New Delhi, July 5 -- A 28-year-old newlywed woman died after allegedly falling from the third floor of the NDMC Flats in South Delhi's Lodhi Colony under mysterious circumstances on Saturday evening, with her family accusing her husband and in-laws of murdering her over alleged dowry demands.

Police were alerted to the incident through a PCR call received at Lodhi Colony Police Station. The woman, identified as Akriti Sutar, a resident of Pushp Vihar, was found critically injured and rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where she was declared brought dead.

Police have initiated proceedings under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), while the Sub-Divisional Magistrate has been informed for inquest proceedings. A post-mortem examination is under way. Akriti, who worked as a sales executive in Chhatarpur, had married Arastu Sikka on April 24 after the two had reportedly known each other for nearly eight years. Investigators said they are examining all possible angles, including the circumstances that led to her presence at the residential complex, located around 10 kilometres from her matrimonial home.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said the woman was found injured after an alleged fall from the residential complex and that the investigation remains open. "All aspects of the incident are being verified. The inquiry is in progress," he said.

Rejecting the possibility of suicide, Akriti's family alleged that she had been subjected to repeated harassment over dowry following her marriage. They claimed that her husband and his family had demanded Rs 20 lakh and had threatened her on multiple occasions. Her brother said she was mentally strong and would never have taken her own life.

The family further claimed that Akriti had spoken to her mother shortly after leaving work on Saturday evening. They alleged that her husband later informed them she was missing before police contacted them about the incident. They also questioned why her body was found at a largely unoccupied residential complex and claimed the absence of bloodstains at the scene raised suspicion. They said the post-mortem report would be crucial in determining the exact cause of her death.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.