Pregnant defence ministry staffer dies by suicide over 'harassment' by in-laws

A pregnant Ministry of Defence officer died by suicide at her Dwarka home, and her family accused her husband and in-laws of harassment. The allegations, an FIR and the family's demand for a detailed post-mortem have put the circumstances of her death under scrutiny.

In Short

• 3-month pregnant Assistant Section Officer Naziya Khanam died by suicide
• Family alleges continuous mental and physical harassment by husband and in-laws
• Victim's father accuses son-in-law and demands legal action and thorough inquiry

A three-month pregnant woman working as an Assistant Section Officer in the Ministry of Defence died by suicide at her home in Delhi's Dwarka on August 21, with her family alleging that her husband and in-laws had continuously subjected her to mental and physical harassment.

The victim, identified as 30-year-old Naziya Khanam, was married to Ajm Ali Khan on April 11, 2026.

The FIR, based on the statement of Naziya's father Towab Khan, states that she had allegedly been continuously harassed by her husband Ajm Ali Khan, mother-in-law Samin Nisha, father-in-law Babar Ali Khan and other members of her in-laws' family. The allegations include verbal abuse, physical assault and threats to throw her out of the house and kill her.

Her father said Naziya was three months pregnant at the time and had informed her family about the harassment over phone calls. He said there had been no improvement in her husband's behaviour despite her complaints.

On August 21, at around 4 am, the family received a phone call informing them that Naziya had died by suicide. Her family, however, expressed suspicion that she had been killed by her in-laws and that the death had been made to appear as a suicide.

They alleged that continuous mental and physical harassment may have pushed her to take the extreme step. The family demanded an FIR against those responsible, along with a post-mortem and videography of the evidence and proceedings.

Sub-Inspector Satpal Dagar reached the woman's residence in Dwarka, where her husband told police that he had locked himself in a room following an argument with his wife and later found her hanging from a window.

Police called the crime team from Dwarka for inspection and photography of the scene. The body was taken to DDU Hospital mortuary for post-mortem. As the post-mortem could not be conducted on August 21 due to the time involved in recording statements before the Executive Magistrate, the deceased's father and brother later recorded their statements before the Executive Magistrate, Bijwasan.

In a separate statement forwarded by the Executive Magistrate, Naziya's father Towab Khan said that his son-in-law Babar Ajam Khan was responsible for his daughter's death and sought necessary legal action.

Police have registered the case under Sections 85 and 108 of the BNS and said further investigation is underway.

- Ends