27-year-old Rithanya - Despite a lavish dowry of gold and a ₹70 lakh car, her in-laws demanded more
A Lavish Wedding, A Tragic End
Dowry Greed leads to suicide – On April 11, 2025, 27-year-old Rithanya, daughter of a respected garment businessman in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, married Kavin Kumar in what was described as a grand, ₹2.5 crore wedding. The dowry included 300 sovereigns of gold (2.4 kilo grams approx) and a ₹70 lakh Volvo SUV. But behind the glittering façade of celebration, a darker reality was already taking shape.
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Just 10 days into the marriage, Rithanya began facing relentless emotional and physical abuse from her husband and in-laws. The reason? A promised additional 200 sovereigns of gold (1.6 kilo grams approx) that had not yet been delivered. According to reports, she was humiliated over trivial matters, forced to stand for hours, and subjected to constant pressure to fulfill the remaining dowry commitment.
Despite the opulence of the wedding, the greed of her in-laws knew no bounds. The abuse escalated quickly, and Rithanya’s mental health deteriorated under the weight of daily torment. Her final act was a desperate cry for help that came too late.
Her Final Words: A Voice Note That Shook a Nation
On June 28, Rithanya visited the Thalakkarai Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal Temple. Afterward, she stopped in Seyur to purchase pesticide. While driving toward another temple, she parked her car by the roadside and consumed the poison. Locals found her unconscious and rushed her to Avinashi Government Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.
Before taking her life, Rithanya recorded a heartbreaking WhatsApp voice message to her father. In it, she detailed the abuse she endured and held her husband and in-laws directly responsible. She spoke of the emotional blackmail, the threats, and the unbearable pressure to meet dowry demands. Her words were filled with sorrow, guilt, and a desperate plea for understanding.
“I don’t want to be a burden to you all my life,” she said. “They are assaulting me mentally while he is torturing me physically.” Her voice note quickly went viral, sparking outrage across social media and reigniting national debate on dowry-related violence.
Justice Demanded, But Will It Be Delivered?
Following her death, Rithanya’s family staged a protest outside the hospital, demanding swift justice. The police arrested her husband, Kavin Kumar, along with his parents, under charges of abetment to suicide and dowry harassment. They have since been remanded to judicial custody.
But the question remains, how many more Rithanyas must suffer before India truly eradicates the evil of dowry?
Despite the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, cases like this continue to surface with alarming frequency. The law exists, but enforcement remains weak, and social stigma often silences victims. In many cases, families are pressured to “adjust” or “compromise,” further enabling the cycle of abuse.
This tragedy is not just about one woman, it’s a reflection of a systemic failure to protect women from exploitation disguised as tradition. It’s a wake-up call for society, law enforcement, and policymakers to act decisively.
Conclusion:
Rithanya’s story is a gut-wrenching reminder that behind the glitz of Indian weddings, dowry greed still claims lives. Her voice note should not fade into the noise of the next news cycle. It should echo in every courtroom, every police station, and every home until no woman has to pay for her marriage with her life.
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