A 28-year-old woman, Akriti Sutar, died after falling from the third floor of a Delhi building, a few months after her marriage, with her family vehemently denying suicide and alleging dowry harassment and physical assault by her husband, Arastu Sikka. Sutar was reportedly hosting a party for colleagues to celebrate her return to work following her marriage, and shortly after speaking cheerfully with her mother and being picked up from work by her husband, she was reported missing by him, only for her body to be discovered later by residents at a location significantly distant from her marital home, with police now investigating all possibilities including suicide, dowry-related issues, and foul play due to inconsistencies at the scene.

A 28-year-old woman, Akriti Sutar, died after falling from the third floor of a Delhi building, a few months after her marriage, with her family vehemently denying suicide and alleging dowry harassment and physical assault by her husband, Arastu Sikka. Sutar was reportedly hosting a party for colleagues to celebrate her return to work following her marriage, and shortly after speaking cheerfully with her mother and being picked up from work by her husband, she was reported missing by him, only for her body to be discovered later by residents at a location significantly distant from her marital home, with police now investigating all possibilities including suicide, dowry-related issues, and foul play due to inconsistencies at the scene.

A 28-year-old woman, Akriti Sutar, died after falling from the third floor of a Delhi building, a few months after her marriage, with her family vehemently denying suicide and alleging dowry harassment and physical assault by her husband, Arastu Sikka. Sutar was reportedly hosting a party for colleagues to celebrate her return to work following her marriage, and shortly after speaking cheerfully with her mother and being picked up from work by her husband, she was reported missing by him, only for her body to be discovered later by residents at a location significantly distant from her marital home, with police now investigating all possibilities including suicide, dowry-related issues, and foul play due to inconsistencies at the scene.

The 28-year-old woman who fell to her death in Delhi’s Lodhi Colony just a few months after her marriage was reportedly hosting a party for her colleagues hours before she was reported dead.

Akriti Sutar was reported to have been found dead after falling from the third floor of the NDMC Flats at Palika Kunj. Her family, however, has denied that her death was due to suicide.

The police have registered a dowry death case and arrested her husband, Arastu Sikka.

The location where she was found dead was 10 kilometres away from her marital home, and investigators have not determined why she was there.

Residents found her body on the ground at around 9 pm before they called the police.

Her body had multiple injuries and bruises; there were no bloodstains at the spot. Only her phone, slippers, and handbag were found on the third floor of the building. No visible bloodstains or external injuries were also found, raising suspicions of foul play. She was declared dead at the AIIMS trauma Centres.

A post-mortem examination is underway.

Akriti’s family said that she held the party for her colleagues to celebrate her marriage and her resuming work on July 1.

She had taken leave from her job as a sales executive at a health care company in Chhatarpur for her marriage about two months ago. She held the party at her office on Saturday despite being on leave. Her marriage was on April 24.

Her uncle, Mananjay Sutar, told TOI that he questioned the suicide theory, and said that she was not depressed, “If she was unhappy or planning to end her life, why would she celebrate her return to work?" he said.

According to family members, Akriti spoke to her mother around 7 pm on Saturday and sounded cheerful. She had informed her that she was on her way home after the office gathering. She was picked up from work by her husband.

At 8 pm, her husband, Arastu Sikka, called her family, saying Akriti had gone missing. 90 minutes later, the police called them to inform the woman’s body had been found 10 kilometres away from the couple’s residence.

Arastu is reportedly unemployed, and Akriti’s father-in-law is an inspection official with the Delhi government labour department in Pusp Vihar.

As the death occurred within seven years of marriage, a mandatory inquest proceeding has been initiated, and the Sub-divisional magistrate has been informed.

Police are examining all possible angles, including suicide and verifying the allegation of dowry harassment.

Akriti’s family has alleged that she was subject to repeated physical assault and harassment over dowry after her marriage.

Her brother, Amay Sutar, said that although the groom initially refused dowry, the family had gifted Akriti gold at the wedding. “Within days of the marriage, her husband started assaulting her and demanding cash and a car,” he alleged.

The family also claimed that Akiriti often called her mother, saying she was beaten and tortured.

Her uncle also said that the couple had known each other since school and had a love-cum-arranged marriage. They reportedly frequently argued over dowry demands and the husband’s unemployment.

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