Kerala Doctor Suicide: Man Who Backed Out Of Marriage After Hefty Dowry Demand Detained

The Kerala police detained a doctor who had allegedly backed out of their marriage proposal recently because of her family’s inability to meet his exorbitant dowry demands.

Two days after a female doctor at a government medical college in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram died by suicide, the Kerala police detained a doctor from the same institute who had allegedly backed out of their marriage proposal recently because of her family’s inability to meet his exorbitant dowry demands, as reported by news agency PTI.

Shahana, a postgraduate student in the surgery department of the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram, was found unconscious at her apartment and later declared brought dead at the hospital on Tuesday, as reported by PTI. She allegedly self-administered an anaesthesia drug Monday night, according to an Indian Express report.

According to her family, Shahana allegedly took the step as she was depressed due to a big dowry demand made by the groom's family.

On Wednesday, police registered a case against the accused, E. A Ruwise, who is also the state president of the Kerala Medical Post-Graduate Association, a body of resident trainee doctors in the state, as per an Indian Express report. Initially, the police had registered a case for unnatural death, the report stated.

Police Recovers Suicide Note From Shahana's Room

During the investigation, police found a suicide note from her room in which she gave indications that Ruwise had demanded a huge dowry and assets from her family, which resulted in Ruwise being made an accused in the case, as per the Indian Express report.

"We have taken him into custody based on the statements of the victim's family. He is being interrogated," a senior officer told PTI. He further stated that a case of unnatural death was registered soon after the woman doctor's death. Sections of the Abetment to Suicide and Dowry Prohibition Act were added based on the statements of Dr. Shahana's family, he added.

"We have to check the veracity of various statements we have recorded. Further proceedings, including his arrest, will be decided only after that," the officer said, as quoted by PTI.

Earlier in the day, the association had removed Ruwise as its president after his alleged involvement in the case emerged.

Case For Dowry Harassment Death Registered.

According to The Indian Express, Shahna’s family was also deposed before the police against Ruwise, and a case for dowry harassment death was registered. The neighbour of Shahna’s family and Nellanad village panchayat member, advocate S Sudheer, said Ruwise had met Shahna’s family last month with the proposal to marry her. After that, Shahna’s family went to Ruwise’s home in Kollam.

“The marriage was fixed, and she was very happy. Her family was willing to give Rs 50 lakh, 50 sovereigns of gold, and a car. But Ruwise reportedly demanded 150 sovereigns of gold, 15 acres of land, and a BMW car. Shahna’s family could not meet such a demand as they did not have any income other than a house situated on 15 cents of land, which her mother might have planned to sell off for the daughter’s marriage,’’ he said, as quoted by The Indian Express.

“When Ruwise refused to marry her because of dowry, she was mentally shattered. Since the wedding was announced, she could not face others after the incident. We have learned he had even publicly insulted her in front of other students and colleagues,’’ he said. As per the state crime records data, Kerala has reported eight dowry deaths till October this year.