Man arrested in South Delhi dowry death case after wife dies in Palika Kunj

The Delhi Police have arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with the death of his wife, who was found critically injured near an NDMC residential complex in Palika Kunj, South Delhi, on Saturday evening, July 5, 2026.

The victim, identified as Akriti, was immediately rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after being discovered. However, doctors at the hospital declared her dead on arrival, according to police officials.

Following the incident, the police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include Section 80, which pertains to dowry death, and Section 85, which addresses inflicting cruelty upon a married woman by her husband or his relatives. The case was registered against the victim's husband, Arastu Sikka, and his sister, Agastika.

While Sikka has been taken into police custody, his sister remains at large. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal confirmed that a police search is currently underway to locate Agastika.

A magisterial inquiry has been formally initiated into the circumstances surrounding Akriti’s death. As part of the ongoing probe, the statement of the victim’s mother has been recorded before a Sub-Divisional Magistrate.

According to the police, Akriti had married Sikka earlier this year, on April 24, 2026. She had been living with her husband and his family in the Pushp Vihar area of South Delhi.

DCP Mittal shared details about the family's background, noting that Sikka had been unemployed for some time. Sikka's father works as a Section Officer in the Labour Department, and the family resides in government quarters located in the South Delhi neighborhood.

Quoting the statement provided by the victim's mother, DCP Mittal stated that Akriti had been subjected to harassment by her husband.

"We are examining all angles, and further investigation is under way," DCP Mittal said regarding the progress of the case.