Indian woman dies by suicide in UAE after dowry abuse; infant daughter too found dead

 

By Sumesh Rajan | July 17, 2025

Sharjah, UAE: A 32-year-old Indian woman and her infant daughter were found dead in their apartment in the Al Nahda area of Sharjah on July 8, in what local authorities are treating as a suspected case of suicide and child murder. Back in India, police in the southern state of Kerala have opened a criminal case against the woman’s husband and his family, following serious allegations of prolonged domestic abuse tied to dowry demands.

The woman, identified as Vipanjika Mani, originally from Kollam district in Kerala, was reportedly subjected to sustained physical and psychological harassment by her husband, Nidheesh, his sister Neethu, and their father, according to a First Information Report (FIR) filed by her mother with the local police in Kundara, Kerala.

The FIR cites accusations of dowry-related abuse, assault, and humiliation, including the forcible shaving of Vipanjika’s head. The complaint alleges that the act was intended to “make her look ugly” due to perceived jealousy over her appearance—Vipanjika was fair-skinned, while her in-laws were described as darker-complexioned.

Authorities said Vipanjika had left a suicide note on her Facebook account, along with a detailed handwritten letter recovered after the incident. In her note, she accused her husband and his family of repeated acts of cruelty. One particularly disturbing allegation states that her husband told her he “married her for his father too” after she confronted him about her father-in-law’s alleged misconduct.

The note further describes intimate abuse, threats, and severe beatings, with Vipanjika writing, “I was tortured and beaten like a dog. I can’t take it anymore. Don’t spare them.”

Kerala police have charged the three accused under India’s recently introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — specifically, Section 85, relating to cruelty by a husband or his relatives, and Section 108, which covers abetment of suicide. Additional charges were filed under the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, a law enacted to curb the centuries-old practice that remains a leading factor in domestic violence and female suicides in India.

Vipanjika’s mother told reporters she was unaware of the full extent of her daughter's suffering until after the tragedy. “We knew she was unhappy but didn’t realize how severe it was,” she said. “Justice must be served. Only then will my daughter’s soul find peace.”

Authorities in both India and the UAE have launched parallel investigations. The Sharjah police are reportedly cooperating with Indian consular officials to ensure due process and repatriation protocols. As of now, no arrests have been made, though Kerala police have confirmed that legal proceedings are underway.