Kovilambakkam Man Arrested After Teacher Dies by Suicide Over Dowry

A 27-year-old school teacher died by suicide allegedly due to persistent dowry harassment at Kovilambakkam near Chennai on August 30, leading to the arrest of her husband on Thursday night.

The deceased woman was identified as Bhuvaneshwari. Her husband, Janakiraman, a resident of Eechankarani in Chengalpattu, was arrested by the police and subsequently remanded in judicial custody.

According to police, Bhuvaneshwari and Janakiraman were married earlier in 2024. During the wedding, the woman's parents had allegedly provided substantial dowry, including 50 sovereigns of gold jewellery for her and 20 sovereigns of gold jewellery for the groom. The family had also given a car valued at Rs 15 lakh along with household articles.

Investigators said that despite receiving these items, Janakiraman allegedly subjected Bhuvaneshwari to physical and mental harassment, demanding additional dowry from her family. Following her death on August 30, police registered a case to probe the circumstances surrounding the incident.

An official inquiry into the case was initiated by the Revenue Division Officer. Although the formal inquiry report is yet to be released by the Revenue Division Officer, police moved ahead with the arrest based on available evidence and the circumstances of the case.

Janakiraman was arrested on Thursday night under relevant provisions of the BNSS and the Dowry Prohibition Act. Following his arrest, he was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.