Rithanya death: Madras HC orders police to recover and hand over dowry to her father

The Madras High Court has directed the Tiruppur police to recover 100 sovereigns of gold jewellery and a Volvo car allegedly given as dowry to the husband of 27-year-old Rithanya, who died by suicide in June 2025, following alleged dowry harassment. The court ordered that the recovered properties be handed over to her father, R Annadurai.

Justice GK Ilanthiriyan passed the order on Tuesday, October 6, while hearing a petition filed by Annadurai challenging an order of the Judicial Magistrate at Avinashi, who had rejected his plea seeking the return of the properties.

Rithanya, a resident of Tiruppur district, married E Kavin Kumar on April 11, 2025. Her family had reportedly presented Kavin with 100 sovereigns of gold and a Volvo luxury car worth around Rs 70 lakh. According to her family, Rithanya began facing pressure for additional dowry within weeks of her marriage.

Before the High Court, Annadurai alleged that the investigating officer had failed to recover the gold and car that were allegedly given as dowry. He also said that CCTV footage and audio evidence had been submitted but were not properly considered by the police.

The HC noted that the police had not seized any of the jewellery or the car, despite the properties allegedly being kept under lock and key in a cupboard at the home. “The only failure of the investigating officer is that she did not recover any jewels and car given as dowry, as contemplated under Section 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act,” the court observed.

The court elaborated on Section 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, which provides for dowry received by a person to be transferred to the woman concerned and, where she dies before receiving it, to her legal heirs. “It is clear that whatever the dowry received at the time of marriage or after the marriage or before marriage, shall be transferred to the parents of the deceased if there are no children involved,” the court said.

The court further held that since Rithanya had no children through the first accused, “the entire dowry weighing 100 sovereigns of gold, Volvo car which was given as dowry to the first accused ought to have been recovered.”

The court also directed the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Avinashi Sub Division, to recover the gold and car and hand them over to Rithanya’s father.

Annadurai had sought the appointment of a new investigating officer and further investigation followed by an additional chargesheet within a time frame fixed by the court. However, the High Court declined to order a fresh investigation. The court noted that the case had already been transferred to the trial court, which had taken up the proceedings. 

The court also observed that the DSP, Avinashi division, had rightly filed the final report for offences under Sections 85 and 108 of the BNS and Sections 3(1) and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act based on the available material.

It was on June 28, 2025, around two and a half months after her marriage, that Rithanya left her home for the Mondipalayam temple. She was later found unconscious inside her car and was taken to the Avinashi Government Hospital, where she was declared dead.

Before her death, Rithanya had sent seven voice notes to her father in which she spoke about the alleged harassment she was facing and expressed her distress. In one of the messages, she said, “I am sorry, Dad. I don’t want anybody to save me this time. All this while, I hoped that my life would change. I’ve now realised that it won’t.”

She also alleged that her in-laws mentally tortured her and that her husband had physically assaulted her. “They have hurt me and insulted me. I don’t want to be a lifelong burden to you,” she said in one of the audio messages.

Following her death, Cheyur police initially registered a case under Section 194(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which deals with the suicide of a woman within seven years of marriage. Based on the allegations and the voice notes, the case was altered to include Section 85 (cruelty by a husband or his relatives) and Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Kavin Kumar and his father Eswaramoorthy were arrested soon after. Chitradevi, Kavin’s mother, who was not arrested initially on health grounds, was taken into custody on July 4 following demands from Rithanya’s family.

This case adds to a growing list of young women across south India dying by suicide after being trapped in abusive marriages. Rishanya’s case is very similar to the cases of Vismaya, who died after dowry abuse in 2022, and Archana, who took her life in 2023.

If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.

Tamil Nadu 

State health department's suicide helpline: 104

Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu)

Andhra Pradesh

Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930

Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584

Karnataka 

Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222

Kerala

Maithri: 0484 2540530

Chaithram: 0484 2361161

Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.

Telangana

State government's suicide prevention (tollfree): 104

Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200

SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 am and 7 pm

Aasara offers support to individuals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.

24x7 Helpline: 9820466726

Click here for working helplines across India.