HYDERABAD: Industrialist and former FAPCCI president M L Agarwal’s daughter-in-law, Radhika Agarwal, who attempted suicide on Wednesday alleging harassment by her in-laws, died on Thursday night at Care Hospital, Banjara Hills. Radhika Agarwal (29) breathed her last at around 8.40 pm, family members said. Though the doctors declared her brain dead earlier, the family had hoped for a miracle.
Radhika hanged herself on Wednesday morning at her father’s house in Banjara Hills. She blamed her husband and in-laws for the extreme step citing dowry harassment and her husband’s extra-marital affair as some of the reasons.
Meanwhile, the Agarwal family in a fax message, claimed that Radhika was always treated like a ‘daughter’ in their house and said they would cooperate with the police to “bring out the truth” though Ankit and Radhika were due to sign divorce papers on June 17 with ‘mutual consent’.
“My son is currently in a state of deep shock. My family is together in these rough times and we emphasise with Radhika’s family. We extend our full support to them in this tough phase. Since the matter is registered with police, we will fully cooperate with any form of investigation to bring out the truth in the matter,” M L Agarwal said in the fax. Police, however, said the family is still untraceable.
“None of the family members are to be found at their Bowenpally house or at their industries at Jeedimetla and Patancheru. Even the Agarwal daughters are not in their respective in-laws house and we are searching for them,” DCP West Zone C Ravi Verma said.
Radhika’s parents, the Bansals, meanwhile maintained that Radhika was indeed humiliated and tortured by her husband and in-laws.
“My sister (Radhika) was very bold and tolerated the torture for five years. Once her in-laws started targeting her character, she could not bear it,” Radhika’s brother, Jatin Bansal said.
Radhika’s laptop has been tampered with to create an impression that she was having an affair with another man, Jatin alleged.
Radhika did her MBA from the University of North London and later fell in love with Ankit Agarwal, who was then pursuing a Masters programme in SP Jain Institute in Mumbai. The couple were married in June 2004.
“She was very attached to her husband. Ankit, however, danced to the tunes of his father, who instigated him to torture my sister,” Jatin said.
Jatin said the businesses of the Agarwals — Central India Packaging and Ankit Packaging — were in losses and they did not reveal the same during the time of marriage.
Radhika, in her two-page suicide note written in English, also said that she was taunted by her father-in-law about her ‘London-returnee status and her English’.
“Radhika came back to our house thrice during this five-year period. We would convince her that things would improve and send her back. But, this time, she was deeply depressed as her character had been assassinated,” Jatin said.
Radhika, was also reportedly subjected to harassment by her mother-in-law, Premlatha Agarwal, during her pregnancy. Radhika and Ankit have a one-year-old daughter, Dipansha.