SHARJAH, UAE – Athulya Sekhar, a woman from Kerala, was discovered dead in her Flat in Sharjah early on Saturday, prompting the Kerala Police to register a murder case against her husband, Satheesh.
According to media, citing her family, Athulya’s death tragically coincided with her 30th birthday and her first day at a new job.
Based on a complaint filed by Athulya’s mother, as reported by India Today, her husband, Satheesh, allegedly strangled her, kicked her stomach, and hit her head with a plate between July 18 and 19, leading to her death. Athulya Sekhar’s body was found in her flat in the Rolla area, confirmed by her sister and brother-in-law, who also reside in Sharjah.
The death of Athulya, a mother to a 10-year-old girl, has sent fresh shockwaves through the Indian community in the UAE, according to Gulf News. This incident follows closely on the heels of another tragic event just weeks prior, where a 32-year-old Malayali woman and her 16-month-old daughter died in Sharjah in what police determined was a murder-suicide. The forensic report in that case confirmed the woman died by hanging after suffocating her child on July 8, an incident reportedly stemming from marital conflicts.
Dowry Harassment Allegations Emerge
Athulya’s family has alleged a history of dowry harassment against Satheesh. India Today reported that her family claims she was repeatedly harassed for not bringing enough dowry at the time of their marriage in 2014, despite having provided a bike and 43 sovereigns of gold.
A case has been registered against Satheesh under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. The woman’s family asserts she endured years of mental and physical abuse due to persistent dowry demands. The family has also released videos purportedly showing Athulya with visible injury marks and her husband appearing to lift a plastic stool to hit her.
Husband Denies Accusations Amidst Family’s Suspicions
Speaking to the media from the UAE, Satheesh has denied all allegations, asserting he had no role in Athulya’s death. He stated he does not believe she would die by suicide and that he, too, is seeking answers.
However, Athulya’s father maintains that the circumstances surrounding her death are suspicious. “I don’t believe that my daughter will die by suicide. She shares a very intimate relationship with her daughter. Her death is mysterious. We have to find out what exactly happened to her. He is an alcoholic. He always gets violent. She bore all the torture for her. Earlier also, such issues had happened and a case was filed with the police. We want to know what exactly happened to her,” he said.
Her brother-in-law was quoted by Gulf News on Sunday saying, “We will be visiting the Sharjah Police for completing the formalities of filing the case tomorrow. We are also approaching the Indian Consulate in Dubai.”