A 24-year-old woman, Deepika Nagar, died under suspicious circumstances at her in-laws' house in Greater Noida's Jalpura village early on May 17. Her father accused her husband and in-laws of relentless dowry harassment, leading to her death. The husband, Ritik Nagar, a real estate broker and law student, was arrested for murder on Sunday, along with his father Manoj Nagar. Five other accused remain at large.
Background of the Marriage
Deepika, a BEd graduate from Khudi Khera, married Ritik in December 2024. The match was proposed by Manoj Nagar, who praised Deepika's education and beauty. Initially, no dowry was demanded, but a month before the wedding, the groom's family sent a list of gold items expected for each family member. Deepika's father, Sanjay Nagar, borrowed money to fulfill these demands. Relatives also hinted at a desire for a Fortuner car, though no direct demand was made.
Harassment After Marriage
Two months into the marriage, Deepika faced continuous mental and physical pressure for additional dowry. Her aunt, Baiju Nagar, noted that Deepika became pale and withdrawn. Every visit home for a festival required her to bring gold items for her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. Her sister Sarika and father said Deepika was a quiet child who only wanted to study.
The Night of the Incident
On May 13, Deepika and Ritik attended a housewarming party. Four days later, at 12:27 am, neighbor Gulzaar Choudhary heard a loud thud and found Deepika unconscious on the ground. Ritik rushed her to the hospital, where she was declared dead. The autopsy revealed multiple injuries, including a ruptured spleen, brain hematoma, and internal bleeding. Police are investigating whether injuries preceded the fall.
Legal Action
An FIR was lodged at Ecotech 3 police station under Sections 85 and 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. Four police teams are searching for the absconding accused. Sanjay Nagar, who had visited his daughter's matrimonial home eight times to mediate, expressed regret for advising patience.
