Another dowry death? What we know about the pregnant techie found dead in Bengaluru house

After the shock of Nikki Bhati’s death, allegedly over dowry demands, another heartbreaking case has surfaced, this time from Bengaluru.

Shilpa Panchangamath, a 27-year-old techie, was found dead at her home on Tuesday night. Her parents say she took her own life after facing relentless harassment for dowry from her husband’s family.

Police have arrested her husband, Praveen, who she married in 2022. The couple already had a two-year-old son, and Shilpa was pregnant with their second child at the time of her death, according to PTI.

Here’s a look at what has unfolded in the shocking case so far.

Demands for dowry

As per police records, Shilpa, an engineering graduate who worked at a software company, married Praveen in 2022.

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Her parents said they initially trusted him because of his career at Oracle, but soon after marriage, he quit his job and switched to selling street food. The couple later shifted to BTM Layout.

“We sold our house in Hubballi worth Rs 40 lakh to get her married. Recently, we paid another Rs 10 lakh through money we had in chit funds. He told us he was an engineer, but now he sells panipuri. He lied to our family,” Shilpa’s uncle, Channabasayya, told NDTV.

At the time of the wedding, Shilpa’s family claims they spent nearly Rs 35 lakh, gave 150 grams of gold, and even handed over Rs 15 lakh in cash to meet the groom’s family’s demand. Yet, the harassment allegedly continued.

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Abused, constantly body shamed

Shilpa’s parents allege that life after marriage was far from peaceful for their daughter. According to them, her husband Praveen and his family repeatedly demanded money, and whenever she failed to comply, she was subjected to abuse.

Six months ago, Shilpa’s mother Sharada, claimed Praveen’s family demanded another Rs 5 lakh for his food business. When the amount was not provided, Shilpa was allegedly assaulted and sent back to her parents’ home. Sharada eventually arranged the money and sent her daughter back, but the pressure did not stop.

Alongside dowry demands, Shilpa’s mother-in-law allegedly insulted her over her complexion, telling her, “You are dark and not a good match for my son. Leave him, we will find him a better bride.”

Four months ago, tensions escalated again during disagreements over Shilpa’s baby shower. Then, on August 26, her family received the devastating news that she had died by suicide. When they reached her home, they found her lying lifeless on the bed, covered with a sheet.

Her family insists that years of financial demands, verbal abuse, and humiliation pushed her to this tragic end.

Also read: BMW, gold sovereigns, & property: How hefty dowry demand claimed a young doctor's life in Kerala

Shilpa’s family claims she was murdered

While police have registered a case of dowry death against Praveen, Shilpa’s family members have strongly refuted the suicide angle and alleged that she was, in fact, murdered.

Speaking to the media outside the mortuary, Shilpa’s uncle, Channabasayya, questioned the version given by her husband’s family.

“She has been married to him for three years…If he didn’t want to be with her, he could have just sent her back. Yesterday, he left home saying he was going out of town, and then we got information that she had died by suicide. But there was no stool below the fan, and she could not even reach the fan. It seems like he murdered her and escaped,” he alleged.

Her mother, Sharada and sister Soumya also told reporters that Praveen’s family first claimed she had died of a heart attack, and only later changed their version, saying she had ended her life, The Hindu reported.

The family further alleged that Praveen and his mother moved Shilpa’s body onto the bed before police could arrive at the spot, raising questions about tampering with the scene.

“If she had ended her life, why was her body removed before the police arrived? Why did they first claim it was a heart attack? This looks like a pre-planned murder,” a close relative said.

Also read: Another dowry death in India: What are India’s laws on the menace?

Nearly 20 women die daily in India due to dowry: NCRB

Recent cases of dowry harassment, including Shilpa’s, reflect a disturbing national trend.

Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that between 2017 and 2022, 35,493 women lost their lives due to dowry-related violence, an average of nearly 20 deaths every single day.

Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of dowry deaths in this period, followed by Bihar and Jharkhand.

In 2022 alone, 6,450 cases of dowry deaths were registered, surpassing even the number of rape convictions that year, which stood at 5,067.

As per Section 80 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, a dowry death is defined as one caused by burns, bodily injury, or occurring under “abnormal circumstances” within seven years of marriage, provided the woman was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or his relatives over dowry demands. In such cases, the law presumes the husband or relatives to be responsible.

Yet, while laws exist on paper, the bigger challenge lies in changing deep-rooted social attitudes and the conscience of society at large.

With input from agencies