Merchant Navy Officer's wife found dead in Lucknow home; kin alleges murder

Madhu married Anurag Singh, a Merchant Navy Officer, on February 25 this year after connecting on a matrimonial site.

A 32-year-old woman was found dead in her Lucknow home just five months after her marriage with a Merchant Navy officer, NDTV reported.

The woman was identified as Madhu Singh. While her husband, Anurag Singh, has claimed that she died by suicide, Madhu’s family members allege that her husband had been torturing her over dowry and had murdered her.

The post-mortem report has confirmed that the death was caused by hanging. As per the report, Anurag has been arrested, and police are questioning him to get to the bottom of the tragedy.

Madhu married Anurag on February 25 this year after connecting on a matrimonial site. Anurag worked as a second officer in a Hong Kong-based ship management firm. At the time of the wedding, he demanded Rs 15 lakh as dowry, Madhu's family has alleged, the report added.

WhatsApp chats shared by her family show Anurag insisting on Rs 15 lakh as dowry, as Madhu's family members say they can only manage Rs 5 lakh. As per the report, Madhu's father, Fateh Bahadur Singh, told the police that Anurag called repeatedly after the wedding and pressed for dowry. Anurag assaulted Madhu for the first time after Holi, less than a month after the wedding, and she returned to her parents' home. Her father then paid the dowry asked for, and Anurag took her back. Singh claimed that despite meeting the dowry demands, the torture continued.

Madhu's sister, Priya, said Madhu was a lively person, but Anurag did not want her to talk to anyone. Madhu had lost touch with all of her friends after her wedding and could use her phone only when Anurag was out. Madhu's father, in his complaint, has also alleged that Anurag was in an extramarital affair and recently spent a night with his ex-girlfriend at a hotel in the city. "My daughter had become pregnant, but he forced her to abort," he was quoted as saying.

NDTV reported that Madhu’s family has also shared details of the hotel booking on July 31, four days before she was found dead. The complaint says that on August 3, Madhu had told Priya that Anurag had assaulted her. "On August 4, at 4.32 pm, he called and said my daughter died by suicide... I believe he has killed my daughter," Madhu's father was quoted by NDTV as saying.

Madhu had read chats between Anurag and his ex-girlfriend on his phone and shared them with her, the report added.

As per the report, Anurag has told police that he called the 112 helpline around noon after finding that Madhu had hanged herself from the ceiling. However, Madhu's family was informed about the incident around 4.30 pm, nearly five hours later.

Police have also found that Anurag texted the maid not to come that day. However, the maid missed the message and came to work. As she rang the bell several times, no one opened the door. Anurag's phone also shows he ordered food online around 10.30 am, the report added.

During questioning, Anurag said Madhu died by suicide, but when asked about what could have pushed her to the edge, he had no answers. A case was registered against Anurag under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section relating to cruelty and under the Dowry Prohibition Act.