Bengaluru woman, 26, dies by suicide; husband and in-laws booked for dowry harassment
Synopsis
Minutes before her death, Lakshmi Priya sent her phone password to her sister — a detail that may prove crucial. The 26-year-old's family alleges three years of dowry-linked mental and physical abuse by her husband and in-laws, who have now been booked under the BNS and Dowry Prohibition Act in Bengaluru's Whitefield.
Key Takeaways
Lakshmi Priya , 26 , allegedly died by suicide at her home in Bengaluru's Whitefield on 22 May 2025 .
She sent her mobile phone password to her younger sister Jayashree via WhatsApp at 2:31 pm , shortly before her death.
Her husband Rajesh Aaradhya , father-in-law Palakshradhya , and mother-in-law Bhagyamma have been booked under BNS Sections 80(2), 85, 3(5) and the Dowry Prohibition Act .
The family alleges mental and physical harassment began shortly after the couple's marriage on 11 May 2023 at Sindoor Choultry, Mysuru .
Lakshmi Priya had been living at her parental home for six months following the birth of her baby girl.
Investigation is ongoing; the case draws comparisons to the Twisha Sharma dowry death case in Bhopal , also currently under probe.
A 26-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide at her residence in Bengaluru's Whitefield area on 22 May 2025, with her family accusing her husband and in-laws of sustained mental and physical harassment linked to dowry demands over three years. The case came to light after the deceased, identified as Lakshmi Priya, sent her mobile phone password to her younger sister via WhatsApp minutes before her death — a detail investigators are treating as a key lead.
The Sequence of Events
According to police, at around 2:31 pm on 22 May, Lakshmi Priya messaged her younger sister Jayashree with her phone password over WhatsApp. Family members immediately attempted to reach her by phone, but she did not respond. When they subsequently contacted her husband, Rajesh Aaradhya, he informed them that Lakshmi Priya had died.
Lakshmi Priya had been residing at her parental home for the past six months, following the birth of her baby girl. She had married Rajesh Aaradhya on 11 May 2023 at Sindoor Choultry in Mysuru.
Case Registered, Three Accused Booked
Acting on a complaint filed by Lakshmi Priya's family, the Whitefield police have registered a case against her husband Rajesh Aaradhya, father-in-law Palakshradhya, and mother-in-law Bhagyamma. The accused have been charged under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
The complainant alleged that harassment began shortly after the marriage in 2023, with both mental and physical abuse reportedly inflicted by the husband and his parents. Police have confirmed that further investigation is underway to establish the exact circumstances leading to her death.
A Troubling Pattern of Dowry-Linked Deaths
This case emerges as another high-profile dowry death remains under investigation. Twisha Sharma, a resident of Noida, was found dead at her in-laws' house in Bhopal on 12 May 2025 — just five months after her marriage to Samarth Singh, an advocate and son of retired judge Giribala Singh. That case is still under probe.
Notably, the sharing of the phone password moments before death points to a deliberate act of leaving behind evidence — a pattern that investigators and legal experts say is becoming more common in suspected dowry harassment cases, where victims seek to ensure accountability posthumously.
Investigation Ongoing
Whitefield police have launched a full investigation into the matter. Authorities are examining the WhatsApp exchange between Lakshmi Priya and her sister Jayashree, along with other digital evidence, to build a comprehensive picture of the alleged harassment. No arrests have been reported yet as of the time of this report.
Point of View
A baby born, a retreat to her parental home, and then death. The BNS charges are a step, but arrests remain pending. With the Twisha Sharma case in Bhopal also unresolved, the question is not just about individual accountability but about why institutional safeguards — mandatory counselling, dowry prohibition enforcement — consistently fail to intervene before a death occurs.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Lakshmi Priya and what happened to her?
Lakshmi Priya was a 26-year-old woman from Bengaluru who allegedly died by suicide on 22 May 2025 at her residence in the Whitefield area. Her family alleges she was subjected to mental and physical harassment by her husband and in-laws over dowry for approximately three years.
Who has been booked in the Bengaluru dowry harassment case?
Whitefield police have booked Lakshmi Priya's husband Rajesh Aaradhya, father-in-law Palakshradhya, and mother-in-law Bhagyamma. They face charges under Sections 80(2), 85 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
What is the significance of the WhatsApp message sent before her death?
At 2:31 pm on 22 May, Lakshmi Priya sent her phone password to her younger sister Jayashree via WhatsApp shortly before she died. Police are treating this as a key piece of digital evidence in the investigation into the alleged harassment.
Was Lakshmi Priya living with her husband at the time of her death?
No. Lakshmi Priya had been staying at her parental home for the past six months following the birth of her baby girl. She had married Rajesh Aaradhya on 11 May 2023 at Sindoor Choultry in Mysuru.
How does this case relate to the Twisha Sharma case?
The Twisha Sharma case involves a Noida resident found dead at her in-laws' house in Bhopal on 12 May 2025, five months after her marriage to Samarth Singh, son of retired judge Giribala Singh. Like the Lakshmi Priya case, it involves allegations of dowry-linked harassment and remains under investigation.
