Kollam/Sharjah: In a deeply distressing case that has shocked both India and the UAE, a 32-year-old woman from Kerala allegedly killed her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter and died by suicide in Sharjah after enduring severe dowry-related harassment and abuse.

Vipanjika Mani, originally from Kollam, and her infant daughter Vybhavi were found dead in their apartment in Al Nahda, Sharjah, on July 8. According to a complaint filed by her mother with the Kundara police, Vipanjika had been subjected to repeated physical and psychological torture by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands.

FIR filed in Kollam

Based on the mother’s complaint, an FIR has been registered naming Vipanjika’s husband, Nidheesh, his sister Neethu, and their father as the accused. The case is being investigated under:

  • Section 85 (cruelty by husband or his relatives)

  • Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)

  • Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

    • Allegations of torture and humiliation

    The FIR and suicide note detail horrifying abuse. Vipanjika’s mother alleged that her daughter was insulted and physically assaulted for not bringing enough dowry. As a form of humiliation, the in-laws reportedly shaved her head, claiming that her fair complexion was “incompatible” with the darker skin tones in their family.

    Vipanjika also reportedly received a divorce notice after she confronted her husband about his alleged extramarital affairs.

    Disturbing content in suicide note

    A handwritten suicide note, believed to be authored by Vipanjika and retrieved after her death, provides further disturbing revelations. In it, she accuses her father-in-law of inappropriate behaviour, stating that her husband dismissed her complaints by saying, “I married you for my father too.”

    She also wrote that her husband forced her to perform degrading acts, drawing from content he viewed online. “I was tortured and beaten like a dog. I can’t take it anymore. Don’t spare them,” she reportedly wrote in the letter.

    Vipanjika had also posted a suicide note on Facebook before the act, which alerted her friends and family but not in time to prevent the tragedy.

    Family speaks out

    Her mother, devastated by the incident, said the family was unaware of the full extent of her daughter’s suffering. “She kept everything to herself. The accused should receive the strictest punishment. Only then will my daughter’s soul find peace,” she said.

    Authorities investigating

    While Sharjah police continue their probe into the incident, Indian authorities in Kollam are coordinating efforts to ensure justice. The dual-jurisdiction nature of the case — with the alleged crime occurring in the UAE and the legal complaint filed in India — may complicate the legal process but is being actively followed.

    This tragic case adds to the growing concern around dowry-related violence, especially among Indian expatriate communities. Advocacy groups have renewed calls for stronger protections for women abroad and greater accountability in cases of domestic abuse.

    Suicide Helpline