A 30-year-old Assistant Section Officer (ASO) working with the Ministry of Defence was found dead at her rented accommodation in southwest Delhi's Dwarka on August 21, reported. Her parents later approached police alleging that she had been subjected to harassment by her husband and in-laws.

The woman, identified as Nazia Khanam, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at a flat in Bharthal village in the early hours of August 21. She had married Mohammad Azam Ali Khan on April 11, a senior police officer said, according to .

Police said a PCR call regarding the incident was received at 4.21 am at Sector 23 police station. A police team reached the spot, took the body into possession and informed the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). The body was subsequently shifted to the DDU Hospital mortuary.

According to police, Khanam's family appeared before the Executive Magistrate on August 21 and submitted written statements but did not initially raise any suspicion or allegation against her matrimonial family.

However, on August 22, her parents again appeared before the SDM and submitted a complaint alleging harassment by her husband and other members of her matrimonial family.

Based on the complaint, police registered an FIR at Sector 23 Dwarka police station under Sections 85 and 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with cruelty by a husband or his relatives and abetment of suicide, respectively.

According to the FIR, Khanam's father alleged that his daughter had repeatedly faced mental and physical harassment from her husband, mother-in-law Samimun Nisha and father-in-law Babar Ali Khan. The complaint alleged that she was abused, assaulted and threatened by her matrimonial family.

The family also alleged that Khanam was around three months pregnant and had told them over the phone about the alleged harassment.

Police, however, said the allegations are being investigated and that further action will depend on the evidence and facts that emerge during the probe.

According to , Khanam's husband told investigators that the couple had an argument before the incident. He allegedly said Khanam locked him inside one room before going into another room.

He then informed the landlord, who helped him come out, following which Khanam was found hanging from the ceiling fan.

DCP (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh, quoted by , said police immediately reached the spot after receiving the call. He added that Khanam had married in April this year and was posted as an ASO in the Ministry of Defence.

The DCP also said the family members initially did not express suspicion or make allegations against the in-laws in their statements before the Executive Magistrate, but later submitted a complaint alleging harassment by the husband and in-laws.

Police said the investigation is underway and appropriate action will be taken based on the evidence and facts that emerge.

Prabhakar Jha is a journalist and digital news editor with nearly a decade of experience in online media, specialising in breaking news, politics, national affairs. Having built his career across fast-paced digital newsrooms, he has developed a reputation for delivering accurate, timely, and reader-friendly stories while leading editorial teams during high-pressure news cycles. In 2026, he joined LiveMint as a Digital Content Producer.

A postgraduate in History from the University of Delhi, Prabhakar combines strong editorial judgment with a keen interest in public policy, governance, economics, and global affairs. Before joining LiveMint, he worked with leading digital publications, including News9Live and The , where he handled breaking news, copy editing, headline writing, live coverage, and newsroom coordination.

Beyond the newsroom, Prabhakar is passionate about long-form writing and storytelling. He has a particular interest in global affairs. An avid reader with a love for literary fiction, he also enjoys blogging, poetry, and working on creative writing projects.

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