A 25-year-old woman, Veena Kumari, allegedly died after falling from the terrace of her home in west Delhi's Dasghara village on May 18, following years of dowry-related harassment and abuse, her family has claimed.
Distress Call Before Death
Minutes before her fall, Veena reportedly called her elder sister Reena (34) around 9:55 pm, saying, “Save me, they are beating me.” Seven minutes later, the family received another call informing them that Veena had fallen from the terrace. Her younger brother Rajkumar (22), a law student, said, “In the last call she made, she emphasised that if she died, we should take care of her son.”
Background of the Victim
Veena, the second among six siblings from a farming family in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, studied till Class XII and briefly worked at a private job between 2017 and 2018. Her family said she used her earnings to support her younger brother's education.
Dowry Demands and Abuse
Her father Suresh, a farmer, alleged that despite limited financial means, the family fulfilled dowry demands at the time of her marriage to Raju, a helper at a private firm, in December 2022. “A bike, a 32-inch LED TV, furniture... all this still wasn’t enough. They kept asking for more, beating her up,” Suresh alleged.
The harassment began within six months of the marriage after Veena moved to Delhi. Rajkumar said, “The first fight happened a year after they wed. Didi called me over. I saw nail scratches all over her, and they had slammed her head against the wall.” He further alleged that one assault was so severe that a slap ruptured her eardrum.
Abuse During Pregnancy
The abuse continued even during pregnancy, with Veena forced to cook on a traditional wood-fired stove while pregnant. She continued to face beatings after giving birth. The family claimed her in-laws taunted and humiliated her over medical expenses despite the child being delivered at a government hospital.
Escalation After Brother-in-Law's Wedding
The situation worsened after the April 25 wedding of Veena's brother-in-law. Raju's family received a larger dowry in that marriage and began comparing and humiliating Veena's family over it. Rajkumar alleged, “We wanted to approach the police, but village elders intervened through a panchayat and told us not to file a complaint.”
The family further claimed that Veena was kept financially dependent on her in-laws and often secretly sought help from her brother for basic expenses. “I used to secretly send her money so she could buy supplies for her infant son,” Rajkumar said.
Police Action
Police have arrested Raju and his younger brother in connection with the case and sent them to judicial custody. The investigation is ongoing.
