A three-month-pregnant Assistant Section Officer working with the Ministry of Defence was found dead at her home in Delhi’s Dwarka on August 21. Her family has alleged that she was subjected to continuous mental and physical harassment by her husband and in-laws.
The woman, identified as 30-year-old Naziya Khanam, had married Ajm Ali Khan on April 11, 2026.
According to the FIR, Naziya’s father Towab Khan alleged that his daughter was repeatedly harassed by her husband, Ajm Ali Khan, mother-in-law Samin Nisha, father-in-law Babar Ali Khan and other members of the family. He alleged that she was abused and physically assaulted several times and was also threatened with being thrown out of the house and killed.
Towab Khan told police that Naziya had informed her family about the alleged harassment during phone calls. He said she was three months pregnant and claimed that despite her complaints, there was no change in her husband’s behaviour.
Naziya was taken to a hospital in an unresponsive condition, where doctors declared her dead.
According to the statement given by her husband to police, the couple had an argument before the incident. He claimed that Naziya locked him inside a room before going into another room. He then called their landlord, who came to the balcony and helped him get out with the help of a ladder.
The husband told police that he later looked through a window and found Naziya hanging from the ceiling fan with a chunni.
After informing the family about her death, police recorded statements from Naziya’s father and brother before Executive Magistrate Dinesh Rana in Bijwasan. Towab Khan alleged that his son-in-law Babar Ajam Khan was responsible for his daughter’s death and demanded strict legal action.
The family has alleged that Naziya was killed by her in-laws, while the FIR contains her husband’s account that he found her hanging.
Police have registered a case under Sections 85, which deals with cruelty by a husband or his relatives, and 108, which deals with abetment of suicide, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway.
Naziya’s brother has also raised allegations against the Delhi Police. The family claims that despite mentioning dowry-related allegations in their complaint, provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act were not included in the FIR.
The family has also alleged that the father of one of the accused was a former police personnel and claimed that this may have influenced the police action. They further alleged that more than 48 hours after the incident, the accused husband, Amjad Ali Khan, was still at large.
However, the Dwarka DCP said Naziya’s family members had appeared before the concerned Executive Magistrate and submitted written statements. According to the DCP, the statements initially submitted by the family did not mention any suspicion or allegation against members of Naziya’s matrimonial family.
The DCP further said that on August 22, Naziya’s parents again appeared before the concerned SDM and submitted another complaint, this time making allegations against her husband and other members of her matrimonial family.
The case has also drawn comparisons with the death of Twisha Sharma, who married Samarth Singh in December last year and was found hanging at her marital home on May 12. The FIR in that case stated that Samarth took her to AIIMS Bhopal and claimed that she had hanged herself at home at around 10.20 pm. Her family had also raised allegations regarding the circumstances of her death, which are being investigated by the authorities.