'Socialite' kills self; husband held for suspected dowry harassment

New Delhi: A 25-year-old socialite, married to a Delhi-based pub owner, allegedly committed suicide at her house in South Delhi's Defence Colony, police said on Sunday.

Priyanka, owner of an event management company, was found dead in the wee hours on Saturday. She allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan. Police found a two-page note believed to have been written by the woman before her death, a police official said.

Her family members have alleged that her husband used to abuse her and took a huge amount as dowry.

She had married Nitin Chawla (38), stakeholder in a few popular Delhi nightclubs and pubs, on January 6 this year, police said, adding it was Chawla's second marriage.

Since she stopped answering her phone a day prior to Holi, her mother came to her residence to check on her, they said.

The content of the two-page note, recovered from the house and believed to be written in Priyanka's hand, also matched the allegations, police said.

"A case has been registered under charges of domestic violence and dowry death against the in-laws, following which the husband has been arrested," DCP (South) Prem Nath said.

The incident came to light around 12.30 am yesterday.

On late Thursday night, Priyanka's mother had come to her house but nobody opened the door, which was locked from inside, for a long time.

She then called up Nitin and the police. When a police team reached the spot at A-block Defence Colony, both Priyanka's mother and Chawla were standing outside, police said.

When the police broke open the door and went inside, they found Priyanka hanging from a ceiling fan.

She was taken to AIIMS, where doctors declared her brought dead.

The SDM of the area was informed and an inquest was initiated. Meanwhile, Priyanka's body was sent for postmortem examination and the statement of her sister was recorded.

Following Chawla's arrest, the police are now looking into the role of his family members in connection with the case.

Chawla had divorced his first wife, with whom he has a son (10) and a daughter (8), in December last year, police said.

After divorce, Chawla got the custody of his son, which became a subject of dispute between him and Priyanka, an official privy to the investigation said.

The other major matter of dispute between Chawla and Priyanka was his lavish lifestyle, the official said.

Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.