TN woman commits suicide over dowry harassment
Ridhanya, 27, from Tirupur, reportedly died by suicide on Saturday after facing ongoing dowry harassment from her husband Kavin Kumar and his parents.
Despite her family giving a large dowry at her April wedding—including 100 gold sovereigns and a ₹70 lakh car—she described in voice messages to her father the mental and physical abuse she endured.
On the day of her death, she left home saying she was going to a temple but was later found dead in her car.
Over 7,000 dowry deaths reported in India in 2020
After Ridhanya's father filed a complaint, police arrested her husband and in-laws for abetment to suicide; they're now in custody as authorities investigate the extent of abuse.
The case is another reminder that even though dowry demands have been illegal since 1961, such tragedies still happen—over 7,000 dowry deaths were reported across India in 2020 alone.