Noida: The mother-in-law of Deepika Nagar, an alleged victim of dowry harassment who died at her in-laws’ house in Greater Noida’s Jalpura village on May 17, was among two persons arrested on Wednesday. So far, police have arrested her husband Ritik and father-in-law Manoj.While her in-laws claimed the 24-year-old fell from the third-floor terrace following an argument, Deepika’s family alleged she was murdered following months of harassment over dowry since their marriage in Dec 2024. Police, however, have not yet filed murder charges.The FIR, lodged at Ecotech-3 police station under BNS sections 85 (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 80(2) (dowry death) and Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, sections 3 and 4, names seven persons. On Wednesday, Deepika’s mother-in-law Poonam and uncle-in-law Vinod were arrested in the case. Three other accused remain absconding.The autopsy found multiple grievous external and internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen, brain haematoma, and internal bleeding across several sites. The autopsy also documented a large swelling of approximately 12 cm x 9 cm on the right side of her face, bleeding from the left ear, a massive contusion measuring roughly 38 cm x 14 cm on her right thigh, injuries on the left elbow and forearm, a bone-deep wound on the left knee, circular contusions above the right iliac crest and around the right arm, and deep abrasion marks on the chest and abdomen. However, the exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed. Police said the viscera samples have been preserved, and they were consulting medical experts to determine if the injuries preceded the fall or resulted from it. Four teams have been formed to trace the three absconding accused.Deepika’s father Sanjay earlier told mediapersons that Ritik’s family was pressuring his daughter for Rs 50 lakh in cash along with a Fortuner. On the night of Deepika’s death, Sanjay went to visit her after she called him during an argument with her husband and in-laws. He just returned to his house when he got the call about Deepika’s fall. He alleged she was physically assaulted and later pushed from the terrace.
