In the double suicide case reported last week, the Nandanvan Police Station has registered a criminal case against five persons for abetment to suicide and dowry harassment following detailed inquiry. The deceased have been identified as Sangita Shriram Dhabale (52), a resident of Venkatesh Nagar near KDK College, and her daughter Akanksha Lokesh Bramhe (29), a resident of Om Nagar, Sakkardara. Both were found dead in their residence at Venkatesh Nagar on May 1. Initially, an accidental death case was registered. However, during the course of investigation and based on a complaint filed by brother of one of the deceased women, Vilas Keshavrao Pise (47), a resident of Mathani in Mauda tehsil, serious allegations of harassment and cruelty surfaced.

 

According to police, since her marriage, Akanksha was allegedly subjected to continuous physical and mental harassment by her husband Lokesh Sudhakar Bramhe (30), her father-in-law Sudhakar Bramhe (60), and her mother-in-law Anusuya Sudhakar Bramhe (48), all residents of Om Nagar, Sakkardara. Additionally, her sister-in-law Prachi Amol Daf and her husband Amol Daf, both residents of Amber Apartment in Nandanvan, also have been named as accused. The complaint alleges that the accused repeatedly pressured Akanksha to bring money from her maternal home and subjected her to cruelty over dowry demands.

 

She was also allegedly harassed and assaulted for giving birth to a girl child and for the death of the infant soon after birth. Further, the accused allegedly pressured both the deceased women to transfer agricultural land, which was in their names, to the accused family members. Police said that sustained harassment and mental torture drove both women to take the extreme step. The police have registered an offence under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation, along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. Police officials stated that further investigation is underway and statements of family members and other witnesses are being recorded.