Lucknow, May 27 (IANS) What began as a hopeful new chapter in the life of 26-year-old Shweta Singh, ended in tragedy. Barely six months after her marriage, Shweta was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Lucknow on May 25. Shweta’s family has accused her husband and in-laws of prolonged dowry harassment and alleged that her death was not a suicide but a “pre-planned murder.”

The words “Sada Saubhagyavati Bhava” — a traditional blessing wishing a woman lifelong marital happiness — had once adorned Shweta’s mehendi during her wedding celebrations. Today, those memories stand in painful contrast to the allegations being raised by her family.

According to Shweta’s father, Umesh Kumar Singh, he spent beyond his financial capacity to organise his daughter’s marriage to Bhupendra Singh on November 22, 2025. Despite this, he alleged that the groom’s family continued to pressure them for additional dowry, including a Scorpio SUV and Rs 10 lakh in cash.

According to NDTV, Shweta’s sisters, Komal and Jyoti, claimed that the demands were made openly during the ‘vidaayi (departure of bride to her marital home)’ ceremony itself. They alleged that their father was humiliated and forced to hold the groom’s feet, in an attempt to avoid conflict on the wedding day.

The sisters further alleged that Bhupendra behaved coldly throughout the incident and hurried Shweta into the vehicle without allowing her to properly bid farewell to her family members.

According to the family, the harassment did not end after the wedding. Umesh Kumar Singh alleged that his daughter was subjected to continuous mental torture inside her marital home. He claimed that Shweta’s mother-in-law often involved extended family members in taunting and humiliating her over dowry-related issues.

The family also alleged that Shweta’s sister-in-law, who lives in Noida, frequently interfered in household matters and used abusive language against Shweta and her parents. They claimed that derogatory remarks about Shweta and her family were sometimes posted on social media.

Before marriage, Shweta worked in the debit card department of HDFC Bank. Her family alleged that she was pressured into quitting her job shortly after the marriage was fixed. Although she was reportedly assured that she could resume working later, disputes allegedly arose because her husband’s family wanted her to remain a homemaker.

Komal alleged that her sister was gradually isolated from her parental family. According to her, Bhupendra restricted Shweta’s communication with relatives and closely monitored her movements. She also claimed that whenever Shweta visited her ailing mother, arguments and disturbances would follow at her marital home.

The family said Shweta had spoken to her father around two hours before news of her death reached them. She had also spoken to her sister nearly an hour earlier. During those conversations, they claimed they noticed nothing unusual in her behaviour.

By the time the family reached the house, Shweta had already been taken to a hospital by her in-laws, where doctors declared her dead.

A case has now been registered with Lucknow Police against members of the Singh family. Police have arrested Shweta’s husband, Bhupendra Singh, and his father, Kaushlendra Singh, and questioning is currently underway.

The accused named in the FIR include Bhupendra Singh, his parents, his brother, his brother’s wife, and his sister. They have been booked under Section 80 (dowry death) and Section 85 (cruelty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

The post-mortem examination confirmed that Shweta died by hanging.

The case has once again drawn attention to rising allegations of dowry harassment and suspicious deaths of married women across the country.

In a recent case from Greater Noida, 24-year-old Deepika Nagar died after falling from the third-floor terrace of her in-laws’ home around 18 months after her marriage. Her family alleged that she faced repeated dowry demands and pressure to bring gold and jewellery from her parental home during festivals.

Similarly, in Bhopal, actor-model Twisha Sharma, 33, was found dead at her matrimonial home earlier this month. Her family accused her husband and mother-in-law of mental harassment and financial pressure, while also raising concerns over the manner in which the investigation was conducted.

–IANS

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