Doctor dies by suicide after groom cancels wedding over BMW, gold as dowry

Follwing Dr Shahana's death, her fiance Dr Ruwais has been taken into police custody. (Image credit: News18, LinkedIn)

A doctor and to-be bride in Kerala died by suicide after the groom's family cancelled the wedding over dowry issues. According to reports, the groom -- also a doctor -- demanded a BMW, gold, and 15 acres of land, Times of India reported. He was taken into custody on Thursday, the police said.

Dr Shahana (26), a postgraduate student in the surgery department of the Government Medical College was on Tuesday found unconscious at her apartment and later declared brought-dead at the hospital. She left a suicide note in which she stated that "everybody wants money only".

Shahana's father, who used to work in the Middle East, also died recently. Her family alleged that she was depressed due to the huge dowry sought by the groom's family, and thus decided to end her life. People close to the deceased's family alleged that Shahana was depressed as her fiance had backed out of their marriage citing dowry as the reason.

Meanwhile, a local councillor claimed that initially, Shahana's family was ready to pay the dowry but the groom's family later demanded 150 sovereigns of gold, 15 acres of land and a BMW car. Shahana's family could not agree to this demand, Times of India reported.

"They demanded a huge amount as dowry and later backed out from the proposal. Dr Shahana was depressed over that," the councillor told PTI.

Based on their statements, the groom, Ruwais, who is also a postgraduate doctor in the college, was taken into custody on Thursday, the police said. "We have taken him into custody based on the statements of the victim's family. He is being interrogated," a senior officer told news agency PTI.
He said a case of unnatural death was registered soon after Shahana's death. Sections of abetment to suicide and Dowry Prohibition Act were added based on the statements of Dr Shahana's family, he added. "We have to check the veracity of various statements we have recorded. Further proceedings including his arrest will be decided only after that," the officer said.

On Wednesday, the Kerala government had ordered a probe into the death after allegations of dowry-related problems having caused the suicide cropped up. Health Minister Veena George directed the director of the Women and Child Development Department to carry out a probe and submit a report regarding this.

The state Minority Commission also initiated a case on its own based on media reports in this regard. Its chairperson AA Rasheed directed the district collector, city police commissioner, and director of medical education to appear before the Commission during its next sitting here on December 14 and submit a report on the incident.

(With inputs from PTI)

Read more: Hyderabad groom cancels wedding over 'old' furniture as dowry