Doctor’s wife dies by suicide 48 days after marriage:Family alleges abuse and CCTV surveillance; husband arrested

In Maharashtra’s Thane district, 26-year-old Vishakha Tilkar died by suicide just 48 days after her marriage. Vishakha, a resident of Pune, had an arranged marriage on April 30 with Dr Nitin Tilkar, who lives in Ambernath in Thane district. Nitin, a BHMS doctor, practises in Ulhasnagar. Police have arrested Nitin, his mother Chhaya, and his brother. All three have been booked for dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. According to Vishakha’s family, Nitin was suspicious of her and had installed CCTV cameras inside and outside the house to monitor her movements. He allegedly stopped her from speaking to anyone and would beat her if she did. Accused of demanding 50 grams of gold after marriage Vishakha’s family said no dowry was given to the groom’s family at the time of the wedding. However, soon after the marriage, her husband and in-laws allegedly began demanding 50 grams of gold from her parents. The family claimed that, apart from demanding dowry, the in-laws also questioned Vishakha’s character. As a result, she was kept under strict watch and isolated from others. On June 14, after seeing her talking to a woman from the neighbourhood, her husband and in-laws allegedly assaulted her. Family members were about to bring Vishakha back Upset by the incident, Vishakha called her parents in Pune and told them about the harassment she had been facing. Her parents were preparing to travel to Ambernath to speak with her in-laws and bring her home. Meanwhile, on June 16, Vishakha allegedly took her own life after being unable to cope with the harassment. Senior Police Inspector Ramesh Patil of Shivaji Nagar Police Station said the accused family was unhappy because they had not received dowry after the marriage. Vishakha’s father, an auto-rickshaw driver in Pune, was unable to meet their alleged demands.