Diamond merchant's wife plunges to death

Mumbai: Bhakti Shah (26), wife of a diamond merchant Tejas Shah (28), committed suicide by jumping from the fourth floor of her Borivali residence on Tuesday morning. The couple had been married for three years and had a five-month-old son. The deceased allegedly took her life, as she could not endure the harassment she was subjected to by her by her husband and in-laws.

She was allegedly being harassed for dowry. According to Borivali police, Bhakti had accompanied her in-laws to her brother's wedding at Ahmedabad about ten days ago. At the wedding, the family was disgruntled as Bhakti's family allegedly failed to pander to their demands. They were also of the opinion that if the family could afford the lavish wedding, they should also dole out dowry for their daughter's family.

Following the Shahs' return, these issues became a bone of contention in the family. On Monday night, Bhakti was embroiled in a heated argument with Tejas, who repeatedly taunted her and pressed her to obtain money from her family. Tuesday morning saw another altercation between and her mother-in-law, possibly triggering off her suicidal instinct. It was then that she took the fatal plunge.

The Borivali police have filed a case for dowry and abetment to suicide against Tejas, and Bhakti's parents-in-law Vasant Shah and Shulsha Shah.

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Bharat Jogani (56), Bhakti's father and the complainant in the case, said, "My daughter had been facing harassment from her in-laws and husband. She was ill-treated earlier as well, but the intensity had escalated since she returned to Mumbai from our son's wedding. She would often call us up to report the abuse she faced."

After the incident, Bhakti was rushed to hospital, but died during treatment.

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