Ishika Yadav 
Telangana

Hyderabad: Newlywed software engineer dies by suicide following dowry harassment

Ishika, a 26-year-old software engineer from Bihar, had lived with Neeraj for five years before marrying him in February 2026. Since then, Neeraj allegedly started harassing her for additional dowry, including expensive jewellery and investment for his startup.

Written by : TNM Staff

Ishika Yadav, a 26-year-old software engineer from Bihar living in Hyderabad’s Miyapur, ended her life less than two months after marrying her long-time boyfriend Neeraj Bansal, allegedly after he repeatedly harassed her for dowry. 

Ishika and Neeraj, who is from Madhya Pradesh, started dating in 2020 after meeting on Facebook, according to the police. Both Ishika and Neeraj worked as software engineers. 

The couple had lived together for nearly five years before they got married recently on February 10, 2026, in Ishika’s hometown, Patna. 

On the morning of April 1, Ishika was found dead at their apartment in a housing society in Miyapur, according to P Shiva Prasad, Inspector of Police, Miyapur. 

“We were informed that since their marriage, Neeraj had been demanding additional dowry frequently. He was demanding gold and diamond jewellery and gold watches and also harassed her family to invest more money in his startup. Ishika was distressed by this harassment and took her life,” the Inspector told the media. 

Based on a complaint from Ishika’s family, Neeraj has been booked for dowry harassment and sent to judicial remand.