‘She attempted suicide twice in the past year’

Shobhana Surti, the 26-year-old woman who ended her life by hanging herself at her father’s residence while her husband Swapnil Surve, 28, watched her live on a webcam, had attempted suicide twice in the past year, according to her family and a friend.

“Shobhana was in a relationship with Swapnil for 6-7 years and had decided to get married in April last year, however, his parents were against their union and demanded Rs25 lakh as dowry,” said Bhavika, 19, Shobhana’s younger sister.

Abhilasha Prabhu, Shobhana’s friend told HT, “Swapnil did not go against his parent’s wish and refused to marry Shobhana. She could not bear this and attempted suicide by drinking phenyl a few weeks after the marriage was called off. Months later, she attempted suicide for the second time and cut her wrist.”

Prabhu told HT that in November, Shobana got married to Swapnil without the consent of their families.

“A few weeks later, her family came to know about their marriage. Her parents were not happy with her decision and she left home. For the next two months, she stayed with me at my flat,” Prabhu said.

Shobhana eventually returned to her parent’s residence, after which Swapnil asked her to stay with him at a flat in Andheri. But once again Shobhana returned to her father’s house in Juhu earlier this year.

Shobhana’s parents, who were away at the time of the incident, were distraught. “We cannot believe that our eldest child is no more. She had been harassed for a very long time. We want justice for our slain daughter,” said her aggrieved father.