‘They Called Her Manhoos’: Family Alleges Mental, Physical Harassment In Dehradun Lecturer Srishti Kandari's Death Case

Last Updated:August 01, 2026, 16:24 IST

A final video, unanswered calls and a brother's account have raised fresh questions over Uttarakhand lecturer Srishti Kandari's death as the state orders a CB-CID investigation.

Thirty-year-old Srishti Kandari, a government school lecturer from Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand was found dead at her in-laws’ residence in Harrawala under Dehradun’s Doiwala area on July 29, barely eight months after marrying Saurabh Khatri, a government employee, in November last year.

Before her death, Srishti sent an emotional video message to her mother, alleging that she had been subjected to continuous mental harassment by her husband’s family. Based on a complaint filed by her mother, police have registered a case, while the family has disputed the circumstances surrounding her death and alleged sustained mental and physical abuse.

A Final Video Sent at 7 AM

According to Srishti’s brother, Ritanshu Kandari, she sent the now-viral 56-second video to her mother at around 7 am on July 29. In the video, an emotional Srishti apologised to her mother and alleged that she had been repeatedly called “manhoos" (inauspicious) by her husband’s family.

Ritanshu said their mother watched the video around 7.20 am and immediately began calling Srishti, her husband, mother-in-law and other members of the family. However, none of the calls were answered.

Nearly an hour later, the family allegedly received a call asking them to come to a hospital in Dehradun. While they were on the way, they were informed that Srishti had died.

According to Ritanshu, hospital authorities later told the family that Srishti had already been declared dead at around 8.15 am. The family has alleged that they were not informed about her condition in time.

“She Was Coming Home That Day": Brother Questions Sequence of Events

The family has also questioned the circumstances of Srishti’s death. According to Ritanshu, Srishti had spoken to their mother between 11 pm and midnight on July 28 and told her that she would return to her parental home the following morning.

He further claimed that on the day of the incident, Srishti had already bathed and got ready to leave for her parents’ house.

“If she was prepared to come home that morning, how could she suddenly take such a step?" Ritanshu said while questioning the sequence of events.

Family Alleges Harassment Began Within Two Months of Marriage

According to Srishti’s family, problems began nearly two months after her marriage in November last year.

Ritanshu alleged that his sister was repeatedly told she did not belong to the family’s “standard" and that the marriage had not taken place according to their expectations.

He further alleged that Srishti was subjected to both mental and physical harassment over the following months. The complaint filed by her mother, Seema Kandari, also alleges harassment linked to dowry demands.

Called ‘Manhoos’ After Father-in-Law’s Death

According to the family’s complaint, the harassment intensified after the death of Srishti’s father-in-law earlier this month.

Her family alleged that she was blamed for the death and repeatedly called “manhoos", with relatives accusing her of bringing misfortune to the household after her marriage.

In the video recorded before her death, Srishti can be heard saying that despite waiting for things to improve, “these people can never change" and that she was called “manhoos" every day.

“She Was Fearless, She Would Never Take Such a Step"

Rejecting the possibility that Srishti would end her own life, her brother described his sister as a courageous woman who regularly travelled alone on a Bullet motorcycle to the government school where she taught in Tehri district.

He said she often passed through forest stretches where leopard sightings were common and had never shown fear.

“She was a very strong girl. She would never take such a step," he said.

Police Register Case: CM Dhami Orders CB-CID Probe

Police said Srishti Kandari was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her in-laws’ residence in Harrawala on July 29. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Based on a complaint filed by her mother, Seema Kandari, Doiwala police registered a case under Section 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). In her complaint, Seema alleged that her daughter had been subjected to sustained mental and physical harassment by her husband and in-laws, ultimately driving her to take the extreme step. The family has also demanded their immediate arrest and an independent investigation into the case.

Amid growing public attention and the family’s demand for a fair probe, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a CB-CID investigation into Srishti Kandari’s death. The state government said the probe will ensure a thorough, fair and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the lecturer’s death and the allegations levelled by her family.

News cities dehradun ‘They Called Her Manhoos’: Family Alleges Mental, Physical Harassment In Dehradun Lecturer Srishti Kandari's Death Case

Read More