Dowry Deaths: "Taking dowry is a sin," we've been hearing for years, yet the evil practice remains deeply entrenched in every part of the country. While we talk about adopting modern ideas, the dowry mentality among people pushes us back generations. The rising number of dowry harassment cases has shaken the nation. The suspicious death of Twisha Sharma of Bhopal on May 12 brought the issue of dowry harassment back into the spotlight.
Following Twisha Sharma's death, on May 17th, the suicide of Deepika Nagar of Greater Noida was reported. Like Twisha Sharma, in this case, the girl's family accused her in-laws of harassing her for dowry. 24-year-old Aishwarya, a resident of Karnataka, also died due to dowry harassment and mental stress.
From Nikki Bhati in Sirsa, Haryana, to Twisha Sharma in Bhopal, Deepika Nagar in Noida, and Aishwarya in Karnataka, the list is long as the sad story continues, following the glorification of 'Tilak' (Dowry).
Here Are 8 Major Dowry Death Cases
- 28-year-old Nikki Bhati was allegedly burned alive in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The incident, which occurred on August 21, 2025, created a huge outrage as her family claimed it was a dowry death.
- The case of the death of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma of Bhopal came to light on May 12. Twisha's husband, Samarth Singh, along with her mother-in-law and a retired judge, have been accused of torturing her.
- Deepika Nagar, a resident of Greater Noida, also fell victim to the brutality of dowry seekers. On the night of May 17, she fell to her death under suspicious circumstances from the fourth floor of her house.
- Another tragic case of dowry harassment and mental abuse has come to light in Ballari district, Karnataka. A 24-year-old woman named Aishwarya committed suicide due to the constant mental torture inflicted by her husband and mother-in-law.
- On May 15, the Ghaziabad Police arrested a man in a dowry death case in the Loni police station area. The accused used to harass his wife for dowry and instigated her to commit suicide, said the police. The deceased's father filed a complaint claiming that his son-in-law was demanding a bullet bike and Rs 5 lakh as dowry, which led to the extreme move by his daughter.
- The suspicious death of internet media influencer Palak Rajak in Surayyapura, Gwalior, also came to light a few days ago. While the in-laws claimed it was a suicide, the parents claimed it was a murder and levelled serious allegations.
- Recently, the case of the death of 29-year-old Soni Rajput of Lucknow has come to light. The family has filed murder charges against the husband and other in-laws.
- In 2024, a similar case of death due to dowry harassment came to light. Anshika from Prayagraj lost her life. Her body was found hanging at her in-laws' house. The house of the victim's in-laws was set on fire following the news of her death, killing two persons in the family. Seven were jailed in this case.
What Law Says
Most of these cases are in the court as the final judgments are yet to come. However, dowry-linked cases expose Indian society's dark side. The dowry tradition is legally banned in India, yet it continues. Under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, giving or receiving or demanding dowry is strictly illegal and a criminal act.
Dowry Deaths In India
According to the NCRB report, a total of 5,737 dowry deaths were recorded in India in 2024, which means the national dowry-related death rate is 0.8 cases per 100,000 female population. Under Section 3, anyone who gives, takes, or abets the exchange of dowry faces a minimum of 5 years in prison and a fine of at least Rs 15,000.
(With Jagran.com inputs)
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