The family of a 20-year-old pregnant woman from Tamil Nadu has refused to accept her body from a government hospital, alleging a lack of transparency in the investigation into her death and demanding access to the postmortem report and autopsy video.
The deceased, S. Afreen, was found hanging at her husband Mohammed Asraf’s residence in Tiruppathur, Sivaganga district, on June 17. While her husband’s family has maintained that she died by suicide, Afreen’s relatives have raised suspicions about the circumstances surrounding her death and have alleged dowry-related harassment.
According to a complaint filed by Afreen’s mother, S. Fathima Beevi, her daughter had been subjected to physical and mental abuse after her family was unable to provide the full quantity of gold allegedly agreed upon before the marriage. The family claims the harassment intensified in the months leading up to her death.
Fathima Beevi also questioned the suicide narrative, alleging that the house door was locked from the outside when relatives arrived and that visible injury marks were present on Afreen’s shoulder. These observations have prompted the family to demand a more thorough investigation.
Police have registered a case under provisions dealing with unnatural deaths and postmortem examination. Since Afreen died within seven years of her marriage, a Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) inquiry has also been initiated, as required under legal procedure in suspected dowry death cases.
At the family’s request, the autopsy was conducted at Pudukottai Government Medical College Hospital rather than in Sivaganga, citing concerns about the influence allegedly wielded by the husband’s family in the local area.
Advocate S.K. Venkat, representing Afreen’s family, said authorities have repeatedly failed to provide copies of the postmortem certificate and autopsy video despite several requests. He cited previous Madras High Court rulings that, according to him, support the family’s right to access such records.
Hospital authorities denied any intentional delay but did not clarify whether the requested documents and video footage would be handed over. Meanwhile, the family has continued its protest by refusing to take possession of the body until the records are provided.
Police officials have rejected allegations that complaints submitted by the family were ignored and stated that they would proceed with the investigation in accordance with the findings of the RDO inquiry and established legal procedures. The case has drawn attention to concerns surrounding alleged dowry harassment, transparency in death investigations, and the rights of grieving families seeking answers in suspicious death cases.
