The death of the 38-year-old daughter-in-law of the owner of a prominent pan masala company, who allegedly died by suicide at her home in Vasant Vihar, southwest Delhi, has triggered a police inquiry and conflicting family claims.
Police Recover Diary Mentioning “Relationship Issues”
Police have recovered a diary from the woman’s room which contained entries mentioning “relationship issues.” A senior police officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed to HT that the woman, who is the daughter-in-law of the owner of Kamla Pasand Pan Masala, “did not blame anyone” in the recovered entry and that no names were mentioned. Officers are currently investigating the other entries in the diary.
The woman was found dead in the dressing room of the couple’s bedroom on Tuesday morning by her husband, who had returned from the gym. Her children had already left for school. She was rushed to the hospital but was declared brought dead.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest), Amit Goel, confirmed that an autopsy has been conducted and the body has been handed back to the family. Legal proceedings have been initiated under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which governs inquiries into unnatural or suspicious deaths, though no FIR has been registered yet.
Deceased’s Brother Alleges Harassment and Torture
The deceased woman’s brother has come forward with serious allegations against her in-laws and husband, claiming she was subjected to “harassment” and “torture.”
- Allegations of Infidelity and Abuse: The brother claimed, “Her husband used to harass her. We recently learned that he had illegally married someone else.”
- Failed Reconciliation: He said his sister had previously been brought back to Kolkata by her family, but her in-laws successfully convinced them to allow her return to Delhi, promising to “fix things.” The brother alleged the torture continued after her return, stating, “We have been facing these issues since last year.”
Family Denies Allegations
Rajender Singh, the businessman’s lawyer, categorically denied the allegations of harassment and torture, labeling them as “baseless.”
Singh emphasized that the focus is currently on the family’s grief: “Her mother has been with us since yesterday. Both families are grieving, and everyone wants her to be cremated with dignity.” He also stressed that there was “no note or complaint” against anybody left by the deceased.
The woman had been living with her husband and their two children in the Vasant Vihar residence.