Defence ministry officer found dead in Delhi home; family alleges harassment by in-laws: Cop

A 30-year-old assistant section officer (ASO) working with the Ministry of Defence was found dead at her residence in Dwarka on Friday, police said.

Her family alleged that she was three months pregnant at the time of the incident.

According to the police, the incident took place around 4pm on Friday. Police said they received a call about the incident at 4.20pm.

“Police staff immediately reached the spot. The body was taken into police possession and the concerned SDM was informed. Thereafter, the body was shifted to the DDU Hospital mortuary as per due procedure. The deceased got married in April this year. She was posted as ASO in the Ministry of Defence,” said DCP (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh.

Senior police officers said an enquiry revealed that the woman locked herself in a room and was later found dead while her husband was present in the house. The door was opened with the help of another key. The husband allegedly told the police that the two had an argument, following which she locked herself in the room.

Police said the woman’s pregnancy could only be confirmed through the post-mortem report.

Police said the family members of the deceased appeared before the concerned executive magistrate and submitted their written statements. “In their statements submitted at that time, they did not express any suspicion or level any allegation against the in-laws. However, on Saturday, the parents of the deceased again appeared before the concerned SDM and submitted a complaint alleging harassment by the husband and in-laws,” added the DCP.

Based on the complaint and the enquiry, police lodged a first information report (FIR) under sections 85 (punishes a husband or his relative who subjects a woman to cruelty) and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Further investigation into the matter is in progress, and appropriate action will be taken on the basis of the evidence and facts that emerge during the course of the investigation, police said.

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Jignasa Sinha is a Special Correspondent at Hindustan Times in New Delhi. With more than six years of reporting experience, she covers crime and policing in the national capital. Her beats also include Delhi prisons, the Delhi Fire Services and Delhi courts, while she regularly reports on gender, labour and social justice. Over the course of her career, Jignasa has reported on major criminal investigations, international crime syndicates, high-profile cyber fraud cases, law-and-order developments, protests, disasters and public institutions. Her reporting combines breaking news with in-depth, long form, human interest stories that examine the human impact of public policy, policing and the criminal justice system.