Gurgaon: A 25-year-old woman, who had allegedly been harassed over dowry, was found dead in Farrukhnagar on Tuesday.Her family has accused her husband and in-laws of assaulting and strangling her, even as the in-laws told police she had consumed poison.A case was registered against the victim’s husband, Gautam Sharma, his father, Bijender Sharma, who retired from Indian Air Force, and his younger brother, Ashu Sharma.According to the complaint filed by the deceased’s father, Anil Sharma, a resident of Khera village in Hapur district of UP, his daughter Bhavna married Gautam on Dec 16, 2023. The couple also had a son. The family alleged that Gautam and his family harassed her over dowry and demanded Rs 25 lakh. The complainant stated that the family had paid Rs 2.5 lakh in cash a few months earlier.It said that Bhavna had been staying at her parental home for around five months because of the alleged harassment. Her brother, Ajay Sharma, said Gautam took her back around Raksha Bandhan, promising to live separately from his parents and take responsibility for her. Ajay alleged that the abuse resumed within a few days of her return.Ajay said the family spoke to Bhavna on Tuesday afternoon. According to him, she told her father that Gautam was beating her and that he was strangling her. Ajay said his father subsequently spoke to Gautam, who denied that anything had happened and claimed that Bhavna wanted to return to her parental home.Bhavna’s elder sister, Rashmi Sharma, said her sister had called their father at around 3.30pm, complaining of physical assault and asking to be taken home. Rashmi said she tried to contact Bhavna but could not get through. She alleged that Gautam later answered a call, after which his mother took the phone and reassured the family that there was no problem. At 4.47pm, the family learnt that Bhavna had been taken to hospital and was declared dead, Rashmi said.Ajay said the family was later informed that she had died after consuming poison, a claim they dispute. The family alleged that Bhavna’s body bore marks around the neck, injuries on the back and signs of a struggle, and suspect that she was assaulted. Police said these allegations were yet to be established through the investigation and postmortem findings.Rashmi said that when the family reached the matrimonial home, Gautam and his parents were not present. She also claimed that neighbours told them Gautam had been married previously. Ajay similarly alleged that the family learnt after Bhavna’s death that Gautam had been married before. Police said they are yet to verify these allegations.The family has also accused the police of inaction and delay. Ajay alleged that police personnel arrived late at night despite her death in the afternoon, and that the family had to wait for several hours for further action. Gaurav, a cousin of Bhavna, alleged that the family had initially struggled to obtain police assistance at the hospital. He said they had requested that a zero FIR be registered if jurisdiction was an issue, so that the case could subsequently be transferred to the appropriate police station. According to him, the family was made to wait before Farrukhnagar police arrived.The family further alleged that they were misled into signing documents during the inquest proceedings which stated that Bhavna had died after consuming poison. They questioned why their signatures were sought on a version of events they disputed and demanded clarity on the medical findings.A protest broke out outside the local postmortem facility, where the family raised slogans against police. The protesters then visited the local police headquarters.Station house officer (SHO) of Farrukhnagar police station rejected the allegations and said a fair probe had been initiated. “We initially had information that the victim died after consuming poison and thus documents were prepared accordingly. There is no reason for the police to force the family and get their signature on false papers. We have booked the accused for dowry death and will nab them soon. The reason behind her death will be ascertained through the autopsy report,” the SHO said.The case was registered at Farrukhnagar police station under sections 80 (dowry death), 85 (husband or relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 3(5) (act done by multiple persons) of BNS.
