In a significant development in the dowry death case of 24-year-old Deepika Nagar, her mother-in-law Poonam was arrested on Wednesday, along with her uncle-in-law Vinod. The arrests come days after Deepika died at her in-laws' residence in Greater Noida's Jalpura village on May 17. So far, police have taken into custody her husband Ritik and father-in-law Manoj, while three other accused remain absconding.
Family Alleges Murder, Autopsy Raises Questions
While Deepika's in-laws claimed she fell from the third-floor terrace following an argument, her family alleged she was murdered after months of harassment over dowry. The couple married in December 2024. However, police have not yet filed murder charges. The autopsy report detailed numerous grievous injuries, including a ruptured spleen, brain haematoma, and internal bleeding across multiple sites. Doctors also noted a large swelling of approximately 12 cm x 9 cm on the right side of her face, bleeding from the left ear, a massive contusion measuring roughly 38 cm x 14 cm on her right thigh, injuries on the left elbow and forearm, a bone-deep wound on the left knee, circular contusions above the right iliac crest and around the right arm, and deep abrasion marks on the chest and abdomen. Despite these findings, the exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Police Investigation and Legal Charges
The First Information Report, lodged at Ecotech-3 police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 85 (husband or relative of husband subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 80(2) (dowry death), along with sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, names seven persons. Police said viscera samples have been preserved, and they are consulting medical experts to determine if the injuries preceded the fall or resulted from it. Four teams have been formed to trace the three absconding accused.
Father's Account of Harassment
Deepika's father Sanjay earlier told media that Ritik's family was pressuring his daughter for Rs 50 lakh in cash along with a Fortuner. On the night of Deepika's death, Sanjay visited her after she called him during an argument with her husband and in-laws. He had just returned home when he received the call about Deepika's fall. He alleged she was physically assaulted and later pushed from the terrace.
The case has sparked outrage in the community, with demands for stringent action against all accused. Police continue their investigation as the family awaits justice.
