Bengaluru dowry shocker: Woman ends life over husband’s affair, torture

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A 28-year-old woman, Poojashree, died by suicide at her home in Bengaluru’s Sidedehalli on September 1, allegedly after facing harassment over dowry and her husband’s extramarital affair, India Today reported.

Police said her marriage to Nandeesh, with whom she had a young daughter, had been strained, and frequent quarrels over his alleged affair and repeated demands for dowry pushed her into despair.

Poojashree had married Nandeesh three years ago and was working as a cashier at a bank. When she questioned her husband about his alleged extramarital affair, he allegedly responded with quarrels and fresh demands for dowry.

Bagalagunte police have registered a case under charges of dowry harassment and said further investigation is underway.

According to the report, family members and well-wishers allegedly attempted mediation several times, but the harassment continued. Her mother alleged that Poojashree was constantly harrased, both for dowry and because of Nandeesh’s extramarital affair.

“I borrowed Rs 30 lakh from my father for her wedding. He used to torture her. Even after promising at the police station to take care of her, he continued the harassment. On the day of her death, he took her from our house around 7.15 am. By 8.20, he called saying she had committed suicide. This all happened because of his affair, they killed my daughter,” she was quoted by India Today as saying.

“After marriage, they demanded a house. We gave ornaments, but they still tortured her. He even had an affair. Yesterday, when we informed a relative about her death, he was so shocked that he suffered a heart attack and passed away too,” Poojashree’s grandmother said.

Last week, a 27-year-old woman named Shilpa was found dead at her home in Bengaluru. Police said she had died by suicide, and her husband Praveen has been arrested on suspicion of abetting the act.

Her family members have alleged that Shilpa was under continuous pressure due to dowry demands made by her in-laws. They said that even after providing Rs 40 lakh in cash, 160 grams of gold, and several other valuables, the harassment and demands did not end.

Shilpa had previously worked with Infosys, while her husband, who claimed to be a B.E., M.Tech, has been selling pani puri.