Pregnant Defence Ministry Officer Found Dead In Delhi Home, Family Alleges Harassment By Husband, In-Laws

A 30-year-old pregnant government official was found dead at her residence in Delhi's Dwarka on August 21, with her family alleging that she had faced sustained physical and mental harassment from her husband and in-laws.

Nazia Khanam, an assistant section officer in the Defence Ministry, had married Azam Ali Khan on April 11 and was around three months pregnant, officials said. Her family alleged that she had repeatedly complained about being abused and beaten by her husband, mother-in-law Sameen Nisha and father-in-law Babar Ali Khan.

Her family was informed of her death around 4 am on August 21 and was told that she had allegedly died by suicide. However, relatives questioned the circumstances and suspected that she may have been murdered before the incident was made to appear as suicide.

Nazia's father, Tawab Khan, accused her husband of being responsible for her death and sought strict legal action.

According to police, the husband said the couple had an argument before Nazia locked herself inside a room. He claimed that when he later entered the room, he found her hanging from a window.

Her body was taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for post-mortem examination, which is yet to be conducted. The family has sought videography of the procedure and preservation of all evidence.

Police have registered a case and said further action will depend on the post-mortem findings, statements and evidence collected from the scene.