Meerut: Husband, father-in-law arrested after ayurvedic doctor found dead above clinic

Family alleges dowry harassment, loans and intoxication; police probe continues

MEERUT: Police arrested Mayank and his father, retired sub-inspector Harendra Singh, on Monday in connection with the suspected death of Ayurvedic practitioner Khushali Chaudhary, whose body was found on Sunday morning in a room on the second floor above her clinic in Pallavpuram Phase-II, officials said.

The victim's father Jagdev Singh and brother Rajat filed a complaint alleging prolonged harassment by the in-laws and registered a case under provisions related to dowry death and other offences. The family told police that Khushali had been pressured to bring an additional ₹5 lakh as dowry, and that she had been subjected to repeated physical and mental harassment since her marriage.

"She had been harassed since her marriage and was being pressured to bring an additional ₹5 lakh in dowry," the family said, according to their complaint.

According to the complaint, Khushali married Mayank on January 14, 2026. The family said that on July 29 she left her in-laws' home and returned to her parents' residence, alleging that sustained harassment had forced her to do so. Police registered the case after the family refused to accept the death as natural and reported findings about the state in which her body was discovered.

Rajat told police that when he entered the room above the clinic he found Khushali with her hands tied in front of her. The family also alleged that Khushali had been given intoxicating substances through food and drink, leaving her unusually drowsy at times and complaining of frothing at the mouth.

• Family alleged 15 loans totalling around ₹12 lakh had been taken in Khushali's name.
• They accused Mayank of pressuring her to sign loan-related documents and of demanding an additional ₹5 lakh from her parents.
• The complaint includes an allegation that Mayank threatened to circulate objectionable videos if the dowry demand was not met.

Police said they are investigating the allegations. The claims of dowry harassment, coercion into loans and administration of intoxicants have not been independently verified, and the legal process will determine culpability. In addition to Mayank and Harendra Singh, the family said police have named other members of the in-law family in the FIR; the complaint reportedly lists Mayank's mother Nirmala, brother Nishant and sister-in-law among those implicated.

Legal framework and local implications

Dowry-related offences and dowry death carry severe penalties under the Indian Penal Code and the Dowry Prohibition Act. In recent years, Uttar Pradesh has seen sustained attention to crimes alleged in domestic and marital settings, and such cases frequently prompt both criminal investigation and social debate in urban centres like Meerut.

Local police are expected to carry out medico-legal and forensic procedures, question the accused and examine loan documents and electronic evidence pertaining to the family allegations, officials indicated. If substantiated, the loan and video-threat claims could widen the scope of charges beyond dowry, involving fraud, coercion and criminal intimidation provisions.

Police have so far confirmed the arrests of the husband and the retired sub-inspector father-in-law. Investigating officers said further action will depend on forensic findings and evidence collected from the scene and from electronic records. The family has urged authorities to conduct a thorough probe and to ensure that all persons named in the complaint are questioned, according to the report lodged with the local police station.

The case has drawn attention in Meerut because the deceased practised medicine locally and the allegations include financial manipulation and threats that, if proven, would have wider implications for consumer and criminal law enforcement in the city. Authorities said they will provide updates as the investigation progresses.