Businessman’s wife found dead in bathroom:Sister says in-laws began harassing her after younger daughter-in-law joined family

Ranjita Yadav (37), wife of cloth merchant Prashant Yadav, was found hanging in the bathroom of her home in Amla, Betul district, on Saturday. Family members broke open the door and rushed her to hospital, where she was declared dead. Ranjita had given birth to her second daughter two months ago and is also survived by a 10-year-old daughter. The incident sparked a family dispute after her elder sister, Vijeta Yadav, accused Ranjita’s mother-in-law, father-in-law, and sister-in-law (her husband’s younger brother’s wife) of long-term mental harassment. She alleged that after the younger daughter-in-law joined the family, Ranjita faced increased discrimination and was treated like a maid. However, father-in-law Surendra Yadav denied the allegations, saying Ranjita had been undergoing treatment for depression for the past 10 years and was never harassed by the family. Married 10 years ago Ranjita Yadav was married to Prashant Yadav about 10 years ago. Prashant runs a cloth business in Amla. Ranjita was a homemaker. Her family includes a 10-year-old daughter and a two-month-old newborn daughter. The deceased’s father was a contractor in Indore, who has passed away. Her mother is ill, while her elder sister, Vijeta Yadav, is a college professor. The deceased’s father-in-law, Surendra Yadav, is a retired loco pilot from the railway. Sister questions conflicting death accounts The deceased’s elder sister, Vijeta Yadav, said she received conflicting accounts of the incident. She claimed Prashant Yadav initially told her Ranjita had hanged herself with a wet cloth, while another person later said she had hanged herself from the shower. The contradictory versions, she said, make the entire incident suspicious. Younger daughter-in-law was from an influential family Vijeta alleges that her mother-in-law Pushpa Yadav, father-in-law Surendra Yadav, and sister-in-law Muskan Yadav had been mentally harassing Ranjita for a long time. Even two months after delivery, she was not allowed to rest and was troubled day and night. He claimed that after his younger son’s marriage in 2022, the situation worsened. Since the younger daughter-in-law belonged to an influential political family, she had her way in the house. He alleges that the younger daughter-in-law would rest in her room, while Ranjita was made to do all the household chores like a maid. Sister used to give daily updates on household quarrels Vijeta alleged that before the marriage, Prashant Yadav was introduced as a software engineer working in Nagpur, but later this information turned out to be false. She said that she used to talk to her sister daily on video calls. She would inform her about the quarrels happening in the house. Once, after a dispute, she was also sent to Indore. They also alleged that upon receiving information about the incident, they reached Amla around 3 AM, but no member of the in-laws’ side came out, nor did anyone confront them. Father-in-law rejects harassment allegations Surendra Yadav, the deceased’s father-in-law, dismissed the allegations made by Ranjita’s family as baseless. He said their two-month-old baby was unwell that day, and he had asked Ranjita whether she would take the child to a doctor immediately or in the evening. She first massaged the baby and then had her meal. He said family members were sitting outside when the baby began crying. As Ranjita did not respond, they found the bathroom locked from inside. After breaking open the door, they found her lying on the bathroom floor with her dupatta hanging. She was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Police investigating all angles Amla police station in-charge Mukesh Thakur said that preliminary investigation revealed that the woman had hanged herself in the bathroom. The body has been sent for post-mortem. Investigating officer Kamlesh Dhurve said, The police are investigating the matter from all angles. If evidence of harassment or abetment to suicide is found during the investigation, a case will be registered against the concerned persons under the sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).