Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 10: A month after the tragic death of Athulya Shekhar, a 29-year-old native of Chavara, Kerala Police detained her husband, Satheesh, 40, upon his arrival at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. He is the sole accused in the case related to her death, which occurred in Sharjah. Police confirmed that Satheesh will be handed over to the Thekkumbhagam Police in Kollam district, where a case against him has been registered under charges of murder, cruelty, causing bodily harm, and relevant provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
According to police in Thekkumbhagam, Satheesh had previously obtained anticipatory bail from the District Court. A senior officer indicated, “We will record his statement and release him on bail as per the court’s direction.” The investigation has since been transferred to the State Crime Branch by the State Home Department, following a complaint lodged by Athulya’s parents. They alleged that she suffered persistent harassment, physical abuse, and dowry-related demands from Satheesh.
Athulya’s parents claimed she often confided in them about the abuse, repeatedly urging her to leave him. Her death on July 19 shocked her native village, where she was found hanging inside her apartment in Sharjah. Her body was repatriated to Kerala the same day, and a post-mortem examination was conducted at Parippally Medical College.
Despite the Sharjah Police reportedly classifying her death as a suicide, Athulya’s family maintains that the abuse she endured drove her to take such an extreme step. They alleged that Satheesh’s violent behavior had intensified in recent months. Previously, Satheesh denied any responsibility for his wife’s death but admitted to physically assaulting and abusing her. “I am not the reason for her death,” he asserted, adding there were “differences” in their marriage.
This incident has reignited discussions in Kerala regarding domestic violence, dowry harassment, and the complexities of prosecuting such cases that occur abroad. Women’s rights organizations are demanding a thorough investigation, highlighting the tendency to hastily label the overseas deaths of Indian women as suicides without examining the potential for abuse.
The State Crime Branch is set to question Satheesh in greater detail in the upcoming days. Officials also plan to seek additional information from Sharjah authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding Athulya’s death.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/08/10/kerala-man-held-in-connection-with-wifes-death-in-sharjah-released-on-anticipatory-bail/
Category: NATIONAL
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-08-10 13:15:00
