Chennai: Dowry case filed against doctor

Chennai: The Madipakkam police have slapped a dowry harassment case against the doctor after his newlywed dentist wife committed suicide in the city.

The victim Shalini (26), a dental doctor, had married Vishnu Bharat (30) on November 29. A native of Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, Shalini had moved to Ram Nagar South, Madipakkam with her husband after the marriage and was looking out for a job in Chennai.

On Monday night, when Vishnu Bharat, who is practising in a private hospital in the city, returned from work, he found Shalini hanging in a ceiling fan. Following information, the Madipakkam police had retrieved the body and sent it for autopsy.

According to a police source, they had earlier suspected a family feud as a possible reason the suicide. Shalini's father Sasidhar Reddy, who had come from Kadapa on Tuesday, filed a complaint with the police.

“In the complaint, Sasidhar Reddy alleged that Vishnu Bharat and his family demanded '5 lakh dowry during the wedding. Since Sasidhar had no money at that time, he assured to give it later. According to the complaint, within a week of his daughter's marriage, Vishnu and his family had harassed Shalini”, the source said.

Sasidhar also raised suspicions of murder in his complaint. The Madipakkam police had filed dowry harassment case against Vishnu Bharat and they are investigating the case.

Meanwhile, Tambaram RDO Chandrasekar also initiated his enquiry since the Shalini was a newly married. “Further actions will be initiated after the RDO enquiry”, the police said. Vishnu Bharat has been detained and would be arrested after the enquiry. Meanwhile, Shalini's body had been taken to Kadapa for cremation.