Chamarajanagar: Woman found dead, father alleges dowry harassment
Chamarajanagar: A woman was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Kotepode village near Martalli in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district. The woman’s father has filed a complaint alleging that she died by suicide following alleged dowry harassment.
The deceased has been identified as Priya, wife of Shivakumar.
According to the complaint filed by her father at the Ramapura police station, Shivakumar had taken a loan from a finance company and was allegedly pressuring Priya to bring money from her parental home to repay the instalments. The father stated that despite repeated advice from relatives over the past month, the harassment allegedly continued. He said that in December 2025, he had given Rs 50,000 in cash.
It is also alleged that on the afternoon of February 14, 2026, when her children met Priya, she told them that she was being harassed for additional dowry. Later in the evening, she reportedly informed her father over the phone about the same issue.
Neighbours said that around 10 pm, when Shivakumar stepped out of the house, Priya was found hanging from the ceiling fan in a room. The family later brought the body down.
“My daughter ended her life due to continuous dowry harassment. Shivakumar and his mother Shanti are responsible for her death,” the deceased father alleged in his complaint.
A case has been registered at the Ramapura police station. Additional Superintendent of Police Shashidhar visited the spot and gathered information. Further investigation is under way.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
VHP slams Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge for 'money laundering' comment on RSS
Nagpur (PTI): The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Monday slammed Karnataka Congress minister Priyank Kharge for linking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to money laundering and asserted such statements were part of a strategy to insult patriotic organisations and defame patriots.
Kharge, while speaking at an event in Bengaluru on Sunday, cited the RSS' "network of more than 2,500 organisations, they are from America, England" to allege "these people are into money laundering".
Addressing a press conference here, VHP national organisational secretary Milind Parande said such statements will reduce the acceptance in society of those making them.
"They are trying to increase their credibility and trying to indulge in appeasement (with such remarks), both of which will not succeed. There are many forces and persons in India who have a problem with the awakening of Hindutva. They are coming up with such nonsense. Using such words and insulting patriotic organisations shows their intellectual bankruptcy," he said.
ALSO READ: Delhi court notices against Videocon Group founder Dhoot, 12 others in bank fraud case: ED
"It will reduce their acceptance in society. What he (Kharge) said is absolutely false and even they know it. But they do it as a strategy to defame patriots. The people of Karnataka must think whether such people should be brought back to power. Hence, the VHP always asserts those who believe in the interests of Hindus must be in power at the Centre and in the states," Parande added.
Asked about the BNP winning polls in Bangladesh and whether it will improve the conditions of the Hindus there, Parande said it is expected that the community is protected irrespective of who is in power. So far, people there have been incapable of protecting Hindus, he said in reference to attacks on the community since the Sheikh Hasina government fell following an uprising in August 2024.
Asserting that most of the violence has been sponsored by political parties, Parande said, "The Hindu community is in a very dangerous situation in Bangladesh."
He also refused to comment on the face-off between the Uttar Pradesh government and Swami Avimukteshwaranand during Magh Mela festivities in Prayagraj. A controversy erupted on Mauni Amavasya morning at the Sangam Nose when police, citing heavy crowd pressure, allegedly stopped the seer from proceeding to the Sangam in a palanquin along with a large number of supporters.
The VHP as a practice does not give a statement on disputes between saints as it would not be appropriate, Parande said.
Without taking the name of Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, the VHP leader said it was surprising anyone from the state can make such a remark about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Congress leader has courted controversy by equating 18th Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan with the founder of the Maratha Empire.
On some persons sprinkling cow urine to purify a temple in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar following the visit of Muslim Shiv Sena MLA Abdul Sattar in Sillod on Mahashivratri on Sunday, Parande said places of worship must be visited by those who have faith.
Without genuine sentiment, it becomes a mere political stunt, he said.
"Religion should never be exploited for political gain, as that insults faith," Parande said while not commenting on the 'purification' episode linked to the incident.
