Former National-Level Wrestler Dies by Suicide With Two Children; Dowry Harassment Case Filed Against In-Laws
A 30-year-old former national-level wrestler, Ashwini Manohar Paul, died by suicide along with two of her three children in Maharashtra’s Dharashiv district, in a tragedy that has led to a police case against her husband and in-laws over alleged dowry harassment.
The incident took place on Thursday, September 3, at the historic Naldurg Fort. According to reports, Ashwini allegedly jumped into a gorge from the fort with her three young children. She and her five-year-old son, Ajinkya, died at the scene, while her two-year-old twin daughter Kranti later died from her injuries. Her other twin daughter, Veera, survived but was reported to be in critical condition and receiving treatment.
Ashwini was known in wrestling circles as “Maharashtra’s Tigress.” Reports say she had achieved considerable success at the national level, winning five gold and six silver medals during her wrestling career. Her death has therefore drawn attention not only because of the circumstances but also because of the loss of a former competitive athlete.
The allegations against her marital family emerged after her father, Tanaji Shivaji Mohite, approached the police. He alleged that Ashwini had faced repeated harassment from her husband and his relatives over demands for money and valuables.
According to the complaint, the alleged demands included money, gold and an auto-rickshaw. Her father reportedly told police that the harassment continued even after Ashwini left her marital home and began staying with her parents approximately three months before the tragedy.
The family alleges that the dispute had placed Ashwini under severe emotional distress. Police are now examining the circumstances surrounding the domestic conflict, including allegations that harassment continued through telephone calls after she moved back to her parents’ home.
Following the complaint, Naldurg Police registered a case against four people, including Ashwini’s husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law and her husband’s paternal aunt. The charges reportedly include provisions relating to dowry death, abetment of suicide and cruelty by a husband or his relatives under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police Inspector Ravindra Gaikwad said that all four people named in the complaint had been booked and that the investigation was continuing. Reports available on September 5 said that arrests had not yet been made in the case.
The investigation will be significant in establishing whether the alleged harassment contributed to Ashwini’s death. Police are expected to examine statements from family members and other witnesses, as well as available evidence concerning the alleged dowry demands and the events preceding the incident.
The case also raises wider concerns about the vulnerability of women facing alleged domestic and dowry-related harassment, particularly when disputes continue even after they leave the marital household. However, the allegations against Ashwini’s husband and in-laws remain allegations at this stage, and their legal responsibility will be determined through the investigation and judicial process.
The tragedy has left Ashwini’s family facing the loss of the former athlete and two young children, while another child remains critically ill. Authorities continue to investigate both the circumstances of the deaths and the allegations made by Ashwini’s family.
