Representative image.

HYDERABAD: An Army major ’s wife, who was a radio jockey (RJ) with a local FM channel, committed suicide due to alleged dowry harassment at their residential quarters at Bolarum. Though the incident happened five days ago, it came to light on Monday.

The victim was identified as Sandhya Singh from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. Sandhya Singh fell in love with Major Vishal Vaibhav and married him one-and-half-years ago. Vishal Vaibhav is currently posted at the Army’s 54th Infantry Division in Secunderabad.

On Wednesday morning, Vishal Vaibhav found his 30-year-old wife hanging from the ceiling fan at their residence located near RSI Club. Police were alerted about the incident and no suicide note was found. Family members of Sandhya were informed about her death and, based on her sister Uma Singh’s complaint, Bolarum police registered a case under section 304-B ( dowry death ) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Vishal Vaibhav.

“The complainant said at the time of the wedding, their family did not give any dowry. Subsequently, Vishal and his family members started harassing Sandhya for dowry,” Bolarum sub-inspector (SI) D Karunakar Reddy said.

After the post-mortem, police handed over the body to Sandhya’s family members on Thursday last. Even while the police were trying to secure Vishal’s custody, the officer got admitted to Army Hospital in Secunderabad with pain in the chest and low BP on Thursday night. Police officials said the Army officer and his wife were under a lot of stress as they were undergoing weight reduction treatment.

Police officials then wrote to GOC of the 54th Infantry Division, Major General Sateesh N Wasade, and Lt General Cherish Mathson, head of the XXI Corps, seeking custody of the major in the dowry death case. “We were informed by the Army officials that the accused is currently admitted in the ICU of the Army Hospital. We have informed the concerned local court about the development,” deputy commissioner of police (DCP) North Zone B Sumati said.

Sandya Singh had been working as an RJ with Radio Charminar FM station since April 1.

