Lecturer commits suicide after being tortured by in-laws for site, asked to sleep with brother-in-law to bear child

CHIKKABALLAPUR: A lecturer, frustrated with dowry harassment, took her own life after recording a selfie video at the near Ghati in Doddaballapur taluk.

The victim Pushpavati (23), a resident of Sothenahalli in Doddaballapur, was the youngest of her parents’ four daughters. She had married Venu from Thapasikere village in November 2024, with her parents paying a hefty dowry.

However, Venu refused to live with her as a husband. She had a feeling that there must be some problem with him and suggested a health check-up. Pushpavati had told her mother-in-law, Bharathi, and her father-in-law, Govindappa, about the problem. But the mother-in-law, who supported her son, said that her son would start a family only if she gave them a site in Doddaballapur. After all, if she has any urgency to have a child, then she should sleep with the youngest brother-in-law, Pushpavati was told.

A month ago, Venu had assaulted Pushpavati, and she had filed a complaint with the police. Despite this, she returned to her job as a lecturer, but her husband continued to harass her.

Pushpavati, who was on her way to work, was stopped by her husband at the D-Cross bus stand in Doddaballapur, and he spat on her face in front of the public and threatened her for complaining about him. He even warned that he would marry another woman.

Pushpavati, who had informed the family about the incident, did not return home the next day after she went to college as usual. On the day of her death, Pushpavati left for college but never returned. Her body was found two days later at the Visvesvaraya pick-up dam. A video on her mobile phone revealed her frustration with the dowry harassment.

The police found her mobile phone near the dam. The dead body was also found later. A video was also found on the mobile phone. The police have registered an FIR in this regard, arrested Venu and his father Govindappa, and are searching for the rest.