"Sorry Mummy...": 27-year-old Dehradun teacher posts video before death, husband booked in dowry case

The alleged dowry death of a 27-year-old government school teacher in Dehradun has led to the registration of a case against her husband, a personal secretary at the Uttarakhand Secretariat, and his family members, according to a TOI report. Police acted on a complaint filed by the victim's mother, who accused her husband and in-laws of subjecting her to physical and mental harassment over dowry demands following the marriage.

Based on a complaint filed by Seema Bhandari, police on Thursday registered an FIR under Section 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to dowry death.

The case names Shristi's husband, Saurabh Khatri, a personal secretary at the Uttarakhand Secretariat, his mother Parvina Devi, sister Charu Khatri and other unidentified family members.

Family allegedly harassed victim after marriage

According to the complaint, Shristi married Khatri in November last year and moved into her matrimonial home in Doiwala, about 20 km from Dehradun.

Her mother alleged that soon after the marriage, Shristi's husband and in-laws began subjecting her to physical and mental cruelty while demanding dowry.

"Sorry mummy, main aise ja rahi hoon"

In a 90-second video recorded before her death, Kandhari is seen crying and wiping tears from her face. She speaks for the first time around 35 seconds after starting the recording. Between sobs, she says, "Sorry mummy, main aise ja rahi hoon (Sorry, I am leaving like this)."

She further alleges that she had been suffering for six months and could no longer tolerate the situation. "Everything has become so strange. I have been enduring this for six months... Now I can't endure it anymore," she says in the video. She also claims that her in-laws repeatedly blamed her for incidents that occurred after her marriage and called her "manhoos, manhoos" (cursed).

Victim allegedly branded 'inauspicious'

Circle Officer (Doiwala) Vandana Verma said the victim was allegedly subjected to repeated humiliation by her husband's family.

According to the officer, the family referred to Shristi as "inauspicious" and "unlucky", claiming that misfortunes began after her arrival. They also allegedly blamed her for the death of her father-in-law, who had passed away after a prolonged illness.

Mother learnt of daughter's condition through relatives

The incident came to light after Seema Bhandari was unable to contact her daughter on July 28 and 29. She then asked relatives living nearby to visit Shristi's home.

The relatives found her in critical condition at a local hospital. By the time Seema Bhandari reached Dehradun from Srinagar in Garhwal, Shristi had died while undergoing treatment.

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