Dehradun: Police have registered a dowry death case against a personal secretary at the Uttarakhand Secretariat, his mother, sister and other family members following the death of his 27-year-old wife, a government school teacher, in Dehradun’s Doiwala area.

The FIR was registered on Thursday based on a complaint filed by the victim’s mother, who alleged that her daughter was subjected to persistent physical and mental harassment over dowry demands after her marriage.

Husband and family booked under BNS

According to police, the case has been registered under Section 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to dowry death.

The accused have been identified as Saurabh Khatri, a personal secretary at the Uttarakhand Secretariat, his mother Parvina Devi, sister Charu Khatri, and other unidentified family members.

The victim, Shristi Bhandari, married Saurabh Khatri in November 2025 and lived with her husband’s family in Doiwala, around 20 kilometres from Dehradun.

Family allegedly subjected teacher to cruelty

According to the complaint lodged by Shristi’s mother, Seema Bhandari, the victim was allegedly subjected to physical and mental cruelty soon after the marriage, with her husband and in-laws repeatedly demanding dowry.

Circle Officer Vandana Verma said the family allegedly humiliated Shristi by calling her “inauspicious” and “unlucky”. Police further stated that after the death of her father-in-law, who had reportedly been suffering from a prolonged illness, family members allegedly blamed Shristi for his death.

Mother found daughter in hospital

The incident came to light after Seema Bhandari was unable to contact her daughter on July 28 and 29. Concerned, she asked relatives living nearby to check on her.

They reportedly found Shristi in a critical condition at a local hospital. By the time her mother travelled from Srinagar in Garhwal to Dehradun, Shristi had died while undergoing treatment.

Police have launched an investigation into the allegations and said further action will be taken based on the evidence collected during the probe.