IIT-D PhD Scholar’s Family Alleges In-Laws Troubled Her for Dowry

Manjula Devak’s family members have recorded their statement in front of a sub-divisional magistrate

The cause of the IIT-Delhi PhD student’s suicide is yet to be known as no suicide note has been found, said the police. (Photo Courtesy: IIT)

The family members of 27- year-old PhD scholar Manjula Devak, who allegedly committed suicide at the IIT-Delhi campus on Tuesday, have claimed that her in-laws used to trouble her. According to the police, Devak's family have claimed that the deceased’s in-laws were not in favour of her pursuing higher studies and had also demanded dowry.

Devak’s family members have recorded their statement in front of a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM). Her friends have also recorded their statements in front of the SDM. The police have seized Devak’s laptop and are scanning her call records.

Devak, a final year student in water resources committed suicide under mysterious circumstances, and was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her room around 7.40 pm in Nalanda Apartments in the IIT campus, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said.

Devak had married Ritesh Virha in 2013 and lived with her husband and in-laws in Bhopal. The cause of the PhD student’s suicide is yet to be known as no suicide note has been found, said the police.

(With inputs from PTI.)