CHENNAI: A 28-year-old doctor, working with a leading speciality hospital in Perumbakkam, was arrested in connection with a dowry harassment case.
Police said Mervin Leo, son of Mercy Katherine, who works as a nurse with an Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospital, was in Tanzania for a brief period on deputation. After he returned to Chennai on May 21, he was picked up by police.
According to police, Leo, a resident of Egmore and currently pursuing MD, got married in November 2013. The entire wedding cost was borne by the girl’s family, who also gave him several lakh rupees both in cash and kind as dowry.
Speaking to Express, Leo’s father-in-law Charles said the family found his profile on an online matrimonial website and that inquiries through church contacts turned out positive for an alliance.
“However, the tenor of Leo’s family changed soon after the wedding. They started asking for more jewellery and cash.
Though harassment grew day-by-day, the girl did not reveal anything until she was thrown out of the house without money on November 5 last year,” Charles said.
As Leo’s wife reportedly came to know about the extra-marital affairs the doctor was into, she said she was unwilling to live with him anymore, he added.
The girl’s family petitioned City Police Commissioner S George, following which Leo was arrested and later remanded in judicial custody.
Police said the girl’s family learnt that Leo was earlier arrested by Puducherry police in an extortion case along with a rowdy.