A 27-year-old pregnant software engineer, Shilpa Panchangamath, was found dead in her BTM Layout home in south Bengaluru on August 26, 2025, triggering a police investigation into allegations of dowry harassment and murder. Her husband, Praveen, a former Oracle engineer turned panipuri vendor, was arrested on Thursday, facing charges under Section 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for dowry death and provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. Shilpa’s family alleges relentless financial demands and verbal abuse drove her to despair, though they suspect foul play over the police’s initial suicide ruling.
Shilpa, a Hubballi native who previously worked at Infosys, married Praveen on December 5, 2022. The couple had a one-and-a-half-year-old son, Vihaan, and Shilpa was expecting their second child. Her family claims they spent Rs 35-40 lakh on the wedding, including 150 grams of gold jewellery and household items, meeting Praveen’s family’s demands of Rs 15 lakh cash. Despite this, Praveen and his mother, Shantavva, allegedly continued pressuring Shilpa for money, demanding Rs 5 lakh six months ago for his panipuri business. When unmet, Shilpa was reportedly assaulted and sent to her parents’ home in Hubballi. Her mother, Sharada, paid the amount, but the harassment persisted, escalating during a quarrel over Shilpa’s baby shower four months ago.
Shilpa’s uncle, Channabasayya, questioned the suicide narrative, noting suspicious circumstances: no stool was found under the ceiling fan, which was too high for Shilpa to reach, and her body was moved to a bed before police arrived, initially misreported as a heart attack. “Praveen left home claiming he was going out of town, but we believe he murdered her and fled,” he told reporters outside the mortuary. Sharada’s complaint also alleges Shantavva humiliated Shilpa over her skin tone, saying, “You’re dark and not a good match for my son. Leave him, we’ll find a better bride.”
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The Suddaguntepalya police, led by an Assistant Commissioner, are probing the case, analyzing forensic evidence and CCTV footage. “We’re verifying the family’s allegations,” a senior officer said. Shilpa’s body was released to her family post-autopsy. The case has reignited outrage over dowry-related violence, following recent incidents like the alleged murder of Nikki Bhati in Noida. Women’s rights activists are demanding stricter enforcement of anti-dowry laws, noting that cultural pressures often disguise demands as “gifts.” With Bengaluru’s tech community shaken, the investigation’s outcome is keenly awaited.
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