Another Kerala woman found dead in UAE, family alleges dowry harrasment by husband
Summary of the News Article
Vipanjika Mani, a 33-year-old woman from Kollam, Kerala, and her 1½-year-old daughter were found dead in their Sharjah apartment on July 8, 2025. The tragic deaths are suspected to involve dowry harassment and prolonged physical, mental—and possibly sexual—abuse at the hands of her husband Nidheesh Mohan and his family. Evidence includes a chilling suicide note on Facebook, witness injuries, and a complaint filed by her mother in Kerala under cruelty and dowry-related sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act. The Kerala High Court has urged the Central Government to fast-track repatriation of the bodies and ensure a thorough investigation
The Heartbreaking Case of Vipanjika Mani: A Deep Dive
Why This Story Hits Hard
Imagine a hardworking woman from Kollam who braves life abroad, only to be crushed by cruelty within her own home. That was Vipanjika Mani, who died alongside her daughter under tragic circumstances in Sharjah. Her story isn’t just another news headline—it echoes of systemic failures: unsafe marriages, toxic dowry traditions, and justice trapped halfway across borders.
Unfolding the Tragedy: Who, What, When & Where
- Victim: Vipanjika Mani, aged 33, clerk in Sharjah for 7 years; her daughter, 1½-year-old Vybhavi
- Date: Found dead on July 8, 2025, in Al Nahda, Sharjah
- Allegations: Dowry harassment, mutilation (head shaving), physical and sexual abuse—potential strangulation or suffocation
- Accused: Husband Nidheesh Mohan, his father Mohanan, and sister Neethu
- Legal action: FIR registered in Kerala; high court pushing for embassy-coordinated investigation and repatriation
What the Suicide Note Revealed
Vipanjika’s desperate words painted a haunting picture—a head shaved to alter her “fair” look, psychological abuse, financial exploitation, and being denied refuge. She wrote poignantly: “I was tortured and beaten up like a dog. I can’t take it anymore. Don’t spare them.”
Her anger wasn’t limited to herself: she accused her husband of sexual perversion, and her father-in-law of assault. By describing the in-laws as needing her money, she emphasized how dowry demands overshadowed her identity.
FAQs
1. What led Vipanjika to take such a drastic step?
Her suicide note detailed non-stop physical, emotional, and sexual torture rooted in dowry demands—even head shaving and isolation.
2. How are her husband and in-laws being prosecuted?
FIRs have been filed in Kerala and Sharjah under cruelty, abetment, and dowry laws. Sharjah authorities and the Indian Embassy are cooperating to expedite legal action.
3. Are similar cases common among Kerala expat women?
Sadly, yes. Yazna I in 2024 and Athulya in 2025 faced comparable abuse and died abroad, indicating a disturbing pattern.
4. Why is repatriation essential?
Bodies abroad delay autopsies, justice processes, and emotional closure. Court orders push for expedited return and full investigations.
5. How can we protect women working overseas?
Enhance pre-departure counseling, set up embassy welfare centers, enable hotlines, and create fast-track responses for domestic abuse cases abroad.
