospital, we saw Payal lying on a stretcher surrounded by cops and Pawan's family members. She was brought dead to the hospital. Pawan showed her suicide note and said that she committed suicide by hanging herself," said Saroj, mother of the deceased.
According to Saroj, all the essential home appliances and jewellery were given to Pawan and his family at the time of marriage. But Pawan demanded a car or Rs two lakh. He used to beat up Payal everyday for this. Payal would often complain to her family about Pawan's misbehaviour but the family thought some patience from her side would make the situation better.
"A few months after their marriage, Pawan stopped working and we got to know that he is an alcoholic. Payal was working in a private firm in Kashmiri Gate area. Pawan used to take all the money from her. This made Payal unhappy. Moreover, Pawan used to physically assault her in the night after drinking.
"Even when Payal's younger brother and sister went to meet her, Pawan started beating her in front of them. She was living a terrible life, but we were helpless. Pawan demanded money for reconstruction and partition of his house and we gave him all the money he wanted in installments. But still he wasn't satisfied," added Saroj.
The police have lodged an FIR in Kashmiri Gate police station and have arrested Pawan and his parents.
"This is a case of dowry death and they haven't even completed seven years of their marriage. So the SDM of the area is conducting an inquiry. We have registered an FIR under section 498A, 34C, 304B and 306 of IPC and have arrested the accused and his parents," said a police officer.