Police constable’s wife found dead; dowry harassment case registered

The wife of a police constable attached to the HAL police station was found dead after prolonged harassment involving dowry demands and domestic violence, police said on Friday.

The victim has been identified as Lakshmi Priya, 26 years old. On 11 May 2023, she married Rajesh Aaradhya in Mysuru.

Rajesh Aaradhya serves as a police constable at the HAL police station.

According to the complaint filed by Lakshmi Priya’s family, she was allegedly subjected to constant mental and physical harassment by her husband Aaradhya and his parents Palaksharadhya and Bhagyamma.

The complainant alleged that the accused repeatedly pressurized and tortured Lakshmi Priya, causing him severe emotional distress. Police said Priya recently gave birth to a baby girl and stayed at her parental home for almost six months after the delivery.

At around 2:31 pm on Friday, Priya allegedly sent her mobile phone password to her younger sister Jayashree via WhatsApp.

Soon after, family members tried to contact her, but she reportedly did not respond to their calls.

When the complainant later contacted Aaradhya, he informed them that Priya had died.

Investigators suspect that an argument between the couple on the day of the incident may have pushed the victim to the extreme step. The police also said that no evidence of dowry-related harassment has emerged so far and they suspect that the suicide may have stemmed from an ongoing family dispute.

Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

(Those with suicidal tendencies can call the Arogya Sahayavani Helpline 104.)

Published – 23 May 2026 22:59 IST