Affairs, marijuana and alcohol use: In-laws of Gwalior woman who died by 'suicide'

The alleged suicide of newlywed Gwalior-based Instagram creator Palak Rajak has taken a new turn, with her husband’s family alleging that she had affairs before and after marriage, consumed alcohol, smoked marijuana and had previously attempted to kill herself. These claims were made to reject allegations that she was harassed for dowry. None of these allegations have been verified so far and police have not confirmed them.

Palak’s husband Amit Rajak, who has been arrested in the case, claimed she had multiple affairs and said her mobile phone should be examined. He further alleged that he had informed her father during an earlier alleged suicide attempt and claimed his family had been falsely implicated.

The allegations were echoed by Palak’s sister-in-law, Lata, who claimed the victim drank beer, smoked marijuana, hanged out with unknown men and had previously attempted suicide at her parental home. She also claimed to possess obscene videos, but provided no evidence publicly.

These claims surfaced days after Palak’s family alleged that she was being harassed over a demand for a car and accused her husband and in-laws of causing her death.

Palak, a resident of Gwalior’s Murar area and known locally as an Instagram creator, was found hanging at her matrimonial home on May 12. Based on statements from her maternal family, police registered an FIR against her husband Amit, mother-in-law Meera and brother-in-law Akash in connection with alleged dowry harassment and suicide abetment.

According to police, the victim's family alleged that Palak was under pressure from her in-laws over a car demand after the marriage.

City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Atul Soni said an FIR was registered based on the family’s complaint and that Amit has been arrested while the remaining accused are on the run. He said the investigation is underway.

Police have not publicly concluded whether Palak’s death was linked to dowry harassment or any of the allegations exchanged by her in-laws.

The case has also drawn comparisons with the recent death of Twisha Sharma, which became one of the country’s most closely watched alleged dowry death investigations. Twisha, a 33-year-old woman from Noida, was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12, barely five months after her marriage.

Twisha's family accused her husband and in-laws of dowry harassment, mental and physical abuse and sought a second post-mortem after alleging inconsistencies in the initial probe.