In a deeply disturbing case that has reignited public outrage over dowry harassment, a 27-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur district took her own life after enduring relentless abuse from her husband and in-laws, just weeks into her marriage.
Rithanya, the daughter of local businessman and former political candidate Annadurai, consumed poison on Saturday in a tragic turn of events that has left the community shaken. Married on April 11, 2025, to Kavin Kumar (28), Rithanya’s wedding was nothing short of opulent. Her family had given a staggering dowry: 300 sovereigns of gold, a ₹70 lakh Volvo SUV, and spent over ₹2.5 crore on the ceremony. They had also promised an additional 200 sovereigns of gold—a promise that would later become the source of unbearable torment.
Despite the lavish wedding and enormous dowry, Rithanya’s ordeal began just 10 days into her marriage. She was allegedly subjected to sustained physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband Kavin Kumar, father-in-law Easwaramoorthy, and mother-in-law Chithradevi. The torment reportedly centered on the unfulfilled dowry promise, with her in-laws pressing her daily for the remaining 200 sovereigns. According to reports, she was often humiliated over trivial matters—at times forced to stand for hours as punishment, among other demeaning acts.
On the afternoon of June 28, Rithanya visited the Thalakkarai Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal Temple. After leaving the temple, she stopped in Seyur to purchase pesticide. While driving toward the Mondipalayam Perumal Temple, she parked her car by the roadside and ingested the poison. Locals who noticed her in distress quickly alerted authorities. Despite being rushed to Avinashi Government Hospital, Rithanya was declared dead on arrival.
What followed was even more heartbreaking. Before ending her life, Rithanya recorded a final WhatsApp voice message addressed to her father. In the emotional audio, she held her husband and in-laws directly responsible for her suffering. She detailed the unbearable pressure and threats she faced, including repeated emotional blackmail from her husband, who allegedly said he would kill himself if she exposed the abuse.
The audio message quickly spread across social media, sparking widespread outrage and drawing attention to the cruel reality of dowry-related violence. Rithanya’s family staged a protest at the hospital, blocking roads and demanding swift justice. Their grief was palpable—and echoed by a community that’s now demanding accountability.
Following a preliminary inquiry by the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) of Tiruppur, police arrested Kavin Kumar, Easwaramoorthy, and Chithradevi under charges of abetment to suicide. All three have since been remanded to judicial custody.
This harrowing incident has once again spotlighted the dark underbelly of dowry practices in India—a centuries-old tradition that continues to claim lives, despite legal protections.
