'My brother was scared, apologetic': Hounded after wife's suicide, Bengaluru man drives 1,000 km to kill self

BENGALURU: Shocked by his wife's suicide two days ago, hounded by public sentiment and charged with dowry harassment and abetment to suicide, a 30-year-old Bengaluru resident died by suicide in a Nagpur hotel early Saturday after undertaking a 1,000km circuitous road journey along with his family members.

Suraj Shivanna, a franchise owner of an online delivery service, and his family fled Bengaluru on Dec 25, and after a brief stopover in Hyderabad, reached Nagpur on Friday evening. They checked into their two rooms in a hotel around 9.30 pm.


Suraj was found hanging in the hotel room by his 60-year-old mother, Jayanti, around 12:30am. Shattered to see her son dead, she too attempted to hang herself. She, however, survived as the noose snapped, and her cries alerted the hotel staff and other family members. Her elder son, Sanjay Shivanna, 36, lodged a police report. Suraj was taken to AIIMS-Nagpur, where doctors confirmed his death.

Sanjay, a businessman based in Bengaluru, told police the family was forced to flee due to escalating threats from Suraj's in-laws following the suicide of his wife, Ganavi. "Around 30 people stormed our house searching for Suraj, who was named in an FIR for dowry harassment. We were traumatised and in fear," said Sanjay.

Suraj had married Ganavi, an MBA graduate, on Oct 29. Family sources revealed Ganavi was reportedly reluctant as she was pressured into the union by her aunt. The couple went on a 10-day honeymoon to Sri Lanka, but the trip turned sour as revelations about Ganavi's pre-marital friendship surfaced, leading to heated arguments, said family sources. The couple returned to Bengaluru after five days.

Also See: Bengaluru Couple Suicide

On their return, attempts by family, including Sanjay, to mediate failed. Ganavi left for her father's home and hours later, hanged herself, following which her family lodged a complaint against Suraj and his relatives of torturing her for dowry.

Talking to TOI, Sanjay denied the dowry allegations. "We did not make any demands. We covered all wedding expenses. It's shocking on their part to hurl such allegations. Instead, Ganavi's family had started issuing death threats to us. My brother was scared and apologetic," Sanjay said, referring to Suraj's in-laws' visit to their home on Dec 22. Suraj's autopsy report is awaited.

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