Family members stated that Rithanya was subjected to emotional torture — including being forced to stand for an hour if she lit the household lamp — verbal abuse, and extreme pressure even for trivial issues.
Published Jun 30, 2025 | 1:09 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 30, 2025 | 1:09 PM
Three girls attempt suicide at government-run Sree Chitra poor home in ThiruvananthapuramRepresentational Image. (iStock)
Synopsis: A 27-year-old newly-wed woman named Rithanya died by suicide on Saturday, 29 June, just 78 days after her wedding in the Tiruppur district. She had alleged that her husband and in-laws were subjecting her to severe harassment, demanding dowry.
In a case of alleged dowry harassment and sexual abuse, a 27-year-old newly-wed woman named Rithanya died by suicide on Saturday, 29 June, just 78 days after her wedding in the Tiruppur district in Tamil Nadu. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and demands for the immediate arrest of her husband and in-laws.
Rithanya was the daughter of Annadurai, a 50-year-old real estate businessman from Kaikatti Pudur near Avinashi in Tiruppur district. Annadurai had also contested the Erode bypoll in 2024 as a candidate of the Hindu Dravida Makkal Katchi.
Rithanya was married on 11 April to Kavin Kumar (28), the son of Eeswaramoorthy and Chitradevi, a well-known family in Tirupur. Kavin is the grandson of Krishnan, the district president of the Congress party in Tirupur. The wedding was celebrated with great fanfare.
After the marriage, Rithanya moved into her husband’s home in Palangarai near Tiruppur. However, differences quickly arose between her and Kavin’s family. Rithanya eventually returned to her parents’ home due to the alleged harassment.
On Saturday, 29 June, Rithanya visited the Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal temple in Thalakkarai. After worshipping there, she bought prasadam for her parents and headed toward another temple in Mondipalayam, driving her car by herself. However, midway, near Chettipudur, locals noticed her lying unconscious inside the car, frothing at the mouth. They alerted the Sheyyur police and her family.
Police rushed her to the Avinashi Government Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Postmortem revealed that she had consumed a pesticide, typically used for coconut trees.
During the course of the investigation, it came to light that Rithanya had sent a voice note to her father just before her death. In the message, she alleged that Kavin, Eeswaramoorthy, and Chitradevi were subjecting her to severe harassment. She also accused her husband of physically and sexually torturing her. Rithanya reportedly said she could no longer endure the abuse and blamed the three for her death.
According to her family, Rithanya and Kavin had been facing tension from the early days after their marriage. Even though they had agreed to give 500 sovereigns of gold, the bride’s family had initially given 300 sovereigns, along with a Volvo car worth ₹70 lakh and a lavish wedding costing ₹2.5 crore.
Within 10 days after the wedding, her in-laws allegedly began demanding the remaining 200 sovereigns of gold and continuously harassed her.
Family members stated that Rithanya was subjected to emotional torture — including being forced to stand for an hour if she lit the household lamp — verbal abuse, and extreme pressure even for trivial issues.
Kavin’s family allegedly had a monthly passive income of over ₹20 lakh, and with no external employment, they were said to be mentally torturing her full-time at home.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Rithanya’s family claimed that on the day of her death, Kavin had allegedly threatened suicide if she disclosed his sexual abuse to others. This reportedly pushed her into a state of emotional distress, leading to her buying the pesticide and consuming it inside her car on the road to Mondipalayam.
Following the incident, RTO Mohanasundaram conducted an inquiry with Rithanya’s parents, husband, and in-laws at the Avinashi Government Hospital mortuary. Tensions flared when Rithanya’s brother, Mithun Aditya, and other relatives tried to assault Kavin, Eeswaramoorthy and Chitradevi. The trio fled the hospital in a car amid chaos as relatives banged on the vehicle and shouted slogans.
Later, Rithanya’s relatives held a road blockade on the Avinashi–Sakthi road, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused. Police, led by Avinashi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Siva Kumar, held talks with the protesters and convinced them to disperse.
The Sheyyur police have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation. Meanwhile, the audio message sent by Rithanya to her father has gone viral, further intensifying public anger.
(If you need support or know someone who has suicidal thoughts, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist or contact the helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families. Tele-MANAS: 14416; Tamil Nadu State Health Department’s suicide helpline: 104; Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre: 044-24640050)
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
