Kerala doctor dies by suicide after colleague’s ‘exorbitant dowry demand’ scuttles marriage plans

Police registered a case Wednesday against another resident trainee doctor, E A Ruwise, who is also the state president of Kerala Medical Post-Graduate Association, a body of resident trainee doctors in the state. Initially, the police had registered a case for unnatural death.

Police recovered a suicide note from her room in which she had indicated that Ruwise had demanded exorbitant dowry and assets from her family, which resulted in Ruwise being made an accused in the case, and relevant sections being added under the Dowry Prohibition Act and charges of abetment to suicide. He was later taken into custody.

Earlier in the day, the association had removed him as its president after his role in the case emerged.

Shahna’s family also deposed before the police against Ruwise, and a case for dowry harassment death was registered.

Police said both were friends and had decided to marry, but Ruwise backed out after her family from Venjaramoodu in Thiruvananthapuram expressed their inability to pay the dowry. Shahna’s father Abdul Azeez, who had worked in the Middle East for several years, died two years ago.

Their neighbour and Nellanad village panchayat member, advocate S Sudheer, said Ruwise had met Shahna’s family at her home last month with the marriage proposal. After that, Shahna’s family went to Ruwise’s home in Kollam. “The marriage was fixed and she was very happy. Her family was willing to give Rs 50 lakh, 50 sovereigns of gold and a car. But Ruwise reportedly demanded 150 sovereigns of gold, 15 acres of land and a BMW car. Shahna’s family could not meet such a demand as they did not have any income other than a house situated on 15 cents of land, which her mother might have planned to sell off for the daughter’s marriage,’’ he said.

“When Ruwise refused to marry her because of dowry, she was mentally shattered. Since the wedding was announced, she could not face others after the incident. We have learnt he had even publicly insulted her in front of other students and colleagues,’’ he said.

Health Minister Veena George sought a report from the director of the women and children development department. Kerala Women’s Commission Chairperson P Sathidevi, who visited the victim’s family, said that young women should show the courage to abandon a relationship or marriage proposal which demands dowry.

As per the state crime records data, Kerala has reported eight dowry deaths till October this year.