Lucknow, August 7, 2025 – A tragic incident has shaken the quiet Omaxe Waterscapes apartments in Lucknow’s Sushant Golf City, where a 32-year-old woman, Madhu Singh, was found dead under suspicious circumstances on August 4, 2025. Her husband, Anurag Singh, a 31-year-old Merchant Navy officer, has been arrested in connection with her death, which her family alleges was a murder disguised as suicide. The case has raised serious questions about dowry harassment and domestic violence.
Madhu Singh, described by her family as a vibrant and independent woman, married Anurag Singh on February 25, 2025, after meeting through a matrimonial website. Anurag, a second officer with a Hong Kong-based shipping company, had returned to Lucknow on leave just 10 days before the incident. According to police reports, Madhu was found hanging from a ceiling fan in their apartment on Sunday night. While Anurag claimed it was a suicide, Madhu’s family insists she was killed after enduring months of abuse.
Family Alleges Dowry Harassment and Murder
Madhu’s father, Fateh Bahadur Singh, filed a complaint with the Sushant Golf City police, accusing Anurag of harassing Madhu over dowry demands and physically abusing her. He alleged that Anurag demanded ₹15 lakh as dowry before the wedding, despite the family’s plea that they could only afford ₹5 lakh. WhatsApp messages shared by the family reportedly show Anurag’s persistent demands for money. Madhu’s sister, Priya, told police that Anurag frequently assaulted Madhu over minor issues, including an incident on March 10 where he allegedly beat her for not placing a plate properly.
“My sister was scared. She told me, ‘He’ll kill me one day,’” Priya said in a statement to India Today. The family also claimed that Anurag pressured Madhu to abort her pregnancy, adding to the mental and physical strain she faced. “She didn’t take her own life. He drove her to this—or worse,” Fateh Bahadur Singh told reporters, demanding justice.
Police Investigation and Arrest
The Lucknow police acted swiftly, arresting Anurag Singh on August 5, 2025, based on the family’s complaint. The police have charged him under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for murder and cruelty, as well as provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
The post-mortem report confirmed that Madhu’s death was caused by hanging, but inconsistencies in Anurag’s account raised suspicions. For instance, police noted that Anurag ordered food online at 10:30 AM on August 4, hours before he claimed to have found Madhu’s body around noon. He also texted the housemaid that morning, instructing her not to come, though she arrived and rang the bell multiple times without a response. These details, combined with digital evidence and the family’s allegations, led to his arrest.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Lucknow South), Nipun Agarwal, told PTI, “We are investigating all angles. The accused is in judicial custody, and we are working to uncover the full truth.” The police are also examining Anurag’s phone and financial records to verify the dowry allegations.
Ongoing Developments
As of August 7, 2025, Anurag Singh remains in judicial custody, and the investigation is ongoing. The police are awaiting forensic reports to determine if there are additional signs of struggle or foul play. Madhu’s family has vowed to pursue the case until justice is served, with Priya stating, “We won’t rest until the truth comes out.”
The case has also sparked discussions on social media, with many expressing outrage over the persistence of dowry-related violence. For now, Lucknow mourns the loss of a young woman whose life ended far too soon, and her family waits for answers.
